Become a Star/Bigger Star, Rescue Your Twinkle Power: Exit Big Law

Fame is a glutted category. Your wattage could dim as others elbow their way into your space. You beome less fascinating. Or simply older. Eventually you could even be off the grid. 

Recently there's been a new entry point for stardom. In addition that serves to refresh the twinkle of those already in the firmament. The way: Leave your lawyer job in Big Law. Or be pushed out for what's not associated with work.

That's how Rachel Cohen, who had been dabbling in being an influcer, became a major one. After a lot of fanfare about politics, which might have been strategic as part of juicing up the exit, she ditched the highly paid associate position at Skadden. Now she has quite the following on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and more. 

Legacy media can't get enough of Karen Dunn. Today, for example, her saga about exiting Paul, Weiss to launch Dunn Isaacson Rhee is covered yet again in The Wall Street Journal. The prevailing narrative is that she departed because Paul, Weiss cut a deal with the Trump administration. Well, Dunn had not only originally supported that negotiation but is reported to have rallied the troops to also do so. 

Leagcy media mentions are important because that's what prominent businesspeople read. They don't pore over the ABA Journal or David Lat's substack. Analysis of fine points of law or legal trends is of interest to lawyers. But it's the actual business players who'll contract for litigation represenation from Dunn Issacson Rhee. 

More on Dunn. It should be recalled that Dunn's twinkle could have burned low when Kamala Harris lost the election and the Democrats were driven  into the political wilderness. Dunn had coached Harris for the debate. Also she's closely associated with the Democratic Party. Before going to law school she had handled media for Hillary Clinton. 

The Dunn exit could be sized up as a smart career move, just-in-time. Timing is almost everything. Get both promotion for the new litigation firm and be positioned on the side of the angels, at least in some circles. 

Then there are other leavers who haven't quite become stars but could acquire that status if they make the right moves and get lucky. Among them is Ryan Powers who was terminated from Davis Polk. The speculation is that his publishing in external media anti-Trump articles did him in. 

In my most recent communication with Powers he indicated he didn't want to become an influencer. He has a following on platforms such as substack. He may move the needle toward whatever when he decides what that whatever is. 

Meanwhile the Charlie Kirk tragedy has made standing up for the suposed "right thing to do" more ambiguous. Those driven out of Big Law for Kirk commentary may not have a shot at becoming a twinkler. Only burning bridges.

In my coaching I hammer: Beware of your timing. 

Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. There’s no risk.