Sarah Cottrell, JD
Founder at Former Lawyer LLC- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Sona Balachandran
It's rare to find someone as thoughtful and passionate as Sarah when it comes to coaching for lawyers. While everyone says you can do (almost) anything with a JD, unfortunately it's not as obvious when you start thinking about what that is and trying to figure it out. And Sarah gets that, along with all the other underlying "baggage" that comes with being a lawyer, which is what makes her coaching standout. I came across Sarah in 2021 when I listened to her podcast and it became clear to me that she really understands the mindset of lawyers and the demands of the legal industry. The fact that her podcast content touches upon a lot of topics that are pertinent to many lawyers, as well as the fact that she showcases that lawyers can find other careers made me join her collaborative. I found her framework thoughtfully designed with lawyers in mind. You definitely have to put in the hard work but Sarah (and the other members of the collaborative) are around to provide feedback and guidance, and to support you in both your wins as well as your struggles. Sarah is an excellent coach and a great resource for lawyers looking to make a pivot. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her in our corner genuinely cheering for us to succeed and helping us find the path forward.
Michelle Carmon, Esq.
Sarah is endlessly thoughtful, compassionate, and supportive. I have had the pleasure of working with her for almost two years now through her Former Lawyer Collaborative and the experience has been invaluable. She always seems to know the right questions to ask to get to the heart of an issue and I've grown as a person and as a professional through her program. She is an excellent interviewer, encouraging coach, and just a wonderful human being. I highly recommend her services.
Sona Balachandran
It's rare to find someone as thoughtful and passionate as Sarah when it comes to coaching for lawyers. While everyone says you can do (almost) anything with a JD, unfortunately it's not as obvious when you start thinking about what that is and trying to figure it out. And Sarah gets that, along with all the other underlying "baggage" that comes with being a lawyer, which is what makes her coaching standout. I came across Sarah in 2021 when I listened to her podcast and it became clear to me that she really understands the mindset of lawyers and the demands of the legal industry. The fact that her podcast content touches upon a lot of topics that are pertinent to many lawyers, as well as the fact that she showcases that lawyers can find other careers made me join her collaborative. I found her framework thoughtfully designed with lawyers in mind. You definitely have to put in the hard work but Sarah (and the other members of the collaborative) are around to provide feedback and guidance, and to support you in both your wins as well as your struggles. Sarah is an excellent coach and a great resource for lawyers looking to make a pivot. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her in our corner genuinely cheering for us to succeed and helping us find the path forward.
Michelle Carmon, Esq.
Sarah is endlessly thoughtful, compassionate, and supportive. I have had the pleasure of working with her for almost two years now through her Former Lawyer Collaborative and the experience has been invaluable. She always seems to know the right questions to ask to get to the heart of an issue and I've grown as a person and as a professional through her program. She is an excellent interviewer, encouraging coach, and just a wonderful human being. I highly recommend her services.
Sona Balachandran
It's rare to find someone as thoughtful and passionate as Sarah when it comes to coaching for lawyers. While everyone says you can do (almost) anything with a JD, unfortunately it's not as obvious when you start thinking about what that is and trying to figure it out. And Sarah gets that, along with all the other underlying "baggage" that comes with being a lawyer, which is what makes her coaching standout. I came across Sarah in 2021 when I listened to her podcast and it became clear to me that she really understands the mindset of lawyers and the demands of the legal industry. The fact that her podcast content touches upon a lot of topics that are pertinent to many lawyers, as well as the fact that she showcases that lawyers can find other careers made me join her collaborative. I found her framework thoughtfully designed with lawyers in mind. You definitely have to put in the hard work but Sarah (and the other members of the collaborative) are around to provide feedback and guidance, and to support you in both your wins as well as your struggles. Sarah is an excellent coach and a great resource for lawyers looking to make a pivot. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her in our corner genuinely cheering for us to succeed and helping us find the path forward.
Michelle Carmon, Esq.
Sarah is endlessly thoughtful, compassionate, and supportive. I have had the pleasure of working with her for almost two years now through her Former Lawyer Collaborative and the experience has been invaluable. She always seems to know the right questions to ask to get to the heart of an issue and I've grown as a person and as a professional through her program. She is an excellent interviewer, encouraging coach, and just a wonderful human being. I highly recommend her services.
Sona Balachandran
It's rare to find someone as thoughtful and passionate as Sarah when it comes to coaching for lawyers. While everyone says you can do (almost) anything with a JD, unfortunately it's not as obvious when you start thinking about what that is and trying to figure it out. And Sarah gets that, along with all the other underlying "baggage" that comes with being a lawyer, which is what makes her coaching standout. I came across Sarah in 2021 when I listened to her podcast and it became clear to me that she really understands the mindset of lawyers and the demands of the legal industry. The fact that her podcast content touches upon a lot of topics that are pertinent to many lawyers, as well as the fact that she showcases that lawyers can find other careers made me join her collaborative. I found her framework thoughtfully designed with lawyers in mind. You definitely have to put in the hard work but Sarah (and the other members of the collaborative) are around to provide feedback and guidance, and to support you in both your wins as well as your struggles. Sarah is an excellent coach and a great resource for lawyers looking to make a pivot. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her in our corner genuinely cheering for us to succeed and helping us find the path forward.
Michelle Carmon, Esq.
Sarah is endlessly thoughtful, compassionate, and supportive. I have had the pleasure of working with her for almost two years now through her Former Lawyer Collaborative and the experience has been invaluable. She always seems to know the right questions to ask to get to the heart of an issue and I've grown as a person and as a professional through her program. She is an excellent interviewer, encouraging coach, and just a wonderful human being. I highly recommend her services.
Credentials
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Law License
State Bar of TexasNov, 2008- Nov, 2024 -
Member Badge
International Coaching FederationJan, 2022- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Former Lawyer LLC
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United States
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Professional Training and Coaching
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1 - 100 Employee
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Founder
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Jun 2019 - Present
I founded Former Lawyer to help unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs and to advocate for and educate about lawyer mental health and Biglaw burnout. I founded Former Lawyer to help unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs and to advocate for and educate about lawyer mental health and Biglaw burnout.
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Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas
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Administration of Justice
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Staff Attorney
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Jul 2013 - Jul 2018
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Central Staff Attorney
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May 2012 - Jul 2013
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Legal Editor
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Feb 2012 - May 2012
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Legal Editorial Assistant
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Jun 2011 - Feb 2012
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Baker Botts
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United States
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Law Practice
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700 & Above Employee
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Litigation Associate
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Sep 2008 - May 2011
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Sidley Austin LLP
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United States
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Law Practice
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700 & Above Employee
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Summer Associate
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May 2007 - Aug 2007
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University of Chicago Law School
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United States
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Higher Education
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100 - 200 Employee
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Research Assistant
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Jun 2006 - Aug 2006
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Education
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University of Chicago Law School
JD -
University of Richmond
BA, summa cum laude, Leadership Studies, International Studies -
Queen Mary University of London
Study Abroad Semester