I’m a sixth year in a major US city, and my wife is an EU citizen (vague to avoid doxxing myself). She is ready to move back to the EEA after seeing the trajectory of this country. She’s applying to jobs and in some advanced interview stages. I’ve vaguely floated the idea to my team and they seem open to letting me temporarily work abroad, but only to visit the occasionally. Not to move with her full time—even though we have offices in a few cities she’s looking at.
To be completely honest, I’m burned out. I only wanted to be here for two years, but I’ve been sucked in because I’m pretty good at it. I like my team, and they seem to like me. I have a good reputation that stretches outside my group. The work is intellectually stimulating and the hours are mostly manageable. There’s a path to partnership for me. But I am realizing now how little I want it—I’ve been just waiting to find something else, but it’s impossible. I want my life back. I want to log off at 5 pm (even 6 or 7!) and not have to think about work or respond to emails before the morning. When we have kids, I want to know them and spend time with them. I want to have hobbies and go to dinner on a Tuesday night without getting insane requests from clients that we can’t push back on. I want to feel good about the work I’m doing; I wanted public interest but couldn’t find a good job before I got biglaw.
If my wife gets a job soon, I think I may just leave with her. I want to stay through the end of 2026 so I can get my bonus, but I’m not sure if I can spend all of that time apart from her. I don’t want to stay in biglaw. We have enough savings and investments where we’ll be comfortable even if I’m out of work for a bit.
Have you seen associates take sabbaticals and still land on their feet? Or those that have moved abroad and found something else? I’ve perused through countless past posts here, but not a lot of clear anecdotes other than finding a unicorn in house role or temporarily working from another office. Interested to hear any and all stories you’re aware of.