Leaving Law: How to Know When It’s Time to Quit | Helen Cowan

Ever wondered whether you should pivot or quit your law career?

Perhaps everything looks perfect on paper.

But deep down, you keep thinking: “Is this it?”

After 18 successful years at KPMG, Helen Cowan walked away from the only career she had ever known to build something new.

It was the most agonising decision she had ever made.

Today, she is the founder and CEO of The Tall Wall, one of the UK’s top executive coaching providers for C-suite leaders and lawyers.

In this episode, Helen reveals:

▪ The three things you need to make a major change ▪ Why incredible success can leave you asking, “Is this it?” ▪ How the ‘Holy Grail’ of partnership can become a trap ▪ How to test your escape route before walking away ▪ What becomes possible when you get 5% braver ▪ The tools to stop agonising and finally decide

00:00 – Opening 00:44 – Meet Helen Cowan 01:41 – Why she turned down KPMG director twice 02:47 – The moment she admitted she wasn’t happy 04:22 – Why walking away felt impossible 05:11 – The 3 things you need to overcome resistance to change 06:35 – Why the ‘safe’ path may be the biggest risk, and how to find your direction 10:24 – Why fear can mean you’re on the right path 10:53 – Why lawyers struggle to leave 12:00 – The two moments that make lawyers question everything 13:40 – Why you should run your career like a business 16:06 – Why Helen rejected the partnership track 17:03 – What everyone misunderstood about her decision 19:34 – The advice she wishes she’d heard sooner 20:47 – How to make the bold decision you keep avoiding 22:16 – The one thing that makes you braver 22:57 – The one realisation that changes everything

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