A Happy Lawyer

BE WELL

Lessons Learned During Thirty-Plus Years of Law Practice

BY BRAD HOUSTON

Happiness is a common goal of lawyers and non-lawyers alike. One of the most common responses parents give when asked what they want for their children is, “I just want my kids to be happy.” There are many theories on happiness. Let’s start by recognizing some of the basics of career happiness. Money can’t buy happiness. Achieving partner status won’t necessarily make you happy. Neither will winning a seven-plus figure case. How do we know these principles are true? Partly because we know not all wealthy lawyers, law partners, and big settlement/verdict-winning attorneys are happy. In fact, many are miserable people.

So what is the formula to basic happiness? According to theologian Dr. Doug Fletcher, “Happiness is not a goal you can achieve, it is the byproduct of living a worthwhile life.” There is a lot of truth to that. One afternoon in 1992, I was looking out of my 18th-floor office window in San Diego at the Pacific Ocean. I was an aspiring associate at a top ten California law firm. I had just settled a real estate fraud case for one of the firm’s biggest clients. It was a big victory and although I was happy for my client, happy for the firm, and excited by the win, there was still something missing. After much reflection, I decided to move my family back to Texas, not only for my career, but so my kids could know my parents and we would be closer to my wife’s parents. My target job was with the Travis County Attorney’s office. I applied at that office, the Attorney General’s office, the City Attorney’s office, and the District Attorney’s office. Working for a governmental law office offered significant and sometimes complex cases like at a big firm, but without the billable hour lifestyle.

Several months later I gave notice to the San Diego firm that I was resigning to take a position as an Assistant District Attorney in Austin. The DA’s office was my last choice. The truth is, I wasn’t sure I really wanted the job, but it was the vehicle for my exit strategy.

I wasn’t an Assistant DA long before I realized it was the most fun job I had ever had (except for bartending). I loved being in jury trials. I loved my co-workers and superiors. I loved the camaraderie with most of the criminal defense attorneys and the judges. I tried twenty-four jury trials in twenty-two months. I tried every case assigned to me for trial and volunteered to try a few of the much harder child abuse cases with one of my idols, Gary Cobb. In addition, I let my superiors know that I would try any case that other ADAs did not want to try. I did not care about my win-loss record. I just wanted to learn and be the best trial lawyer I could be.

I was more than happy. I felt the same on Monday mornings as I did on Friday afternoons. I loved my job so much, I didn’t mind my starting salary of $39,500, even with two kids at the time and with my wife in law school. We sometimes had to buy groceries with a credit card because I didn’t have enough money in my bank account. My happiness wasn’t just about the fun of trial. There was more. I truly believed I was doing something worthwhile for my community. I was holding criminals accountable and putting dangerous people in prison. I was “living a worthwhile life.” I don’t mean to suggest that big firm attorneys or other civil lawyers can’t practice law that is worthwhile. I admire lawyers that help companies create value, which can create jobs, and which sustains individuals and families. Part of the principle of happiness and living a worthwhile life is perspective: You must believe in your heart you are doing something that helps people. Regardless of your practice, you can always pick up a case or two from Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. Doing pro bono work is always “worthwhile.”

For financial reasons, I ultimately left my career path as a prosecutor and went back to private civil practice. My happiness didn’t erode much at first, but the erosion was happening. While working as the partner in charge of litigation at a boutique real estate firm, I quietly began my practice in personal injury. I found representing victims in injury claims was like helping the victims of crimes as a prosecutor.

I have been practicing personal injury trial law for close to 30 years. About five years into this practice, I decided to weave in my passion for bicycle riding and focus on representing people injured in traffic collisions while riding their bikes. My practice is fun and worthwhile! AL

Brad Houston is the managing partner of Houston^Fish a boutique civil firm which focuses on bicycle/motor vehicle collisions and wrongful death cases. He is an active member of the Austin Bar’s Lawyer Well-Being Committee.