The Lawyer’s Career Crossroads Program is a career counseling and coaching program designed specifically for lawyers who have reached a crossroads in their careers and are unclear about how to proceed. The lawyer will use the outcomes of the process to create a solid plan for the future.
My name is Sheryl Odentz. I am the founder of Progress in Work. I have counseled and coached thousands of lawyers over the course of three decades to help them successfully transition to new positions inside and outside of the practice of law. My clients have described me as skilled in my craft, proactive, effective, creative, knowledgeable, caring, inspiring and practical.
The Lawyer’s Career Crossroad’s Program is comprised of 11 50-minute sessions. The program typically occurs over a period of three to six months. The exact time period will vary depending on each lawyer’s individual circumstances.
Below are the program’s elements:
- Session 1 – Intake session
- Sessions 2 & 3 (combined) – Aptitudes and personal style
- Session 4 – Skills
- Session 5 – Interests
- Session 6 – Family influences, values, and goals
- Session 7 – Personality and career fit as well as potential obstacles and psychological needs
- Session 8 – Personal vision statement & action plan based on an analysis of the sessions
- Session 9 – Informational interviewing skills and research
- Session 10 – Progress and obstacles
- Session 11– Closing thoughts and review
Any effective career counseling and coaching assessment program should include all of the elements listed above; however, any lawyer wishing to sample The Lawyer’s Career Crossroads Program before committing to the entire program may do so.
There are two options to sample The Lawyer’s Career Crossroads Program:
Option 1:
- Session 1 – Intake session
- Session 2 – Personality and career fit as well as potential obstacles and psychological needs. (Before this session, the lawyer will take an online assessment which will take 45 minutes to complete. During Session 2, Sheryl will interpret and discuss the results with the lawyer.)
Option 2:
- Session 1 – Intake session
- Sessions 2 & 3 (combined) – Aptitudes and personal style. (Before this combined session, the lawyer will take an online assessment, which will take three hours to complete. The lawyer will complete 19 timed work samples assessing aptitudes and personal style. The lawyer is permitted to break up the three hours as long as each work sample is completed in one sitting. During combined sessions 2 and 3, Sheryl will interpret and discuss the results with the lawyer.)
If Option 1 or 2 are chosen, any payments made will be deducted against the full program cost. (Includes the cost of the formal career assessment tools, Sheryl’s time to prepare for each session, and the sessions themselves.) Credit cards, cash and check are accepted. Payment is expected upfront.
After the self-exploration piece, I can also help my clients with the more tactical aspects of finding a position. Topics include: creating a strong resume, developing a compelling narrative, learning about recruiters, honing networking and interviewing skills, writing strong cover letters, creating a LinkedIn profile, and negotiating offers.
Sessions are conducted by Zoom video, phone, and/or face-to-face in my New York City office. (Session delivery is based on client’s preference.)
If you are interested in learning more about The Lawyer’s Career Crossroads Program, I can be reached at sodentz@progressinwork.com.