I've been a lawyer in West Virginia for over 26 years, mostly in private practice but for the past two years in public service. It's time to do something different. Not surprisingly perhaps, there are few reasonable opportunities in West Virginia for 51 year old litigators who do not have a ready-made book of business, notwithstanding the fact that I have tons more experience and ability than the third year lawyers who are targeted for the few available openings I see. I considered staying in government, but the decision-making process for West Virginia agencies is so unreasonably slow it is just pitiful.

I am licensed in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, so most of my applications during the past two months have focused on opportunities in my home state and the Pittsburgh area. I have also sent a few applications to potential employers in Virginia and North Carolina, but because I am not yet licensed in those jurisdictions (I could be admitted by reciprocity), it is tougher to get a look there. Two weeks ago, I applied to a Pittsburgh firm. Within a couple of days, I was contacted by a key partner who happened to be traveling through my town. A meeting with him was followed by a visit to the Pittsburgh office early last week, and an offer came two days later. I have not yet accepted and may haggle a bit on salary, but I intend to take the job. It is nice to feel wanted.

This is a big change for me. West Virginia's future is bleak and there is nothing I can do about it. I am going to be 300 miles from Tech, which pretty much seals the deal on ending my streak of buying season tickets to Hokie football every year since 1994. I am going to be practicing in a new court system and with people with whom I had no prior relationship. (Happily, a good friend at my last law firm recommended me to them and them to me, so I trust things will work out.)

But Pittsburgh is a good town, especially for sports. I am a lifelong Steelers and Pirates fan, and when I watch hockey I watch the Penguins. My wife and I like to travel and go to games and concerts. The idea of being able to walk across town after work and buy a Pirates or Pens ticket for cheap (I paid $35 for a great seat to Pens-Avalanche the other night, and half price for a club seat to Steelers-Chargers) has a lot of appeal. To do a game like that, or see a national concert tour that doesn't reach smaller venues , becomes an expensive three-day weekend for us while living in Charleston. Flying from Pittsburgh rather than Charlie-West will probably save hundreds of dollars a ticket a lot of times.

I am not a risk taker. Long term, I think this is the best step for me but the next six months or so is going to be a wild ride. Wish me luck. I can use all the luck I can get.




[Post edited by Tailgate Guru at 12/09/2018 11:04AM]