I recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
In recent months, several SaaS salespeople began our Zoom and Teams meetings online with what appeared to be additional invitees on the call. The additional invitees turned out to be recording features, but none of these salespeople provided advance warning nor did they request consent to record our calls. When I requested removal of any recording and transcription feature, at least one salesperson initially responded that their organization adds it to all calls by default and he did not know how to remove it. This experience raises important legal considerations, especially when none of the parties to the call or meeting adds the recording device.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Privacy and Data Securityhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPrivacy and Data Security2025-09-16 10:19:132025-09-16 16:29:12Before You Hit "Record," Transparency Comes First
By all outward measures, things have gone “right” in my life. I’m happily married to my best friend, and we share two wonderful children. I hold a tenure-track law professor position at Campbell Law School – it’s my dream job, and the community here has warmly supported my growth as both a scholar and a teacher. Before that, I earned my J.D. from Duke Law School, served as an editor of the law review, practiced at a big law firm, and now count some of the world’s most generous, brilliant mentors among my greatest blessings. My CV reflects awards, publications, and invited talks. And yet, despite all of this, I often feel like I fooled everyone to get here.
There’s a persistent tension between how I appear to the world and how I feel inside. I spend so much time wondering how I came to be where I am that when something doesn’t go my way, I cling to it as confirmation of my self-doubt. Strangely, I never do the opposite. I don’t cling to accomplishments. I don’t let success reassure me. If anything, I explain it away: a fluke, luck, a clerical error, someone being kind.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00ConstitutionalRightshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngConstitutionalRights2025-09-09 09:14:072025-09-09 09:14:07The Myth of No Bad Days
Retirement
Featured PostsI recently had lunch with a good friend where I, for the first time, spoke seriously about my retirement. By way of background, I am fifty-one years old and have been practicing law since 2001. My wife works for a large financial institution, and we have two sons, ages ten and twelve. But why would you care about my retirement? Well, because of the nature of our legal practices, I think it’s something that some lawyers struggle with, and I’m hoping to avoid that.
For the last ten years or so, I have casually mentioned retiring at age fifty-five. (If my own math works out, I will retire around fifty-seven.) Reactions to my talk of retirement have ranged from eyes nearly popping out of heads to subtle laughs to talk of wishful thinking. I like to think these reactions stem from the fact that many of us have not truly contemplated the end of our careers, in part, because like so many other professionals and maybe to an even greater degree, we feel defined by our professions.
Read more
Before You Hit “Record,” Transparency Comes First
Featured PostsIn recent months, several SaaS salespeople began our Zoom and Teams meetings online with what appeared to be additional invitees on the call. The additional invitees turned out to be recording features, but none of these salespeople provided advance warning nor did they request consent to record our calls. When I requested removal of any recording and transcription feature, at least one salesperson initially responded that their organization adds it to all calls by default and he did not know how to remove it. This experience raises important legal considerations, especially when none of the parties to the call or meeting adds the recording device.
Read more
The Myth of No Bad Days
Featured PostsBy all outward measures, things have gone “right” in my life. I’m happily married to my best friend, and we share two wonderful children. I hold a tenure-track law professor position at Campbell Law School – it’s my dream job, and the community here has warmly supported my growth as both a scholar and a teacher. Before that, I earned my J.D. from Duke Law School, served as an editor of the law review, practiced at a big law firm, and now count some of the world’s most generous, brilliant mentors among my greatest blessings. My CV reflects awards, publications, and invited talks. And yet, despite all of this, I often feel like I fooled everyone to get here.
There’s a persistent tension between how I appear to the world and how I feel inside. I spend so much time wondering how I came to be where I am that when something doesn’t go my way, I cling to it as confirmation of my self-doubt. Strangely, I never do the opposite. I don’t cling to accomplishments. I don’t let success reassure me. If anything, I explain it away: a fluke, luck, a clerical error, someone being kind.
Read more