In this, the first of a three-part series, consultant Jo Larbie outlines conversations she has had with trainees and lawyers in the early years of their careers, some of whom were unhappy with their work, their firm and their career. The underlying issue appeared to be the same for all – a failure to stop and think about their answer to the question: "What do you want from your career and life?"

Understanding who you are and what you want from your career and life can make a significant difference to your legal career. Are you doing what you love? Or do you feel that you are simply going through the motions in a job that you find unsatisfying?

One of the most important factors in enjoying your career is making sure that you are doing the work that you relish, and that you find what you are doing worthwhile. It is worth thinking about this carefully, because it only gets harder to motivate yourself if you are not passionate about your work.