Introduction
Jubilación — the Spanish word for retirement — evokes joy, fulfillment, and freedom. It’s a stark contrast to the dread and finality that many legal professionals associate with stepping away from the profession. According to a 2007 study by Altman Weil, Inc., nearly 30% of lawyers plan to retire later than the traditional age, 11% are unsure about their plans, and 4% don’t intend to retire at all. Clearly, “retirement” can feel like an uneasy transition for many in the legal field.
Enter Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons, J.D., Retirement Transition Expert and author of the forthcoming book Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement (Feb. 5, 2025). Recently featured in Business Insider and Kiplinger, Parsons is helping professionals reframe retirement as a dynamic opportunity rather than an abrupt ending.
So how can lawyers embrace the jubilación mindset? Here are four transformative strategies to shift from existential angst to energized anticipation.
1. Reframe Retirement as a Graduation
- Retirement doesn’t have to mean “the end.”
- 44% of lawyers are in no rush to leave their practice—often due to fear of losing purpose and prestige.
- Jubilación invites lawyers to see retirement as a graduation, not a finale: a chance to grow in new directions and start fresh.
- It marks the transition to a new season rich with opportunity, rather than decline.
“Think of it not as being put out to pasture, but finally being let out to pasture—to roam freely,” Parsons quips.
2. Cultivate Purpose Beyond the Practice
- Lawyers often derive purpose from income, influence, and intellectual challenge.
- Retirement removes external goals, which can lead to feeling unanchored.
- Jubilación is about investing in passions, relationships, and legacy projects.
- Parsons encourages clients to ask, “What have you been putting off? What lights you up?”
As she writes in Encore, “Purpose doesn’t retire when the paycheck stops. It just shifts shape.”
3. Redefine Identity and Reimagine Self
- The legal profession is deeply identity-forming.
- Retirement can threaten self-worth, especially for high achievers.
- Parsons advocates a reconnection with the “enduring self” — the person that existed before (and will exist after) the job title.
- Jubilación empowers lawyers to explore new dimensions of self-expression, creativity, and contribution.
“This is a chance to reimagine who you can be when you’re no longer ‘Counsel’ but simply ‘you,'” she says.
4. Re-Energize Relationships
- Many lawyers report above-average levels of loneliness (Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, 2018).
- 1 in 3 older adults also experiences isolation (University of Michigan, 2024).
- Parsons sees jubilación as a golden opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and re-prioritize people.
- This includes rekindling friendships, joining communities, and deepening family ties.
“For many of my clients, this becomes one of the most joyful aspects of their retirement journey,” Parsons shares.
Case Study: Rewriting the Retirement Script
One of Parsons’ clients, a senior partner at a top 50 AmLaw firm, felt intense dread about retiring. His entire identity was wrapped in his role. Through coaching, he began volunteering with a legal aid nonprofit, rekindled his love for jazz saxophone, and started teaching part-time.
He later reflected, “I thought I’d be irrelevant. Instead, I feel more authentic than ever.”
This is the heart of Encore, Parsons’ guidebook, which blends expert strategy with real-world case studies to help professionals thrive post-career.
Industry Implications: A Shift in Legal Culture
- The legal field is overdue for a rebranding of retirement.
- Firms should consider integrating jubilación-style planning into exit strategies.
- Succession planning, mentorship, and phased retirement could become cultural norms.
- As longevity increases, so does the potential for meaningful “third acts.”
“This isn’t about slowing down,” Parsons says. “It’s about realigning with what truly matters.”
What’s Next: A Joyful Retirement Movement
- June 25th marks the National Day of Joy — an ideal time to reflect on jubilación.
- Events like Lawyer’s Day (July 12, Mexico) and Love Litigating Lawyers Day (August 31) can spotlight wellness and long-term planning in the legal community.
- Parsons is launching workshops and resources at HighAchieverRetirement.com to help more professionals embrace the next chapter with vision and vitality.
Conclusion
Retirement doesn’t have to mean fading into irrelevance. As Encore author Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons makes clear, jubilación is a mindset — one filled with joy, purpose, and possibility.
Lawyers who embrace this shift can graduate into the most fulfilling chapter of their lives.
FAQ
What is jubilación and how does it differ from traditional retirement? Jubilación, from the Spanish word for joy, reframes retirement as a celebration of freedom and purpose, not an ending.
Why do many lawyers struggle with retirement? Lawyers often tie identity and purpose to their careers. Without proactive planning, retirement can trigger a loss of self-worth.
What is Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons’ approach to retirement? Through her book Encore, Parsons encourages high achievers to reframe retirement as a dynamic phase for growth, joy, and reinvention.
How can lawyers find purpose after leaving the practice? By exploring passion projects, community roles, or mentoring, lawyers can rediscover purpose aligned with personal values.
Where can I learn more about jubilación for lawyers? Visit HighAchieverRetirement.com or request Parsons’ media kit at ElizabethZelinkaParsons.OnlinePressKit247.com.
