In this powerful episode of Corporate Law Lab, Neil Taylor is joined by Joe Ankus, President of Ankus Consulting and a former Big Law attorney who walked away from traditional legal practice to build a new career—and a healthier life. Joe shares his deeply personal journey through anxiety, burnout, and transformation. This conversation dives into the importance of mental health, the reality of legal recruiting, and the value of putting your well-being first.

This is Part 1 of a special two-part series. In this episode, we focus on Joe’s personal journey—what led him to step away from Big Law, how he navigated fear and burnout, and what he learned along the way.

📌 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we take a deeper dive into Joe’s work today, his approach to legal recruiting, and how he’s helping others find their path in the legal profession.

Topics Include:

• Why Big Law wasn’t the dream
• The moment Joe knew he had to leave
• How fear and mental health crises are too often hidden in law
• Advice for lawyers and students on setting boundaries and protecting your peace
• Practical mental health resources for legal professionals

 Resources:

988: https://988lifeline.org/?utm_campaign=Vibrant-988GamingQ225&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Search&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22522709209&gbraid=0AAAAA93Lt9nDqI9-c9dMLAorUaRfv5XfF&gclid=CjwKCAjwx8nCBhAwEiwA_z__03rbjqtCy7bDMDMraC192p6pC5Ci5zHijDM_nmo_7g9BHtjZ2nWV9hoCs2kQAvD_BwE

Nami: https://www.nami.org/about-nami/

Linktree: https://zurl.co/QeXeY