I hated my Big Law career, but stayed so I could achieve FIRE in 7 years. It came at the expense of my joy, but I have no regrets.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with retired lawyer Kristine Wu, 31, based in Hong Kong. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I pursued law solely because I saw it as a practical, respectable career, but I didn’t love it. Before starting my first job, I came across the financial independence early retirement (FIRE) movement, and I saw it as a way out.

By my first day in Big Law, I already had a 7-year escape plan laid out.

I lived frugally, invested wisely, and treated every dollar spent as another dollar away from my freedom. Over the next six years, I learned that saving so diligently came at the expense of my joy, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

I started planning for retirement before my first day of work

I got hired by a US law firm right after graduation to work in capital markets out of their Hong Kong office.

Before starting the job, I was looking into financial management tips when I came across the FIRE movement. It had never occurred to me that I could do anything other than work until retirement age, let alone generate a stable, passive income.

I calculated my savings rates based on my salary and expenses, and it became clear to me that a retirement in seven years was feasible if I was disciplined with my money.

I didn’t fit into the elite lawyer lifestyle

Every penny that wasn’t spent on food or rent for my small, shared apartment was invested in broad-based index funds because they yield an average return of over 10% annually with minimal effort involved.

I was also so busy working — I needed to be on call at any waking moment — that I didn’t have much time to spend money anyway. For four years, I invested a large percentage of my monthly paychecks.

I lived in opposition to my coworkers, most of whom seemed to enjoy the Big Law culture of going to fancy restaurants after work, wearing nice clothes, and buying the best new bags. The job title and transaction value of the deals made the job look glamorous, but the work and lifestyle weren’t fulfilling to me.

The first three years of my Big Law job were miserable

Despite planning on quitting law, I was so caught up in perfectionism and people pleasing that I put 100% of my energy into work, rarely delegated tasks to others, and made it my mission to prove I was excellent.

Having a clear goal of retirement kept me going. I didn’t consider quitting and finding another job because I didn’t see an alternative option that could give me the same financial return. My job paid me a high US salary with the very low Hong Kong tax rate.

Here’s how I made the best of a job I hated

Growing up, I felt praised for my ability to suffer, and I never felt that enjoyment was a good thing. But as I read more into FIRE and other alternative lifestyles, I began to adopt a more experience-oriented life philosophy with an emphasis on enjoyment in the present moment.

I decided it was worth it to splurge a little extra to move into my own place and host Couchsurfing guests. It was a way for me to make a bit of extra cash and help young adults who are traveling on an ultra-low budget.

Seeing my guests living so freely and with so much joy taught me that you don’t need a lot of money, you just need to be resourceful. I was inspired to take a two-week safari trip in Kenya in October 2024 — my first time outside of East Asia since starting my career.

I went on a vacation, and knew it was time to quit

For the first time in years, no one emailed or messaged me, and it felt so good. When I came back to Hong Kong, I just couldn’t mentally get back to work, so I put in my notice and started phasing out of work.

Although it was a year earlier than my initial plan, I felt financially secure due to substantial gains from my investments. I’m relying on cash and bonds for now and leaving my stocks untouched.

The freedom feels amazing

Since quitting, I’ve been busy spending time with loved ones, taking up hobbies like Spanish, and creating content.

I was afraid that I’d be attached to my identity as a lawyer, but I haven’t felt any sense of reminiscence since quitting. I think the only thing that I missed about work is medical insurance.

It feels amazing to be able to let go of the constant urgency of my law career and enjoy the freedom of owning my own time.

Do you have a story to share about an early retirement? Contact this editor, Manseen Logan, at [email protected].

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