Should I look for a legal employer whose values match mine?

Q: A lot has been said about this online lately, but is there really such a thing as finding an employer with values that match mine and, if yes, should that be my priority if I want to be happy in the profession?

A: Every employer has values, whether they are commercial, community-oriented, internal-cultural focused, traditional vs innovative, or even all of the above.

Whether and how significant it is to you that your employer’s values should align with your own is a personal and frankly fluid decision. For example, as a young lawyer and newlywed, your financial security may be a greater priority than your deep-seated altruism - or - if you are a burned-out lawyer who has prioritized compensation for a long time, you may decide that your mental health requires an employer whose more flexible ethos and work requirements are a better fit for you at this point.

A person’s value priorities will shift over a career and so may that of a workplace, depending on its size, leadership, and circumstances. My advice, if your priority is happiness, is to make your best choice of employer for the nearer term and know that you can change jobs, and change jobs well, going forward should you and your employer become out of sync.