In the very first episode of Outlaws, Kate and Shayla open up about what it really feels like to step away from long careers in law. This isn’t a polished success story. It’s about the messy middle of career change, the discomfort of not knowing what comes next, and the bravery of staying in that space long enough to discover something new.
Kate’s story
Kate spent decades in the legal world working and teaching in law, until a powerful instinct told her it was time to make a move. Without a clear plan, she handed in her notice:
“I just knew that it was time to wrap this career up with love and gratitude and move on.”
She took time out, walked the Camino de Santiago, and ended up reconnecting with the work that had always mattered to her: Legal Aid. But even that wasn’t the end of the story. After completing some time at Legal Aid, and realising the path ahead wasn’t right, she found herself sitting in the discomfort of uncertainty:
“I am sitting in the discomfort right now… I really don’t know. And I think there’s lots of the work that I’m doing that I love, there is still that sense for me of it’s not quite right yet.”
Shayla’s story: burnout and rebuilding life from the ground up
For Shayla, the breaking point came after 20 years in law, working with some of the most vulnerable clients while also running side businesses, sitting on boards, and raising a family. The pressure eventually tipped into full burnout:
“I was in deep physical burnout. I remember being on the floor in the fetal position, crying, unable to get up. I wasn’t sleeping. I was in pain all of the time, all of the day.”
Even then, she pushed herself to keep going:
“Even then, when I was in the middle of that, I was thinking, you’re so weak, keep going. What are you doing? If you just get this next thing done, then things will be better tomorrow.”
Burnout forced her to pause, take stock, and finally ask the harder question: Who am I without my career? Over time, she began to rebuild her identity and design a new way of working that wasn’t just about survival.
Career change is messy, and that’s the point
This episode explores what it really feels like to stand in the middle of a career pivot. It’s not about having all the answers, but about admitting you don’t, and choosing to stay curious anyway.
Kate and Shayla share why transferable skills matter, why it’s tempting to retreat into what feels safe, and why leaving a legal career (or any long-term profession) is rarely a clean break.
As Kate puts it:
“Leaving, essentially a 30 year career, even though I didn’t know if that was necessarily what I was going to do, the instinct to leave was very internal and very strong.”
Why this conversation matters
Whether you’re in law or any other high-pressure profession, burnout and career change can feel isolating. This episode is about making those conversations less lonely.
It’s for anyone who’s ever asked: Is this all there is? What happens if I walk away? Can I really start again?
In this episode
– Kate’s leap out of law after 30 years — and what walking the Camino taught her
– Shayla’s story of burnout, chronic pain, and unravelling identity
– The temptation of safety versus the pull of something new
– How transferable skills can open unexpected doors
– Why it helps to share stories while still in the messy middle
This episode is for you if:
– You’re considering leaving a career but don’t know what comes next
– You’re in the middle of burnout and wondering if there’s another way
– You’re thinking about a career change or career pivot and want real stories, not polished success
– You’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this all there is?”
