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Consider the career trajectory of former SSD corporate associate Raquel James.

Here she is in 2006, assisting Abbott Labs in a huge $3.7 billion acquisition:

Global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. is serving as Florida counsel for Abbott Laboratories in its pending multibillion-dollar acquisition of Kos Pharmaceuticals. Abbott announced the acquisition on Nov. 6 through a cash tender offer of US$78 per common share. Both companies are publicly held.

Abbott is a global health care products maker, and Kos is a specialty pharmaceutical company founded in Florida. The acquisition will expand Abbott’s presence in the growing lipid-management market. Abbott’s lead outside counsel Covington & Burling LLP called on Squire Sanders to support the transaction during the bidding stage.

Lawyers from three of Squire Sanders’ four Florida offices are participating in this engagement. They include Gary P. Timin (corporate and insurance, Tallahassee); Thomas R. McGuigan, Jeffrey I. Mullens and Scott M. Coffey and (all corporate, West Palm Beach); Thomas V. Eagan (real estate, Miami); and Craig D. Linder and Raquel James (corporate, Miami).

But last week Raquel, who is no longer listed as an attorney on the SSD website, was driving up to Tampa to learn how to fight foreclosures from the indomitable Legal Aid foreclosure expert April Charney:

"I've never done foreclosures, but we all have to eat,'' says Raquel James, a corporate lawyer who has driven from Miami to hear Charney.

Quite true.

Raquel, if you are out there -- hang in there.

I suspect your new career path will ultimately be a lot more satisfying and rewarding whether you do it for a year, two years, or a lifetime.