I quit being a trial lawyer to become a comedian. I loved my job but knew I was ready for something different.

Paul Farahvar worked as a trial lawyer before becoming a full-time stand-up comedian.

Sarah E.

Larson Paul Farahvar went from law to stand-up comedy after some encouragement from comedian Bob Saget.

Farahvar did comedy on the side of trial law for years before becoming a full-time comedian.

Despite loving his work as a lawyer, Farahvar said he was ready for a new challenge.

This is an as-told-essay based on a conversation with Paul Farahvar, a touring stand-up comedian based in Chicago who previously worked as a trial lawyer.

This story has been edited for length and clarity.

Right out of law school , I started practicing at an insurance defense law firm.

I had won a case in the Illinois Supreme Court when I was only 25, which then led to places trying to recruit me.

I went to a firm that allowed me to work part-time, because I was also playing in and managing bands and doing entertainment law on the side.

Eventually, one of my partners and I split off and started our own law firm.

Comedy came into the picture by accident.

It was never on my radar when I was younger.

My friend was a stand-up comedian , and he asked me to go with him when he was opening for Bob Saget.