how do you transition from attorney to other jobs

by Bernhard Hane 5 min read

How can I move from being a lawyer to another job?

Have you ever daydreamed about working outside traditional legal practice in an alternative career role? Perhaps you went to law school to practice law but have decided you want to take your talents elsewhere. How you transition into a new role sets the tone for your post-transition experience. So, how do you set yourself up for a successful transition to alternative work?

How do I transition from being a lawyer to a freelancer?

You may be thinking.. Why is this brand and marketing agency writing about lawyers careers? Well, the short story is that our founder Mike was a lawyer, who transitioned into recruitment, ran an agency that helped the world’s largest law firms hire in 30 different countries, and now has built a thriving brand and marketing business.

What can I do instead of being a lawyer?

Apr 12, 2021 · Book Summary: “This book contains career exercises, practical career-finding techniques, and a compendium of 800+ ways to use your law degree inside, outside or around the law.”. Lawyer, Interrupted: Successfully Transitioning from the Practice of Law–and Back Again (2015), by Amy Impellizzeri.

What are the alternative career options for lawyers in Australia?

If you are considering leaving the law, the first thing to consider is whether the practice of law is the problem or if the real problem is in your law practice: your area of concentration, your job, the firm you are with, the case load, financial pressures, a lack of balance between professional and personal life, etc. Some of my clients, upon ...

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What other jobs could a lawyer do?

Alternative jobs in lawbusiness development.writing or editing legal content.human resources.learning and development.journalism.marketing.public relations.recruitment.

How do I transition out of being a lawyer?

Tips for Successful Transition from Traditional Legal Practice to an Alternative CareerKnow What You Do Not Like To Do. ... Have A Life Outside Of Being An Attorney. ... Consider Keeping Your Foot In The Door Of Traditional Practice. ... Focus On Your Finances. ... Have Thick Skin.

What Can You Do With a law Degree other than be a lawyer?

Possible job titles related to protection services and criminal justice, corrections and securityAdministrative officer.Correctional parole officer.Correctional service officer.Correctional services manager.Crime analyst.Crime information analyst.Crime prevention consultant.Criminal intelligence analyst.More items...

What is the closest job to a lawyer?

Alternative jobs for lawyersParalegal.Investigator.Investment consultant.Mediator.Fund manager.Financial analyst.Realtor.Labor relations specialist.More items...•Feb 22, 2021

What is the highest paid attorney?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

Why do I hate being a lawyer?

The main, fundamental reason you hate being an attorney is because you really don't like the work you do all day. There is no creativity, no use of your real skills and strengths. ... You may have trouble accepting that being an attorney is not what you're meant to do. You may not want to believe this.

What field of law is most in demand?

Highest Client Growth Rates by Practice AreaInsurance: +2190% (YoY) ... Criminal Law: +1680% (YoY) ... Civil Rights: +1160% (YoY) ... Personal Injury: +660% (YoY) ... Estate Planning: +330% (YoY) ... Bankruptcy: +280% (YoY) ... Employment Law: +190% (YoY) ... Business Law: +140% (YoY) (Top growth area: Contracts)More items...•Sep 21, 2020

Is law the hardest degree?

Law. Law is officially the hardest subject to get a first class degree in4, so we all know it's hard going. If you think you know what it's like to have a lot of reading, go and talk to a Law student.

What does LLB stand for?

Bachelor of LawsThe LLB is an abbreviation of the Latin 'Legum Baccalaureus' which translates to a Bachelor of Laws degree.

What type of law is least stressful?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

What is the easiest lawyer job?

Here are three areas of law that are relatively low-stress.Estate Planning. When I went to law school, I was determined to not practice estate planning. ... Real Estate. Another great option is real estate law. ... Traffic Law. Another low-stress area of law is traffic law. ... There Are Lots Of Options.Mar 24, 2021

What are three similar occupations to a lawyer?

Similar OccupationsOccupationJob Duties2020 MEDIAN PAYJudges and Hearing OfficersJudges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.$124,200Paralegals and Legal AssistantsParalegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers.$52,9202 more rows•Sep 8, 2021

What is journalism in law?

Lawyers typically have stellar interview and investigatory skills, and a real interest in telling people's stories. The road to the top as a journalist is a long one, but there are opportunities in various formats if you're willing to start at the beginning. You might need to re-learn how to write non-legalese, but that should be fun.

Is PR a good career?

If you're any good at networking and building professional relationships, PR is a viable option for you. Most positions are within large corporate firms, but there is a number of smaller, boutique agencies popping up, where you may find a more hands-on role.

What does a mysterious project manager do?

Ah, yes, the mysterious project manager. What do they actually do? Well, they manage projects (funny that) in a variety of businesses and contexts. Like account management, it requires strong organisational skills, high-level problem-solving ability, emotional intelligence and basic people management skills. You also need to have a keen intellect to be able to spot gaps, as well as to plan and execute. This is a great career option that can take you across a range of industries.

Is marketing a career for lawyers?

If you're more on the creative side, marketing is an alternative career for lawyers to consider . You can easily teach yourself the digital marketing skills required with one of the many online courses out there. Once you've learnt the ropes, you have the option of working in-house (at a start-up or an established business), at an agency or freelancing.

What is career change?

Career change is part and parcel for professionals at all levels, particularly as our economy continues to move in the direction of more flexible, casualised and part-time work. The career trajectories of full-time professionals are also at the mercy of the economy and technological change, which are causing huge flux. As a result, the best of any profession will always need guidance on their options and how to move up their current hierarchy or step sideways to a new one. Career management requires you to build deep industry knowledge and networks.

Can a lawyer move into a financial services firm?

Lawyers with funds, superannuation or financial services regulatory experience have the option of moving into large financial services firms. If you have regulatory experience with issues around market conduct, white collar crime, insider trading, or the superannuation and funds industries, there could be an interesting regulatory role for you at one of these firms.

What are some other jobs that lawyers can do in Australia?

Options for Australian lawyers include the ACCC, Federal Police, ASIC and the ATO, just to mention a few.

What is legal sales?

Legal Sales. Legal sales is a particularly appealing field if you want to take on a social, flexible, and heavily client-facing role. In a sales position, you’ll engage with experienced attorneys and financial professionals and you’ll still get to use those legal research skills you picked up in law school.

Who is Lindsay from Bloomberg?

She is a former practicing attorney currently working at Bloomberg Law. When not at the office, Lindsay practices yoga, hones her skills in the kitchen, and spends as much time as possible enjoying her Greenwich Village neighborhood with friends and family.

Is it a good idea to become a real estate broker?

Property values are increasing, and that means it’s prime time to become a broker—especially if you have a law background. “Brokers with law degrees and legal experience are considered extremely valuable in the real estate world,” notes Blair Parsont, a real estate attorney who regularly works with brokers and sales agents. “Their ability to understand contractual and legal issues makes them more helpful to both their clients and the real estate professionals with whom they work.”

What is legal recruiting?

5. Recruiter. Legal recruiting is a busy and highly lucrative industry, but it’s also very stable and tends to transcend dips in the economy. After all, law firms always require specialized attorneys, and recruiters are their link to finding those needles in the proverbial haystack of applicants.

Can a law firm hire a full time attorney?

When law firms and legal departments face a temporary overflow of work, hiring a full-time employee isn’t always the best solution —instead, companies often turn to freelance and contract attorneys. Hiring lawyers who work on a project-by-project basis helps the company manage costs—while continuing to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work. In fact, the demand for these attorneys is so high that it’s sparked the growth of companies like Custom Counsel, LLC, a legal freelance network that places experienced attorneys in temporary roles.

What questions should I ask about career change?

When readers who aren’t lawyers write to ask me about career change and fear, I often go back to this series of questions about risk assessment. Once you’ve got a handle on worst case scenarios, your fears eclipse a lot less of your heart and mind. This means asking yourself: 1 What scares you most about changing careers? 2 What do you gain the most by making this shift? This can be personality-based or lifestyle, or more. 3 What’s the worst case scenario for you if things go pear-shaped, for your life or emotional state? 4 And (this is important!) what skills do you have to mitigate that worst case from happening?

What is the War of Art?

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield. I’ve found creativity and fear are two sides of a very similar, shiny coin. This book helps you get more comfortable with that gnawing fear of impending change, because (as Pressfield argues) that fear is actually a very good sign — it tells us what comes next. The more scared we are of what we are excited about work-wise, the more we need to give it a shot. Instead of being held back by that deep, powerful resistance, Pressfield tells us to face it head on.

How has the internet broadened the possible space of careers?

The internet has massively broadened the possible space of careers by allowing you to scale almost any niche obsession or interest. The fundamental property of the internet is that it connects every human on the planet to every other. Check out his full piece here to try the Paint Drop Method for yourself.

What to do if you have been through law school?

Having been through law school and possibly some form of employment, you may have valuable contacts in your network. Use them to your advantage and ask if anyone knows of nonlegal opportunities that may interest you. Even if your connections are in the legal industry, they may introduce you to employers in other fields.

Can I get a job with a law degree?

Your law degree and the skills you obtained as a lawyer can help you get a job in a variety of industries. Even if you no longer want to practice law, there are several ways to put your experience to good use. Here are some tips to aid your job search:

What are the duties of a paralegal?

Primary duties: Paralegals use their knowledge of the law to perform various legal tasks for lawyers. Employed by lawyers, corporations or other entities, paralegals draft legal documents, do legal research and attend client interviews. They also conduct investigations, though they don't represent clients in court as a lawyer does.

What is the primary job of an investigator?

Primary duties: An investigator or det ective collects evidence and information regarding a crime. They have many responsibilities, including speaking to witnesses, searching databases and arresting criminals. They have strong attention to detail and use their analytical skills to help them solve a variety of cases.

What is investment consultant?

Primary duties: Investment consultants are investment professionals who help companies and individuals with their financial goals. Using their financial skills, they also develop investment strategies. Investment consultants work in a variety of workplaces such as banks, investment firms or simply on their own.

What are the primary duties of a mediator?

Primary duties: Mediators help two parties agree on a conflicting matter. They aim for civil communication and a timely and cost-effective agreement. Mediators also inform both parties of the mediation process, interview both parties, facilitate communication and answer questions.

What is the job of a fund manager?

Primary duties: Fund managers oversee the management of a company's funds. They also manage analysts, perform research and make various strategic financial decisions such as those regarding stocks, bonds and other fund securities.

What is a recruiter?

Recruiters establish a company’s recruiting requirements, create and maintain applicant source channels, “herd the cats”, manage all logistics of the hiring process and understand all legal and compliance requirements.

What is the role of CFO?

The CFO’s team provides financial projections and accounting services to enable the company to make informed and strategic decisions moving forward. And in smaller companies, the CFO oversees many administrative functions, like Legal, HR and Administration.

What is corporate trainer?

Corporate trainers are really just teachers and must be able to speak in front of a crowd, produce and understand training materials, work closely with individuals and evaluate how well employees have learned.

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