So maybe you’ve realized a “traditional” legal career isn’t for you. That’s okay! There are lots of ways to use a law degree, as the Alternative Careers posts below explore.
And check out a first-hand account from a highly-accomplished BigLaw litigator who charted a new path — outside of BigLaw and outside of litigation.
Alternative Careers for Lawyers
- How to Practice Law Virtually Hillary Vaillancourt talks about how you can adjust your law practice to a virtual world.
- Want To Chuck Your Legal Career and Become an Entrepreneur? A Report From the Field Lots of attorneys dream of ditching the legal world and running their own business (cupcakes, anyone?). Before you jump, get the inside scoop on the entrepreneur’s life from Jeanne Pi, lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.
- Transitioning to a Non-Traditional Legal Career Law school often prepares students to go in one direction after school - to a traditional legal career, whether in a law firm, government work or a public interest job. Kathryn Blair writes about her non-traditional path to academia after a law firm career, as well as some other profiles of lawyer with alternative legal careers.
- Considering an Alternative Legal Career? Tips From a Professional Development Expert Not sure law’s actually for you? Serena Claire Josephs, professional development expert at an AmLaw 100 firm, talks about how to figure out what alternative career would be a better fit.
- Using Your Law Degree For a Career in Social Entrepreneurship Natalie Holzaepfel is looking at different law careers and specifically how to break into the hot area of social entrepreneurship as a new law school grad.
- What Else Can You Do With a Law Degree? Five Career Alternatives for JD's Interested in alternative legal career options? Conveniently, there are many jobs you can do as a law school graduate that don’t involve lawyering!
- Thinking About a Non-Traditional Law Career? Get a Bird's Eye View Jared Correia, Law Practice Management Advisor at the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program, shares his own pathway out of the practice of law and into a satisfying career helping lawyers.
- How to Find the Area of Law That's Right for You Hillary Vaillancourt discusses how to find a good fit for you career-wise and discusses some new practice areas.
- Are You an Entrepreneur Lawyer? Hillary Vaillancourt looks at some factors to consider if you're thinking about taking the entrepreneurial route with your legal career.
- Creative Career Options: Legal Psychology We discuss an interesting emerging area of legal practice — legal psychology. Maybe you can put that undergraduate degree to good use, after all!
- Alternative Careers: Career Clerkships Tina Arroyo shares her story of finding a career clerkship - and why this might be a great career path for some future lawyers.
- Lawyer Turned Wedding Photographer? Why Not?!? More of a creative type? Check out this interview with a lawyer who became a wedding photographer for ideas on putting your artsy side to work.
- How to Practice Law as a New Mom We hear from Hillary Vaillancourt about how she has learned to balance her career as an attorney with being the mom she wants to be.
- Want to Quit Your Job and Travel the World? This Entrepreneur Did Ever wanted to chuck your law job and travel the world? Well, we have the story of one lawyer who did just that!
- Alternative Careers - Investigator For Workplace Complaints Joanna Sattler, Law School Toolbox tutor and former BigLaw attorney, talks about her experience transitioning to the world of workplace investigations. She explains the positive and negative aspects of her current position and also talks about general advice for finding a non-traditional legal job.
Leaving Litigation & Leaving BigLaw
- Leaving BigLaw Litigation: A First-Hand Account What do you do if you're an unhappy, but successful, BigLaw litigator who has no clue what to do next? This first-hand series explores that question!
- Leaving Litigation: Preparing to Leave Naturally, you don't just typically decide to quit a BigLaw job on the spot. This post explores the factors to consider before making the big decision.
- Leaving Litigation: What Happens When You Quit When you finally DO give notice, what it’s like to go to cocktail parties when you’re not working? One lawyer's experience of a big job change.
- Leaving Litigation: What Comes Next So you've decided to make a career change. Now what?!?
- Leaving Litigation: How Do You Know When You're Ready to Leave? The critical question for anyone considering a career move: How do you know when it’s time to leave?
Want some help charting your path? Check out our career-coaching options at CareerDicta.com.