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“There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.”
–General Douglas MacArthur
Have you decided you no longer want to practice law and are ready to explore other careers? If so, that opens the door to a vast universe of exciting new possibilities. (Keep reading even if you still aren’t sure about leaving the law completely; it may help you make up your mind.)
This article will focus on identifying law-related options to add to your personal list of career choices. Law-related careers usually do not require an active law license, and are either in or connected to a legal environment. While they often require skills that make a legal background very useful, they may or may not require a J.D.
These careers are great to consider for many reasons—and not simply because it’s the path of least resistance. Working in a law-related field allows you to draw on your legal experience and still feel connected to the legal community. You’re also an attractive candidate for these careers. Because you understand the legal world, people will feel more comfortable doing business with you. Also law school trained you well for these positions: you can think critically, analyze impartially, find solutions, seek consensus, negotiate, and communicate well both orally and in writing—all of which gives you many advantages over other prospects.
Use An “Inside Out” Approach To Find Your Ideal Job
Dissatisfied lawyers often ask me, “Who will hire me? What job can I get?” These are great questions, but not the first ones you should ask. Instead, use an inside-out approach and ask yourself, “What do I want to do?” Try to answer as specifically and clearly as possible. Do you like to write? Train? Persuade? Investigate? Create? Use the answers you generate to guide you. Do you have any other interests and skills you might want to commingle with your legal training? What did you major or minor in as an undergraduate? Are those interests something you may want to pursue?
After you have some idea of what new career you’d like, start investigating possible paths. The list of possibilities is quite long, much too long to include in this article. You can do pretty much whatever you want to do.
You may not believe me—it’s normal to be skeptical of my optimism. But don’t take my word for it: instead, begin considering all the careers that are available to you.
