According to a National Association for Law Placement report, only 51.3% overall landed jobs in private practices—a number fewer than any class in the last two decades. Monster spoke to a legal career expert, and she didn’t mention “lawyer.” Not once. Often face the difficult task of deciding what to do with their careers after law school. While many choose to practice law, several other options are available for those who want to use their legal training in different fields.
The most obvious choice for many lawyers is to go into business or government. Lawyers with solid business skills can find work as corporate counsel, while those with political connections can work in government or politics. Another option for lawyers is to become teachers. Law schools are always in need of professors, and many lawyers find teaching a rewarding and stimulating career.
Finally, some lawyers use their legal training in other fields such as consulting or writing. Lawyers with strong research and writing skills can find work as consultants or writers and may even be able to start their businesses.
5. Communications
Lawyers often face a difficult decision regarding their career: should they go into private practice, work for the government, or join a large law firm? While all of these paths have benefits, several other opportunities available to lawyers can be just as rewarding.
One option is to work in corporate communications. In this role, you would be responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies for the company. This could include drafting press releases, creating marketing materials, and managing social media accounts. Corporate communication is a fast-paced field that requires strong writing skills and knowledge of current events.
Another option is to become a legal analyst. Legal analysts provide analysis of legal cases for television shows, news programs, and online publications. They must be able to quickly digest complex legal documents and explain them in clear and concise terms.
4. Marketing
Lawyers often face the challenge of finding a fulfilling job and providing a competitive salary. While many lawyers opt for traditional law jobs in firms or government positions, some other options can be just as lucrative. Marketing is one such field.
Marketing jobs can vary significantly in duties and responsibilities but often involve working with clients to create and execute marketing campaigns. This can include developing marketing plans, building and running advertising campaigns, managing social media accounts, etc.
Lawyers’ skills through legal training make them well-suited for some marketing roles. Lawyers can think critically, analyze data, and solve problems–all necessary skills for success in the marketing field. Additionally, lawyers have strong communication skills and can build relationships with clients.
3. Education
Lawyers often face the dilemma of continuing their legal education or taking a job in a non-legal field. While some may feel that they are giving up on their dream of becoming a lawyer, there are many benefits to pursuing a career in a non-legal field. For one, lawyers can gain invaluable experience outside of the courtroom.
This experience can be beneficial when returning to law school or looking for jobs after law school. Furthermore, pursuing a career in a non-legal field can help lawyers network with people in other industries and learn about different aspects of the business. Lastly, working in a non-legal field can provide lawyers with a stable income and benefits not always available in the legal profession.
2. Finance
Lawyers looking for a change in their career field, but don’t want to leave the legal profession, have many options outside of the law. Many finance jobs for lawyers can utilize the skills developed during law school and in practice.
One such option is becoming a financial advisor. Financial advisors help people save for retirement, purchase homes and manage their money. They typically work with clients on a one-on-one basis to create investment plans that meet the client’s specific needs.
It would be best if you were licensed as an investment advisor representative (IAR) to become a financial advisor. This requires passing an exam given by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Another option is becoming a bankruptcy trustee. Bankruptcy trustees administer bankruptcy cases and liquidate assets to repay creditors.
1. Consulting
Lawyers who are seeking a career change may want to consider consulting. Consulting allows lawyers to maintain their legal skills while working in a field that is not law-related. There are many different types of consulting, and the best way to find out if it is the right fit for you is to try it out. Consulting can be an excellent way for lawyers to use their legal skills in a new way and learn new skills.
Many lawyers become consultants because they want more flexibility in their work schedule or they want to work from home. The flexibility that is consulting offers can be a great perk, but it is essential to remember that consulting is still a job and requires work.
If you are interested in becoming a consultant, many resources are available to help you get started. However, the best way to learn about consulting is to try it yourself.
