Alternatives Available In Legal Profession

Given the dissatisfaction rampant in the legal profession and the problems inherent in creating a part-time schedule, many lawyers now face tremendously difficult decisions:

• Do I give up the practice of law entirely?
• Is there some way to combine my practice with my other, equally important interests?
• Can I combine my practice with raising a family?
• If I do give up my practice, what else can I do with a law degree?
• How much money will I earn?
• How do I find a new job?

These questions, which have become all too common, often lead to a state of panic from which no rational decision can be made. There are no Martindale-Hubbell listings for nontraditional or part-time lawyers. For lawyers trained in the highly structured law school environment where getting hired was almost part of the curriculum, the prospect of leaving the profession can be daunting.

The good news for the lawyer pursuing alternative work arrangements is that what first appears as a murky road toward instability can be broken down systematically and logically into a series of viable options. Even more encouraging is the tremendous wealth of resource materials that have appeared in recent years. The world of nontraditional/alternative careers has developed into a veritable industry, ranging from books to newsletters to specialized career counseling consultants. As the industry evolves, these positions will become both more readily available and more "acceptable" in the eyes of the legal profession.


In general, making the move out of a traditional legal position involves three components: self-assessment, analysis of possible options, and decision making implementation. Examination of these components should not be treated in a simplistic manner. If you are dissatisfied with your practice, think about exactly why you are unhappy. Do you really dislike the practice of law? Or is it just that you hate writing briefs? Or that you hate working until 9:00 p.m. most nights and can't juggle work and family? Or that you hate living in a large urban environment?

Since practice in the legal profession is preceded by a rigorous course of study most often extracting a three-year commitment of time, energy and financial resources, it is readily understandable that any lawyer would first give serious thought to the implications of making a major move. A comprehensive self-assessment to elicit the potential for change may include, among other things, one's tenure and progression in the legal profession, the skills and experience acquired that may be transferred to another setting, the compensation differentials that may accompany such a change, the substantive knowledge required, the impact on personal or family lifestyle, whether the change translates into short-term or long-term employment, and most important, whether making the change will bring success in achieving the lawyer's ultimate goal.

After careful thought and analysis many lawyers realize it is not the practice of law in itself that bothers them. For example, one lawyer realized he was unhappy because he hated writing the memos and briefs necessary to litigation. He is now happily employed as a corporate lawyer with a large biomedical engineering company. Some lawyers, of course, do realize they were never intended to be lawyers in the first place and choose to make a gracious exit. Coming to an understanding of why they do not enjoy practicing law allows them to be firm in the knowledge that they have exhausted their options and frees them of guilt and doubt about leaving the profession.

PROFILES OF LAWYERS WHO HAVE LEFT THE LAW

From Lawyer to Law-Related Position David: Litigator to Bank Vice-President

David started his career as a standard litigator for a mid-sized firm in a large urban city. Like many other law graduates he had taken the best (and only) job that had been offered to him. Soon he wearied of the long hours, the long commute, and the adversarial nature of litigation. Two partners in the firm who practiced trusts and estates law asked him if he would like to work on a project, and he jumped at the chance.

Liking the calmer atmosphere and regular hours typical of trusts and estates work, David began to work exclusively for the two partners. He also started to work with trust officers in banks and got the idea that working in a bank would provide even more regular hours and a better quality of life. He used the annual listing of private banking departments in Trusts and Estates magazine, a trade publication his law firm received, as the basis for a mailing list.

Two months and twenty resumes later, he landed a job as a Trust Officer for one of the most prestigious banks in the country. Although he took a ten percent pay cut, the money was still quite good. As a Trust Officer, he works with the bank's wealthy clients on estates and trust accounts. The position is not in the legal department of the bank but does involve working with attorneys from outside firms.

David found the change from working in a law firm very refreshing. Everyone left at a reasonable hour in the evenings and weekend work was very rare. Family life outside of work was appreciated. The work itself was much less challenging, which was a mixed blessing. The pressure of law firm life had ebbed considerably, but David found himself doing a lot of paperwork that the paralegals would have ordinarily done in a law firm. There were also some glamorous aspects to the job, however, such as attending auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's for clients. "Like everything else in life, it was a trade off."

"Ironically, this type of job is perfect for outgoing, yet detail oriented people," according to David. The work itself is tremendously detail oriented and paper intensive. However, the position also requires an ability to entertain, win and retain clients and to bring in new accounts for the bank. In recent years the pressure to bring in business has increased as banks, like law firms, face increased economic hurdles.

After four years, David was promoted to Vice President. If he were to stay at the bank, he could pursue career paths in management or move laterally into a marketing oriented or financial (portfolio management) position. However, at this time David has mixed feelings about remaining in banking. "It is very corporate, very image oriented, and requires you to conform to certain modes of behavior and a very corporate culture", he said. Other possible related career paths he is considering would include working for a foundation or as a director of planned giving in a hospital or academic environment.

Moving to a Law Related Position: Emphasize Transferable Skills

Trust Officer:

Job Description:

Works with Documents Prepares Estate Tax Returns Manages Trust Accounts Recommends Financial Options Works with Wealthy Clients

Transferable Skills From Law:
Document Drafting/Reviewing Knowledge of the Tax Code Ability to Work with Numbers Detail Oriented Ability to Gain Confidence of Powerful Clients

From Full Time Lawyer to "Moonlighter"

Gail: Corporate Lawyer to Pasty Chef/Part-Time Lawyer

Some lawyers practice law on a full- or part-time basis and pursue an entirely different career "after hours." Some of these lawyers have come to terms with the fact that they do not enjoy practicing law but accept it as a means of financing what they really do enjoy.

The concept behind moonlighting is that many of these lawyers are happier with their lives overall even if they do not enjoy the "legal" half of their day. Generally their goal is eventually to move completely away from the law if their new career becomes sufficiently lucrative. At a recent panel discussion on this topic, a member of the audience asked how it was humanly possible to practice law and moonlight at night. A panelist who does both responded that the sheer enjoyment of her "moonlighting" as an artist was energizing rather than exhausting.

Indeed many lawyers recently have come to the same conclusions. One notable example is Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent and Burden of Proof and partner at Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, who writes during his daily train commute to work.

Gail, like David, took the best offer she got after interviewing on- campus at law school. She became a corporate attorney at a large law firm in the Midwest. At first, the job was very exciting. She was involved in high profile transactions and enjoyed the financial perks and comfortable lifestyle afforded by life in a large law firm.

After several years she started to become unhappy with the practice of law. "I'm capable at this, but I basically have no deep seated interest in finance or corporate law." Like many bright attorneys, she was doing well at her job but not moved by it.
Gail interviewed for a job in another area of the firm which did international corporate transactions. Again, she was interacting with high profile people, and traveled to Europe on business several times. Eventually, the same sense of dissatisfaction set in. She was still practicing corporate law, and becoming increasingly disinterested. At this point she had been working for the firm for seven years.

After considering (and rejecting) related positions, Gail finally decided to make the break. She gave notice and left her position with the law firm.

Gail then focused on what she liked to do outside of the practice of law, with the help of a career counselor. She had always been interested in writing, cooking and acting. She decided to enroll in a professional cooking school and started a year long course to become a pastry chef. She soon found herself happily immersed in the complexities of marzipan and butter cream frosting.

At the same time, as soon as she quit her job, new opportunities appeared. A former colleague and friend from the firm asked her to work part-time on several projects at a small private law firm. The theater group that she had been volunteering with asked her to cater one of their functions.

Like David, Gail has somewhat mixed feelings about her new life. She was very surprised, and gratified to find that leaving her job actually caused new, previously unanticipated opportunities to present themselves to her. She was amazed at the support (and sometimes envy) she received from her colleagues, her friends and her spouse.

However, she and her family have had to make some financial sacrifices and halfway through the year long course she has some doubts as to whether or not she wants to become a professional chef. Her feelings towards practicing law and giving up her high profile image are also unresolved. But she is more at peace with herself. "Towards the end of my career as a full-time lawyer I was unable to sleep." For now, Gail has decided to stick with cooking school. And the results may be sweet indeed. "The pastry course graduates have a one hundred percent employment rate." Gail may soon find many other lawyers joining her class.

Making the Break from Law Practice:

Pursue Your True Love Full-time and Turn Your Hobby into a Full-Fledged Career

• Try to remember what you liked to do before you became a lawyer
• Do self assessment exercises to highlight your interests
• Do volunteer work, take courses, or moonlight first
• Work part-time as a lawyer while developing your interest into a business
• Convince yourself that it's okay to enjoy what you are doing

From Lawyer to Non-Legal Professional Andrea: Government Lawyer to Journalist

One of the problems lawyers face in moving out of a traditional legal position is impatience. Yet slowing down can ultimately lead to a much more satisfying position. A move to a better quality of life with reduced work hours or a move to a non legal position may need to be accomplished through a two- or three-step transition. For example, a corporate lawyer at an urban law firm who found the work tedious and the hours incompatible with raising two children was able to make a successful two-step transition. She first took her corporate skills to an in-house position in a corporation in a suburban area. After establishing herself within the corporation and making friends with the right people, she was able to network herself into a non legal position doing corporate communications.

Once you are well liked within an organization, your employers will be more predisposed to accommodate you than if you were to approach them cold from the outside.

The day that Ronald Reagan was shot in the shoulder changed Andrea's life forever. Andrea, who graduated from a top ten law school in the late seventies, had taken a job in Washington, D.C. with a large government agency.

She was busy at work one day when she learned that Ronald Reagan had been shot outside of the Hilton Hotel. Curious, she walked from her nearby office to the hospital. Reporters, television crews, and police officers were excitedly trying to get information and control the crowds. At that moment, Andrea, observing the reporters at work, realized with sudden clarity that she was observing her own life dream: to be a journalist. She left the crime scene, and never went back to her office.

Soon after that day she sent away for applications to journalism school, and was shortly accepted by Columbia University's prestigious program. After working for several women's magazines for a short time after graduating, she received an offer from a national newsmagazine to be a reporter. She has been working there ever since, covering legal issues and the Supreme

Court for the magazine.

Andrea never looked back and never regretted her decision. "Life is too short," she said. Her chosen profession, like all others, is not without drawbacks. It involves hours that are comparable with practicing law, and is somewhat less lucrative. But Andrea knows in her heart that she is doing what she loves best. She had the courage to follow her instincts and is now at the top of her chosen profession.

Taking a Step Back to Move Forward Going Back to School to Change Careers

Sometimes changing careers involves obtaining another advanced degree. Lawyers have most commonly enrolled in graduate programs in:

• Journalism (MA. In Journalism or Communications)
• Psychology (Ph.D.)
• Business (M.B.A.)

Non-legal and Legally Related Job Titles:

Although there is no magical "list" of jobs for lawyers (especially high paying jobs), the following job titles held by lawyers may serve as means for brainstorming. We either personally know or have heard about a lawyer transitioning into every job title listed.

• Agent
• Arbitrator
• Assistant/Associate Dean Auditor
• Author Accountant
• Bank Vice President
• Bar Association Administrator
• Career Counselor
• Certified Financial Planner
• Commercial Real Estate Agent
• Computer Consultant
• Corporate Trainer
• Contract Attorney
• Department Store Buyer
• Designer/Developer of Trial Visual Aides Deposition
• Videographer
• Director of Career Services,
• Admissions or Alumni Affairs
• Editor
• Executive Director of Nonprofit Agencies
• Fundraiser
• Investment
• Banker
• Journalist
• Jury Consultant Law
• Librarian Law Professor
• Legislative Analyst
• Lobbyist
• Management Consultant Mediator
• Legal Software Developer/Vendor
• Legal Consultant
• Legal Headhunter
• Politician/Political Advisor
• President of a Corporation
• Psychologist
• Real Estate Developer
• Restaurant Owner
• Screenwriter
• Small Business Owner
• Special Event/Conference Planner
• Stockbroker
• Title Examiner
• Trust Officer/Estate Administrator

As you begin to explore alternative career options, associations are an excellent place to start your research. Almost every industry has one or more associations analogous to the American Bar Association. Most associations can provide you with information, a calendar of events, a membership directory and committee roster, educational programming information and a newsletter, often containing job listings.