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Twelve Sexy Things You Can Do with a Law Degree That (1) May Make You Famous and (2) Do Not Require Practicing Law

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published September 29, 2014

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Twelve Sexy Things You Can Do With a Law Degree


Most attorneys are doomed to a life behind a computer screen and pretty boring lives. Here are 12 things that people with law degrees (or at least some legal education!) have done that made them famous without practicing law:

See the following for more information:
 
1. Become an Actor

There are tons of actors with law degrees:

 
2. Become a Media/Television Host

Lots of well-known media/televisions hosts have come out of law school.
 
Diane Sawyer 3. Become a Journalist

There are a ton of famous journalists with law degrees:
 
4. Become an Artist
 
  • Henri Matisse (French artist, gained his qualification in law after working as a court administrator)
  • Wassily Kandinsky (abstract artist, studied law at the University of Moscow)
Henri Mattise

5. Become a Musician
 
  • Julio Iglesias (received his law degree at Complutense University of Madrid)
  • Andrea Bocelli (Italian Singer, graduated from the University of Pisa)
  • Paul Simon (dropped out of Brooklyn Law School)
Andrea Bocelli

6. Become a Screenwriter
 
7. Become a Puzzle Maker

United States
Will Shortz (New York Times Crossword puzzle maker, University of Virginia Law School graduate)

Will Shortz
8. Become an Author
 
  • John Grisham John Grisham(The Firm, graduated from University of Mississippi School of Law)
  • Scott Turow (Presumed Innocent, graduated from Harvard Law School)
  • Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, studied law at Edinburgh University)
  • Washington Irving (Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, studied law in New York City under a judge)
  • Charles Perrault (Tales of Mother Goose, studied law in Paris)

9. Become an Entrepreneur

Being an attorney is a great path to being a successful entrepreneur.
 
10. Become a CEO

The number of CEOs who are attorneys is very impressive. Here are some Fortune 500 CEOs with law degrees:

Brian T. Moynihan

CEO Company Law school (name) (state)
Alexander, Anthony J. FirstEnergy University of Akron
Anderson, Richard H. Delta Air Lines, Inc. South Texas College of Law
Blake, Francis S. Home Depot Columbia University (NY)
Blankfein, Lloyd C. Goldman Sachs Group Harvard University (MA)
Braly, Angela F. WellPoint Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX)
Burke, Kevin Consolidated Edison Fordham University (NY)
Chambers, John T. Cisco Systems West Virginia University
Chenault, Kenneth I. American Express Harvard University (MA)
Conway, John W. Crown Holdings Columbia University (NY)
Crane, David W. NRG Energy Harvard University (MA)
Dauman, Philippe P. Viacom Columbia University (NY)
Diaz, Paul J. Kindred Healthcare Georgetown University (DC)
Dillon, David B. Kroger Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX)
Earley, Anthony F. Jr. PG&E Corp. University of Notre Dame (IN)
Engles, Gregg L. Dean Foods Yale University (CT)
Ettinger, Jeffrey M. Hormel Foods University of California-Los Angeles
Farrell, Thomas F. II Dominion Resources University of Virginia
Ferguson, Roger W. Jr. TIAA-CREF Harvard University (MA)
Finnegan, John D. Chubb Fordham University (NY)
Frazier, Kenneth C. Merck Harvard University (MA)
Greenberg, Lon R. UGI Villanova University
Haldeman, Charles E. Jr. Freddie Mac Harvard University (MA)
Johnson, William D. Progress Energy University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Kandarian, Steven A. MetLife Georgetown University (DC)
Kearney, Christopher J. SPX DePaul University (IL)
Kinder, Richard D. Kinder Morgan University of Missouri
King, David P. Laboratory Corp. of American University of Pennsylvania
Lipinski, John J. CVR Energy Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey-Camden
Mathas, Theodore A. New York Life Insurance University of Virginia
McGee, Liam E. Hartford Financial Services Group Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Moynihan, Brian T. Bank of America Corp. University of Notre Dame (IN)
Ninivaggi, Daniel A. Icahn Enterprises Stanford University (CA)
O'Brien, Richard T. Newmont Mining Lewis and Clark Law School (MA)
Otis, Clarence Jr. Darden Restaurants Stanford University (CA)
Rogers, James E. Duke Energy University of Kentucky
Roth, Michael I. Interpublic Group New York University
Roth, Michael I. Interpublic Group Boston University
Rubright, James A. Rock-Tenn University of Virginia
Rust, Edward B. Jr. State Farm Insurance Cos. Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX)
Skaggs, Robert C. Jr. NiSource West Virginia University
Smisek, Jeffrey A. United Continental Holdings Harvard University (MA)
Sorenson, Arne M. Marriott International University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Starks, Daniel J. St. Jude Medical University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Steiner, David P. Waste Management University of California-Los Angeles
Storch, Gerald L. Toys "R" Us Harvard University (MA)
Temares, Steven H. Bed Bath & Beyond University of Pennsylvania

Sam Zell from ValueWalk.com11. Become a Real Estate Developer
 
12. Become a Politician

Lawyers generally make up over 40% of the US Congress and over 60% of the US Senate. Many big-time politicians are/were attorneys:
 
  • Gandhi (trained in law at the Inner Temple, London)
  • Fidel Castro (graduated from the University of Havana)
  • Nelson Mandela (studied at University of Witwatersrand)

A surprising number of attorneys were also US Presidents:
 
  • John Adams (Harvard, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • Thomas Jefferson (College of William & Mary, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • James Madison (College of New Jersey, now Princeton, then read law)
  • John Quincy Adams (Harvard, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • Andrew Jackson (self-taught lawyer)
  • Martin Van Buren (Kinderhook Academy, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • John Tyler (College of William & Mary, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • James Polk (University of North Carolina, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • Millard Fillmore (clerked for and studied under New York Judge Walter Wood)
  • Franklin Pierce (Bowdoin College, then studied law)
  • James Buchanan (Dickinson College, then studied law)
  • Abraham Lincoln (No formal education, a self-taught lawyer)
  • Rutherford Hayes (Kenyon College, Harvard Law)
  • Chester Arthur (Union College, then studied law)
  • Grover Cleveland (apprenticed as a lawyer)Barack Obama
  • Benjamin Harrison (Miami University in Ohio, then studied law)
  • William McKinley (Allegheny College, Albany Law)
  • William Howard Taft (Yale, Cincinnati Law)
  • Woodrow Wilson (Princeton, UVA Law)
  • Calvin Coolidge (Amherst, then apprenticed as a lawyer)
  • Franklin Roosevelt (Harvard, Columbia Law)
  • Richard Nixon (Whittier College, Duke Law)
  • Gerald Ford (University of Michigan, Yale Law)
  • Bill Clinton (Georgetown University, Yale Law)
  • Barack Obama (Columbia, Harvard Law)
 
Please see the following articles for more information about nontraditional law jobs and alternative ways to use your law degree:
 

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

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