Alternate Careers For Attorney Career Change

How to Navigate an Attorney Career Change

For a lawyer, taking the leap and making a career change can be a scary proposition. If you stop practicing law, are you throwing away all of your years of experience (and hard work!) and all of that training in law school? Is it ludicrous for an attorney to want to make a career change? The answer to both questions is not necessarily. There are all kinds of ways that you can leverage your education and work experience to land a job that is fulfilling and pays the bills. Here are a few steps on how to navigate such a career move:

1. Talk to employers about your overall experience. Did you write a compelling, persuasive brief? Did you negotiate a big deal? Did you manage a team of paralegals or other attorneys? Did you use your creative problem solving skills to produce results for your clients? Lawyers tend to think in terms of their practice areas. This kind of thinking short-sells their abilities. Your knowledge of your practice area can be obtained through studying. Your abilities to manage projects, supervise others, write effectively, analyze issues and negotiate deals are inherent talents upon which you can base a career change.

2. Consider becoming a consultant. Becoming a consultant is one of the easier way of making a career change. You can even start out on a freelance or ad hoc basis to gain some non-lawyer experience, all while keeping your regular job. This is a great way to test the waters and see what kind of positions are out there. It is also a way for potential employers to see the value you can bring to them. A recent graduate of our program wanted to transition into the computer industry. He offered to take on some non-legal projects for a technology company, and did the work on nights and weekends. They were so pleased with the results that they hired him full-time as Director of Special Projects. FYI set your fees high companies are much more willing to pay contractors a higher per-hour rate than hire somebody full time, so you should take advantage.

3. Expand your practice areas. Sometimes making an attorney career changeis more about getting away from a particular segment of law. One of our clients, a solo with a general practice, was very interested in financial planning. He took some courses and began studying for his CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation. After a time, he was able to add financial planning to his practice. This new area involves making presentations before investors, typically in small groups, and this satisfied our clients love of public speaking. Eventually, he was doing more financial planning for clients than he was lawyering! Expanding your practice area involves the excitement of learning new disciplines, and can also be a great additional revenue stream!

by: Bruce Blackwell

POST COMMENT

Career In Statistics Job Outlook Generalized For Sonography And Ultrasound Careers Explore one of the finest careers for English Degrees Find A Career As A Lgv Driver Find A Great Career As A Logistics Manager Rn Career - Jump In To A Lucrative Career Today Welding Degrees Are A Great Idea For Anyone Looking For A Career Enjoy Cooking? Get A Career As A Chef! Why Retail Is A Truly International Career! Listen Like An Executive A Three Step Process To Improve Your Career Progression Career Planning: A Significant Step With Long-term Consequences Students Appearing For Bba Are Sure To Have Bright Careers Career Choices