how to practice law and don't be a lawyer

by Dr. Marcos Satterfield 3 min read

Consultation, business and finance, and education are all options you can consider should you want to practice law in a different setting. You don’t necessarily need to be a defense attorney to practice law – consider whether your current education can prepare you for a similar career that isn’t so draining. Leaving Law Behind

Full Answer

What if I don't want to be a lawyer?

One benefit of realising early on that you don't want to be a lawyer is that you won't have to spend hours applying for training contracts, going to law careers fairs, doing vacation schemes and all the other things that aspiring solicitors and barristers have to do.

What is it like to practice law?

Practicing law is nothing like what you think it is. (Now, this is true, but I interned with my Aunt, a successful attorney, so I had an idea.) Being a lawyer is more about writing and less about being in the courtroom. (For most, this is true, but as a blogger, I write plenty at this point in my life, so that wasn’t it either.)

What can you do with a law degree instead of being an attorney?

For those who still want to be in the legal field but just not as an attorney, other options exist for those with a law degree. These positions include arbitrator, law professor, law school career counselor, and legal recruiter. While some people go into law for the money, a big paycheck isn’t guaranteed due to the current competitive climate.

Is a law degree worth it if I don't want to practice?

A law degree may not seem like a big deal to you now that you don’t want to practice, but in actuality, the knowledge and skills you acquired are incredibly valuable in the real world. Everyone is affected by laws; yet very few people actually know their rights or how the system works. That’s where you come in.

What is law school training?

Who said the law can be a valuable tool?

What is the hardest thing to come to grips with?

About this website

image

What should I do instead of being a lawyer?

Alternative jobs for lawyersParalegal.Investigator.Investment consultant.Mediator.Fund manager.Financial analyst.Realtor.Labor relations specialist.More items...•

Is a law degree worth it if you don't want to be a lawyer?

It's true: you can go to law school even if you don't want to be a lawyer. A JD can turbocharge your career prospects and teach you incredibly versatile and in-demand skills.

What is the easiest law to practice?

What is the least stressful type of law to practice?Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.

Why I should not be a lawyer?

Deadlines, billing pressures, client demands, long hours, changing laws, and other demands all combine to make the practice of law one of the most stressful jobs out there. Throw in rising business pressures, evolving legal technologies, and climbing law school debt and it's no wonder lawyers are stressed.

Can I start studying law at 30?

For three years Law Degree, one must be an Indian Citizen having completed Graduation in any stream from a recognised University within the age of 30 years, can apply. As you are now 36 years, you are not eligible to apply for any Law Degree, however you may take a Degree in Law through Correspondence course.

Is a law degree useless?

Law isn't a useless degree, it's just that there are more graduates than there is for the demand for those who wish to pursue it as a career. It's like this for most careers, especially in the humanities etc as STEM has a higher employability rate.

How many lawyers are unhappy?

Studies show that 56% of lawyers are frustrated with their careers.

What type of lawyers are the happiest?

The happiest attorneys, therefore, are those who experience a cultural fit. This means they work for firms where they are free to act independently, do work that matters to them and collaborate on teams with people who complement their personality and communication style.

Are B's good in law school?

Bs are perfectly acceptable grades in law school. What does a B grade represent? That a student has adequate mastery of the subject.

Why do rich people go to law school?

All told, access to additional academic resources definitely makes law school easier for wealthier students. Another reason why rich students usually have an easier time succeeding in law school is because they typically do not need to pursue work-study jobs to pay for living costs.

Is it fun being a lawyer?

Being a lawyer can be very fun and very rewarding. But as the other posts have indicated it requires a lot of work, time, money, and attention to detail. As with most challenging things in life it can be well worth it.

Is law still a good career?

The legal profession is one of the most lucrative industries in today's job market. Double-digit growth in recent years has produced healthy revenues and rising salaries. Associates in the nation's largest law firms start at $150,000 to $180,000, and partners earn average salaries in excess of $1.2 million.

Come to Terms With Your Decision

My earliest indication that I might be in the wrong field was when I seriously considered keeping my minimum wage retail job after law school gradu...

Merge What You Have With What You Want

As Jess Salomon, the lawyer-cum-comedian puts it, “The law can be a valuable tool, but no matter what you’re doing with it on a daily basis, it can...

Use Your Analytical Skills to Figure Out How to Get There

Law school trained you to get to a firm conclusion in a reasoned way—and that’s precisely the skill you should apply when you’re looking at jobs th...

16 Best Non-Legal Jobs for Lawyers | Indeed.com

Whether you want to be an educator, a marketer or an executive, lawyers can easily find rewarding careers. Discover 16 of the best non-legal jobs for lawyers.

I don't want to be a lawyer anymore : offmychest

I (Male 22) fell in love with my gym bro (Male 24). Problem being, I thought I was straight. This all started a few months ago, I noticed this guy at my gym and I knew something was immediately off.

10 Alternatives to Becoming a Lawyer: The Flexibility of a Legal Education

Galleria Office Tower 100 W. Broadway, Ste 600 Glendale, CA 91210 Email: admissions@alu.edu Local: 213-252-5100

60 Alternative Jobs for Lawyers | Indeed.com

By Indeed Editorial Team. Updated February 22, 2021 | Published April 17, 2020. Updated February 22, 2021. Published April 17, 2020

What is law school training?

Law school trained you to get to a firm conclusion in a reasoned way—and that’s precisely the skill you should apply when you’re looking at jobs that , at first glance, may not seem like a good match for someone who just graduated from law school.

Who said the law can be a valuable tool?

As Jess Salomon, the lawyer-cum-comedian puts it, “The law can be a valuable tool, but no matter what you’re doing with it on a daily basis, it can be very procedural and narrow.”

What is the hardest thing to come to grips with?

One of the hardest things to come to grips with is losing the prestige that came along with the legal field. As a lawyer, you’re valued counsel to your clients, and let’s face it—just mention that you’re a trained attorney to anyone within earshot, and watch how the tone of the conversation changes.

Is law school just for aspiring attorneys?

In the millions of articles sharing advice about whether to attend law school, the majority seem to speak to one audience: younger people (in college or newly graduated) who know they want to embark on a grand journey to becoming a lawyer.

How can a legal education tie into other professions?

I work as a fee-only financial planner, helping couples and families navigate questions like, “When can I retire and how much can I spend?” or “Can I take big trips for the next five years while I’m healthy, or will that impair my dignity and independence in 25 years?” My work requires reading the tax code with precision and understanding how Massachusetts’ estate tax would apply to my clients’ estates.

What's law school like for a working professional?

On the subject of fitting law school into an already busy schedule, I’ve found Parkinson’s Law to be true: that, paradoxically, constraints can be accretive to innovation, and time to complete a task seems to shrink or expand to fit the available block on our calendars.

What to do if you went to law school and decided not to practice law?

If you went to law school and decided not to practice law, make sure that your potential employer knows you aren’t looking for these jobs just because you can’t find a job as a lawyer.

What are some alternatives to becoming a lawyer?

10 Alternatives to Becoming a Lawyer: The Flexibility of a Legal Education. What does one learn in law school? Yes, law, okay. But the principles of law are only the tip of the legal iceberg. Law school is all about building character and gaining a trove of life skills. Life skills that come in handy for law school graduates seeking alternative ...

What is the importance of law school?

Law school is all about building character and gaining a trove of life skills. Life skills that come in handy for law school graduates seeking alternative careers to a becoming a lawyer. The percentage of law students who end up working as lawyers has fluctuated significantly in the past decade. Around forty percent of law graduates do not practice ...

What is the job of an arbitrator?

If your favorite aspect of learning law was mediating conflict between two parties, this is the path for you. Acting as an informal judge, an arbitrator helps move a case along before it goes to trial. A Juris Doctor degree is not required, but this job is often held by someone with a law degree.

What are the skills you gained during your legal education?

Writing, negotiating and public speaking are valuable, but it’s not only the skills you gained during your legal education that will help you in both the legal and general workforce — it’s the character traits you built. Committing yourself to your education can be a challenge and if your goal is to earn an advanced degree, especially a Juris Doctor (JD), than the word “challenge” is an understatement. School (especially law school) is a place where one learns resilience and to push past perceived limits. It’s a place where you become you.

What is a legal marketer?

Responsible for client relations, reputation management, and much more, a legal marketer is the marketing expert in a firm with extensive knowledge about the services they are promoting. Having a JD is not essential, but it helps.

What percentage of law graduates do not practice law?

Around forty percent of law graduates do not practice law. This is partly due to the economy, with firms hiring fewer in-house lawyers, but it is also because more and more students are realizing the value of a law degree in countless other professions — from HR to government to business to teaching.

Why don't I want to be a lawyer?

One benefit of realising early on that you don't want to be a lawyer is that you won't have to spend hours applying for training contracts, going to law careers fairs, doing vacation schemes and all the other things that aspiring solicitors and barristers have to do. This gives you time to figure out what career you really want ...

What is law training?

Law trains students in research, analysis, criticism and communication. You have to engage in problem solving, memory recall and wider theoretical discussions - sometimes all at the same time. These skills are useful in all kinds of professions.

What percentage of law graduates got jobs in 2009?

Data acquired by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) revealed that 54.5% of law graduates in 2009 got jobs in the professional, scientific and technical activities sector which, although including the legal profession, also covers accountancy, PR, advertising and recruitment.

Should career decisions be rushed?

Career decisions are some of the hardest you'll ever make and should never be rushed. If you're having a bad time with your degree, you should look to speak to your university's support staff before making any big decisions.

What are some jobs that can be done with a law degree?

These positions include arbitrator, law professor, law school career counselor, and legal recruiter.

Why are sports and entertainment agencies always looking for law school graduates to become agents?

Sports and entertainment agencies are always looking for law school graduates to become agents because they know those grads are motivated, intelligent, and can negotiate deals. For more non-legal job ideas, see: 60 Nontraditional Job You Can Do with a Law Degree.

What is law school training?

Law school trained you to get to a firm conclusion in a reasoned way—and that’s precisely the skill you should apply when you’re looking at jobs that , at first glance, may not seem like a good match for someone who just graduated from law school.

Who said the law can be a valuable tool?

As Jess Salomon, the lawyer-cum-comedian puts it, “The law can be a valuable tool, but no matter what you’re doing with it on a daily basis, it can be very procedural and narrow.”

What is the hardest thing to come to grips with?

One of the hardest things to come to grips with is losing the prestige that came along with the legal field. As a lawyer, you’re valued counsel to your clients, and let’s face it—just mention that you’re a trained attorney to anyone within earshot, and watch how the tone of the conversation changes.

image