if you do not want to be a lawyer but still like the law, what career to take

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 are the best non-law jobs for lawyers looking to leave law?

Over ONE HUNDRED "non-law" jobs for lawyers like you looking to leave the law. And these are not fluffy, pie-in-the-sky, not-really-attainable, need-to-go-back-to-school-to-get-a-degree jobs like "computer engineer" or "data scientist" or "forest ranger."

Should lawyers consider a second career?

Since lawyers tend to be perfectionists, this may not be easy to swallow. But it’s important to have a realistic view of how your search for a second career is going to unfold. This gives you the freedom to explore different options, so you can create change in your life and find more fulfilling work. 3.

What type of person are you as a lawyer?

If you made it through law school, earned an advanced degree or worked full-time while earning your bachelor’s, you are most likely a certain type of person — one who is hardworking, responsible, and a critical thinker. You pay attention to details. You are able to see different sides of a problem.

Should you go to law school 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 job is better than a lawyer?

While Lawyer was named the 71st best job in 2016, the list was dominated by medical and technology jobs. According to U.S. News, the field of medicine is the most appealing because of the high pay, low unemployment rates, awesome work-life balance, and general job satisfaction.

What are 2 similar occupations to a lawyer?

Similar Occupations About this sectionOccupationJob Duties2021 MEDIAN PAYJudges and Hearing OfficersJudges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.$128,710Paralegals and Legal AssistantsParalegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers.$56,2302 more rows•Apr 18, 2022

What type of lawyer is the easiest to become?

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.

What careers are similar to law?

Possible job titles related to lawAdministrative lawyer.Advocate.Arbitrator.Attorney.Case manager.Commercial rights manager.Compliance officer.Compliance specialist.More items...

Is a career in law right for me?

A career in law can be rewarding for you and, in many cases, your bank account. But you'll need to put in a lot of time and effort to make it work. Is a career in law for you? If you're going to make the commitment to become a lawyer, you need to think long and hard about whether law is the right choice for you.

Which field of law is best?

Highest Paying Fields of LawLaw Firms/Corporate Counsel. Of course, law firms would come to this list. ... Litigation/Trial Advocates. ... Judicial Services/Civil Services. ... Academia/Professor of Law. ... Specializations- Cyber Law, Banking Law, Intellectual Property Law, etc. ... Judicial Clerkship.

What are the 7 types of laws?

CLASSIFICATIONS OF LAWPublic and Private Law.Civil Law and Criminal Law.Substantive and Procedural Law.Municipal and International Law.Written and Unwritten Law.Common Law and Equity.

Is law school difficult?

In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

What lawyers are the happiest?

Solo practitioners, small firm lawyers, in-house counsel and government attorneys fall somewhere in between the two. Those lower-paid lawyers are much more likely to report being happy, according to a write up on the research in The New York Times.

Is law a stressful career?

The Stress 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.

How many lawyers are unhappy?

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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 know if you are in Biglaw?

Things you need to know if you’re exploring alternative careers for lawyers: If you’re in Biglaw, you’re not a failure because you’re human (even though Biglaw makes you feel that way ). If you’re trying to figure out what else you can do with your J.D., don’t rely on prestige ( it’s a liar ).

Is a lawyer good at separating their identity from their job?

Lawyers are not good at separating their identity from their job. I don’t know about you, but when I was working as a litigator, I felt like I had no time to be anything but a lawyer. There just wasn’t much time for anything else. That’s a pretty suffocating feeling when your job makes you miserable.

Is the legal profession stressful?

It’s no secret that law is a stressful profession. Many lawyers struggle with anxiety, and the legal profession’s mental health stats are grim. Especially if you have a clinical mental health issue (and many lawyers do, and don’t even realize it ), the legal profession is practically designed to exacerbate anxiety.

Is being a lawyer stressful?

It’s no secret that being a lawyer is one of the most stressful jobs that you can have. There are task forces, books, and a multitude of articles written about lawyer stress and burnout.

Career transitions are rarely easy. Be kind to yourself as you try to find your next career path

Ed. note: This post is by Jeena Cho, a Legal Mindfulness Strategist. She is the co-author of The Anxious Lawyer (affiliate link), a book written by lawyers for lawyers that makes mindfulness and meditation accessible and approachable.

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How to be an attorney?

Think about all that you regularly do in your role as an attorney: 1 You speak and communicate clearly 2 You listen well 3 You show empathy 4 You are the "adult-in-the-room" 5 You write persuasively 6 You "connect the dots" for people and clients to see a desired future state 7 You strategize 8 You manage large projects (and lots of them) 9 You meet deadlines 10 You meet budgets 11 You present to high-level stakeholders 12 You upsell clients 13 You put out fires 14 You are the psychologist for your clients 15 You drive new business 16 As well as many others not listed!

What do you gain from leaving law behind?

And many Leave Law Behind course members gain not only a well-paid salary but also bonuses, stock options, and many perks and benefits. There is a great, wealthy life waiting for you once you commit to leaving the law. Don't let this idea that you cannot make money block your path to your ideal self.

Can you learn what you don't know?

Second, You can learn what you don't know very quickly. Sure, if you were to leave the law for a new "alternative" career, you would not be 100% proficient in all the required skills for that job from the beginning. And that's perfectly fine, because as an attorney, you can ramp up on learning very quickly.

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 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.

How to stand out in non-legal job applications?

To stand out in your non-legal job applications, and to show how your law school experience is indeed relevant, highlight the general skills you gained from each activity, rather than explaining the specifics of the activity.

What to do if you have been through law school?

Having been through law school and possibly some form of employment, you may have valuable contacts in your network. Use them to your advantage and ask if anyone knows of nonlegal opportunities that may interest you. Even if your connections are in the legal industry, they may introduce you to employers in other fields.

What are the duties of a paralegal?

Primary duties: Paralegals use their knowledge of the law to perform various legal tasks for lawyers. Employed by lawyers, corporations or other entities, paralegals draft legal documents, do legal research and attend client interviews. They also conduct investigations, though they don't represent clients in court as a lawyer does.

What is the job of a realtor?

Primary duties: A realtor is a licensed real estate salesperson who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors guide their clients through the transaction process of buying real estate. They also answer client questions, serve as a point of communication between buyers and sellers and keep the transaction process moving along.

What is a mediator?

Mediators also inform both parties of the mediation process, interview both parties, facilitate communication and answer questions. 5. Fund manager.