what to do with my law degree now that i dont want to be a lawyer

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.

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What if I don’t want to become a lawyer?

You’re bringing a unique and valuable skill set to the table—just be clear about how that translates into your dream job. As soon as you know don’t want to pursue a legal career, deconstruct what you need to do to get from point A (law school) to point B (dream career), and then start making a plan to get there.

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.

What degree do I need to become a lawyer?

You will need to earn your bachelor's degree before being able to earn a law degree. Choose a college or university that offers a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies or a comparable program, make sure it's accredited and earn competitive grades in your courses.

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 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.

How do you pivot out of law?

Pulling off a career pivot may require you to return to school for a different degree, certificate, or credential. If you are planning to leave Big Law, a pivot or alternative career usually involves a reduction in income and possibly some investment in a new degree or certificate.

How do you transition from a legal career?

Tips for Successful Transition from Traditional Legal Practice to an Alternative CareerKnow What You Do Not Like To Do. ... Have A Life Outside Of Being An Attorney. ... Consider Keeping Your Foot In The Door Of Traditional Practice. ... Focus On Your Finances. ... Have Thick Skin.

What other jobs can lawyers do?

If you want to stay in the legal sector, you can use your skills in jobs such as:business development.writing or editing legal content.human resources.learning and development.journalism.marketing.public relations.recruitment.

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.

What Can You Do With a law degree other than be a lawyer?

While these skills are important in almost any job, here are 10 careers that value law graduates highly.Accounting. ... Journalism. ... Recruitment. ... Politics. ... Management consulting. ... Judge's associate. ... Human resources. ... Wealth management / investment banking.More items...

What type of law is least stressful?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.

What is it called when a lawyer doesn't do his job?

Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.

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.

How do I find an alternative career?

Here are 11 tips to consider when searching for career alternatives or options:Stay where you are. ... Add new skills. ... Work to gain transferable skills. ... Volunteer. ... Work in a part-time job. ... Try freelance work. ... Network at industry events outside your own. ... Find a mentor.More items...

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...

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.

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.

How to become a lawyer in the US?

1. Earn your bachelor's degree. You will need to earn your bachelor's degree before being able to earn a law degree. Choose a college or university that offers a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies or a comparable program, make sure it's accredited and earn competitive grades in your courses. Consider completing internships ...

How much does an attorney at law make?

Attorney-at-law. National average salary: $68,987 per year. Primary duties: An attorney-at-law is the general term for someone who is licensed to practice law, and they can work in several fields. For example, an attorney-at-law may be a real estate attorney or an estate planning attorney.

What is the job of a paralegal?

Primary duties: A paralegal is responsible for assisting an attorney with legal matters, including preparing correspondence, filing necessary court documents and conducting legal research. They also maintain contact with the client by gathering information, keeping them informed of the next steps in a case and answering any basic questions.

What are the different types of law degrees?

Depending on your end goal, there are different types of law degrees you can consider, including: 1 Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies (BSLS) 2 Master degree options 3 Juris Doctor (J.D.) 4 Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)

What is a masters in legal studies?

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) An MLS is designed for people who want to work in the legal field in a larger capacity than a bachelor's degree can provide, yet do not want to be a practicing attorney. This degree will provide you with legal knowledge so you can work in compliance, federal regulations or as a consultant.

How much does an immigration lawyer make?

1. Immigration lawyer. National average salary: $66,226 per year. Primary duties: Immigration lawyers work closely with people who are entering the United States from another country by helping them obtain a green card and apply for citizenship.

How much does a law enforcement officer make?

Law enforcement officer. National average salary: $51,876 per year. Primary duties: A law enforcement officer keeps a community and its citizens safe from crime. They may do this by patrolling certain public areas, issuing tickets and warnings to those who are breaking the law and responding to emergency calls.

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 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 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.

Who graduated from law school?

Cynthia McFadden, currently the senior legal and investigative correspondent for NBC news, graduated from Columbia Law School. Jeff Greenfield, TV journalist (CBS-2007-11) and current political analyst on NBC, graduated from Yale Law School. These are just two examples where law graduates have utilized their learned skills to synthesize ideas, information, and communicate it clearly to an audience. Just as an attorney would in a court room.

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

The same qualities required to be great lawyer must be mastered to excel in broadcast journalism: 1 Judgment: draw reasonable, logical conclusions or assumptions from limited information 2 Analytical skills: distill large piece of information into something manageable 3 Research skills: able to research quickly and effectively 4 People skills: be personable, persuasive and able to read others

How many hours does a mediator take?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most mediators complete a 40-hour basic mediation course and a 20-hour advanced training course.

What is the job of a real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers serve two primary functions in the real estate world. They either act as litigators or handle the legal aspects of real estate transactions. Real estate lawyers deal in real property and mediate real estate transactions gone sour. A real estate lawyer must obtain a juris doctor (JD) degree from a school accredited by the American Bar Association along with an attorney’s license through passing the bar exam. Some law schools may provide the option of specializing one’s studies around real estate law. After graduation, continuing education may be required yearly or every three years as it is so in forty-five states.

What is the Attorney General's Honors Program?

Within The United States Department of Justice is the Attorney General’s Honors Program-the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level attorney hiring program of its kind. Every year, various components and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices hire entry-level attorneys through the Honors Program. The number of entry-level attorney positions varies from year to year. Eligibility is generally limited to graduating law students and recent law school graduates who entered judicial clerkships, graduate law programs, or qualifying legal fellowships within 9 months of law school graduation and who meet additional eligibility requirements.

What are the classes in estate law?

Estate law classes include topics like asset management, estate planning, family law, taxation, real estate law, and trusts.

How many hours do you have to work in a law firm?

The 40+% who chose to work in a law firm may be subjected to 70 hours of work weekly. Unless, you are fortunate enough to start your own practice, be prepared to put in 12 hour days and weekends. The financial benefits can be substantial, especially in personal injury law, but your personal life may be non-existent.

What can I do with a law degree?

Development Agencies – A law degree can help if you plan on working with a non-governmental organization. In many cases, the work they do in other countries requires legal knowledge in order to pursue their mandate. Government And Politics – It is very common for politicians to have a legal background. Banking And Finance – Financial fields such as ...

What are the best fields to study with a law degree?

Government And Politics – It is very common for politicians to have a legal background. Banking And Finance – Financial fields such as taxation, estates, and real estate can certainly benefit from having employees with a law degree. Even if you don’t want to practice law in the finance sector and prefer to deal with the money, ...

What are some good jobs for lawyers?

7 Different Career Options For Lawyers Who Don’t Want To Be Lawyers 1 Negotiation And Conflict Resolution – You don’t need a law degree to work as a mediator or contract negotiator, but legal knowledge will certainly help make you stand out in the field. 2 Development Agencies – A law degree can help if you plan on working with a non-governmental organization. In many cases, the work they do in other countries requires legal knowledge in order to pursue their mandate. 3 Government And Politics – It is very common for politicians to have a legal background. 4 Banking And Finance – Financial fields such as taxation, estates, and real estate can certainly benefit from having employees with a law degree. Even if you don’t want to practice law in the finance sector and prefer to deal with the money, having a legal background will definitely prove to be an asset. 5 Entrepreneur – Many business owners who have law degrees credit their degrees for helping them understand and negotiate contracts and build a successful business. 6 Academia – You might not want to practice law, but maybe you want to teach it? In addition to teaching, you could also do research on the law and look at ways to improve or update it. 7 Public Interest Advocacy – Use your law background to influence policy decisions.

Law School is Great for Skills Development

Despite the naysayers opinions that I have seen online, I can honestly tell you that that law students learn skills that are highly applicable to a variety of fields and in your daily life outside of work. Three years of law school have done wonders for me in developing marketable skills.

A Law Degree Can Open Doors to Certain Fields

Although, a law degree is only required in a limited number of jobs (namely if you want to become a lawyer), it may open doors to other fields. Knowledge of the law can be helpful in a variety of careers from politics to business administration and management. There is a reason why so many of our nation’s politicians have a law degree.

Law School is Expensive

Law School is expensive and depending on the school you attend it may be extremely expensive. Just to give you an idea, the law school I attended charged more than $60,000 a year for tuition in 2020! That is before you consider housing and other living expenses, and before you consider the three years of lost income.

Law School is Time Intensive

Law school is significantly more time consuming than other graduate degrees. You will not have much time for hobbies, old friends or any other pursuits while you’re in law school. I had an online business that I felt I could manage during my 1L year of law school.

A Law Degree May Make it More Difficult to Find a Job

I mentioned that a JD can open some doors in the job market, but the inverse is also true. Many employers may skip over your resume believing that you are overqualified because you have a JD. One of the stereotypes about lawyers (whether it is actually true is neither here nor there) is that they tend to be risk-adverse in the extreme.

Law School is Not a General Graduate Degree

Law school in reality is a trade school that doesn’t really train students to practice the law. Students don’t learn how to practice the law, they learn various aspects of the blackletter law and to some degree learn how to “think like a lawyer”.

Conclusion

There are costs to attending law school for any student, including those who do intend to become a lawyer. For those considering law school but do not want to become a lawyer you will generally find that the costs outweigh the benefits.

1. Title examiner

Primary duties: A title examiner, also known as a title searcher or title abstractor, supports lawyers with various duties relating to real estate records.

2. Paralegal

Primary duties: A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant, is a professional who performs supporting tasks for lawyers, helping them prepare for trials, hearings, depositions or meetings. Among their primary duties, they conduct research and gather evidence for legal cases, write and revise legal documents and maintain records in a law office.

3. Police officer

Primary duties: A police officer is a public servant who enforces laws and apprehends individuals who violate them. There are different types of police officers. Some patrol and protect designated areas, while others investigate crimes by gathering and examining evidence.

4. Legal secretary

Primary duties: A legal secretary is an administrative assistant who's specifically trained to perform clerical duties in the field of law. Though they're commonly called legal assistants, legal secretaries don't perform substantive legal work, so there is little overlap between their role and that of a paralegal.

5. Mediator

Primary duties: A mediator is a professional who helps disputing parties resolve conflicts outside of court. They commonly work on cases relating to injuries, contracts and interpersonal disagreements. With excellent skills in problem-solving and listening, they encourage communication between the parties and facilitate negotiations.

6. Social worker

Primary duties: A social worker is a public official who helps people in need by directing them to resources that can improve their lives. There are various categories of social work, with workers specializing in the care of groups such as the poor, children, mental health patients, disabled patients and more.

7. Legal writer

Primary duties: A legal writer is a technical writer who writes for law professionals or about legal issues. There are various types of legal writers. For example, some are responsible for writing briefs, which are summaries of a party's argument in a legal case, and others may report on legal cases for newspapers, magazines or online channels.