Category Archives: Alternative Legal Careers

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September 29, 2011

Alternative Legal Careers

Alternative Legal Career

Tara Kachaturoff of TeachMeLaw Radio and I spoke recently about alternative legal careers, what that means, ways to determine what you want to do and what you can look forward to.

Read the bolded language in the interview transcript below to see if an alternative legal career is right for you and let me know if you have any follow-up questions.

 

 

Tara: What are some examples, maybe two or three non-traditional legal careers that a student could possibly consider once they graduate?

…

Jessica: …Basically anyone who is a lawyer working at a law firm not practicing law has an alternative legal career. Alternative legal career, quasi-legal career, non-legal career, it’s a gray area. Either working with lawyers or using your law degree in a non-legal way…

I don’t think that someone that has stopped using their degree altogether, and is doing something entirely different has an alternative legal career. They just have a different career, not to exclude them from the group. But anyone at a law firm in a recruiting department that’s a lawyer and more JDs required for those positions.

Since there are fewer outside hires, a lawyer that maybe been a partner or a high level associate, they might transition into a non-legal role after a firm because they’re already inside. They know the people and the organization.

Tara: They could easily get into doing the recruiting and things like that…

Jessica: Yeah, exactly.

Tara: Even in compliance with the firm and there are a lot of other positions that don’t require you to be billing all those hours that you have to bill.

[laughter]

Jessica: Exactly. There are a lot of financial professionals with their law degree. Really, you can make it up. Really knowing what you enjoy doing will enable you to help you to know what to pursue. If you don’t love people, then being a legal recruiter isn’t the ideal position for you.

Tara: Exactly.

Jessica: Really knowing yourself, knowing what industry you want to go into. And that’s so crucial. Because if you’re pursuing an alternative legal career, you can’t fake it. If you’re going to an interview for a position or for informational interview you have to know what you’re talking about because the first question they’re going to ask is, “Why don’t you want to practice anymore and why do you want to do this?” You have to know why.

Tara: Definitely do your homework on those questions. Talking a little bit more about that, I know we talked about people making transitions from being an attorney to an alternative legal career. What are some things they need to consider like if somebody was at a large firm right now and they’re thinking of jumping into something else? I know you said they can go and interview people from those different areas that they’re interested in. They could take CLE, which is Continuing Legal Education.

Jessica: Right.

Tara: What are some things that they have to consider on the personal side like looking at themselves introspectively to handle that transition? For instance, I know how much I had to change in the things I had to deal with transitioning from corporate position in finance to starting my own business.

There are a lot of things you go through especially when you had a long career in the prior employ. What are your thoughts on that?

Jessica: One of the things that was most helpful when I was doing my informational interviews. And I wish I could remember who said this. He said, “If you can put your ego aside, if you are OK. Plan it with a legal recruiter in a firm. If you are OK planning the party at the partner’s house and not being invited to stay for dinner, then you can do this job. But if you cannot put your ego aside, if you’re not OK not being the lawyer and being the help, then you’ll be OK.”

If you can’t put your ego aside, then this isn’t the job for you. Also know especially if you’re at a big firm and you leave, the salary will not be the same. It’s nearly impossible to find that in any other type of legal or non-legal positions so you have to be prepared for that.

Tara: Meaning it will be lower.

[laughter]

Jessica: Yes. Sorry, that wasn’t clear. Yes, it will be lower.

Tara: No, it was clear. I assume that some attorneys are making especially if they’re part of the partnership. And you’re leaving that. You’re leaving your equity behind.

Jessica: Exactly. The largest part of leaving the practice of law to become a non-lawyer, especially if you’re planning to stay within a legal world and work with lawyers, is knowing that you’re always an attorney. And I do always introduce myself first as an attorney. You may not always be as respected as you once had been, right or wrong.

Thank you Casting Words for this transcript.

September 21, 2011

Teach Me Law Radio Interview

Radio Interview Job Search

Image from Teach Me Law Radio

I was recently interviewed by Tara Kachaturoff of Teach Me Law Radio, a blogtalk radio station “with one objective in mind, to learn about the law and it’s impact on our lives.”

Tara and I spoke about my business, Attorney’s Counsel, as well as other topics related to my work as Chair of the Law Student Perspectives Committee at the NYCBar, including, law school and it’s continued viability, legal job searches, alternative legal jobs, tips for recent law school graduates and common resume mistakes I see in my practice.

I have included the audio from our interview here. There are many other topics that Tara and other expert interviewees have covered so please take a look and pass along the link if appropriate.

Next week, each day, I will highlight one topic from my interview since Tara and I were only able to touch on each one briefly.

I am looking forward to answering your questions as well.

June 15, 2011

Lawyers are here to help!

Are you curious about alternative legal careers? There are many options, not just various careers you can pursue, but lots of people who can help you along the way to your dream job. We are lawyers and we’ve been where you are. Law Students. Recent Graduates. Professionals dissatisfied with their careers. Job seekers seeking something new.

You are not alone. Here are a few job search tips that apply to everyone but are especially important when you are beginning your alternative legal career search. The bonus is that you already know how to do these things…you’re a lawyer!

March 28, 2011

Dream Job? Practice makes perfect!

Doctors practice medicine. Lawyers practice law. We PRACTICE. We say we’re experts and some of us are, but we are always practicing, gaining new skills and bolstering others.

If you are not sure that you want to practice law you are not alone. You have options. If you have practiced for years you have most likely gained transferable skills. It is those skills that make you a valuable candidate for a job.

If you are a law student or recent graduate and do not yet know how what it is actually like to practice law, do not worry, there are many ways to practice. Just remember, practice makes perfect.

Everyone wants their dream job, but you have to practice before you reach your goal.

February 24, 2011

What do you want to be?

Many women know what they want to be when they grow-up. Yesterday my 2.5-year-old daughter wanted to be a doctor-mommy-good-girl. I promised her I’ll work hard so she can be whatever she wants and she promised me the same.

What she ends up doing professionally may not exist yet. I won’t go down the slippery-this-and-that-didn’t-exist-when-I-was-her-age-slope (car phones, VCRs, fax machines, the internet, Starbucks!) but it’s equally thrilling and terrifying to imagine who and what she will be.

I recently asked my mother if she imagined when I went to law school that I would not only not practice law but would start my own company and help others pursue their own alternative-legal careers. She said no, she hadn’t imagined that for me. The relationship between mothers and daughters is a topic for another post (or 100 posts).

There are many lawyers, women and men, who are in law school or have been practicing for years and either know they want something new outside of the law or just have a feeling practicing is not or is no longer for them.

I knew at college graduation I didn’t want to practice law, but I went to law school. The path I took was not always in logical order and certainly was not without bumps and obstacles. I hope that when my daughter reads this article she knows that she can be anything she wants to be and that she can make it up as she goes along.

Here is some advice for those of you just starting on your path. Let your resume be your guidepost in your career path.