Alternative Careers for Lawyers
With just one year left until your J.D. is complete, you may be wondering what’s next. You’ve spent four years, and thousands of dollars, to get a law degree—so what happens now?
The answer is simple: You use it! And if you’re feeling at all like your legal education has been a waste, we’re here to tell you that it hasn’t been. You have plenty of options to use your education and experience—you just might not recognize them yet.
Here’s a list of some alternative careers for attorneys who want to keep their legal skills sharp while working in industries outside of the courtroom:
-Litigation Consultant/Investigator/Paralegal: A litigation consultant helps attorneys prepare for trial by assisting them in gathering evidence and providing other services like fact checking or case management. Litigation investigators gather evidence for criminal cases, while paralegals help attorneys with administrative tasks such as filing documents or ordering supplies.
-Legal Writer/Editor/Translator: Legal writers are responsible for creating briefs, contracts, or other legal documents on behalf of their employers. Legal editors are responsible for making sure what their employers write meets.
Alternative Careers For Attorneys
1. Paralegal
National average salary: $51,455 per year
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.
Related: Learn About Being a Paralegal
2. Investigator
National average salary: $58,561 per year
Primary duties: An investigator or detective collects evidence and information regarding a crime. They have many responsibilities, including speaking to witnesses, searching databases and arresting criminals. They have strong attention to detail and use their analytical skills to help them solve a variety of cases.
3. Investment consultant
National average salary: $59,171 per year
Primary duties: Investment consultants are investment professionals who help companies and individuals with their financial goals. Using their financial skills, they also develop investment strategies. Investment consultants work in a variety of workplaces such as banks, investment firms or simply on their own.
4. Mediator
National average salary: $64,623 per year
Primary duties: Mediators help two parties agree on a conflicting matter. They aim for civil communication and a timely and cost-effective agreement. Mediators also inform both parties of the mediation process, interview both parties, facilitate communication and answer questions.
5. Fund manager
National average salary: $66,110 per year
Primary duties: Fund managers oversee the management of a company’s funds. They also manage analysts, perform research and make various strategic financial decisions such as those regarding stocks, bonds and other fund securities.
6. Financial analyst
National average salary: $73,073 per year
Primary duties: Financial analysts perform various duties related to the analysis of a company or organization’s finances. They identify financial trends, offer advice to the management team, reconcile transactions and maintain a company’s database.
7. Realtor
National average salary: $79,106 per year
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.
Related: Learn About Being a Realtor
8. Labor relations specialist
National average salary: $79,486 per year
Primary duties: Labor relations specialists work within a company’s human resources department. Some of their primary responsibilities include interpreting employee contracts, implementing labor relations programs, developing policies and promoting compliance with various contracts.
9. Real estate agent
National average salary: $84,108 per year
Primary duties: Real estate agents represent the buyer, seller or owner of a real estate property. They attend client meetings, show the property to various parties and complete various office work.
Related: Learn About Being a Real Estate Agent
10. Contract manager
National average salary: $87,963 per year
Primary duties: Contract managers create, manage and oversee a company or organization’s various contracts. They are the point of contact between companies, employees and third parties and help settle negotiations. Ultimately, they see a contract through from fruition to execution.
11. Director of human resources
National average salary: $98,484 per year
Primary duties: A director of human resources (HR), or an HR director, oversees a company’s HR department. They supervise staff, offer advice regarding staffing plans, the budget, labor relations and other HR-related duties. Directors of human resources also assist with dispute resolution and negotiation tactic implementation.
Related: Learn About Being an HR Director
12. Management consultant
National average salary: $98,749 per year
Primary duties: Management consultants are working professionals trained to solve complex issues. They develop strategies to assist their clients in maintaining good financial and operational health. They have various responsibilities that include analyzing financial data, meeting with clients, evaluating an organization’s management staff and analyzing an organization’s business structure.
13. Private equity associate
National average salary: $102,793 per year
Primary duties: Private equity associates work in investment banking and handle a variety of related duties. Some of their responsibilities include fundraising, monitoring portfolio companies and reviewing confidential information memorandum.
14. Chief executive officer
National average salary: $110,547 per year
Primary duties: Chief executive officers (CEOs) are the highest-ranking officer or position in an organization. They manage and oversee a company or organization in its entirety. CEOs make a variety of corporate decisions, manage a company’s operations, communicate on behalf of the company to various parties including the public and shareholders, evaluate the performance of other executive leaders and create strategic goals.
Related: Learn About Being a CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
15. Risk manager
National average salary: $112,419 per year
Primary duties: Risk managers identify, evaluate and project potential risks that can affect a company or organization. They determine any potential impact and help companies eliminate or minimize any risks. Using their analytical and critical thinking skills, they assess a variety of risks, including strategic risks, compliance risks and reputational risks.