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Advice on tackling search for alternative career
Just because you have a law degree, does not obligate you to practice law.
Some lawyers seek alternative career paths for personal fulfillment while
others branch out for economic reasons related to the difficult job market.
Career experts gave advice to lawyers on the steps to take in an alternative
career search and how to approach the task during the American Bar
Association webinar “Alternative Careers: One Degree, Plenty of
Latitude,” sponsored by the ABA Center for Professional Development.
When beginning an alternative career search, you must first complete a selfassessment, said Cheryl Heisler, president and founder of Lawternatives,
which provides career counseling for lawyers. Heisler herself transitioned
from practicing law to the alternative role of brand manager in a major
corporation.
“You have to look inward and hold a mirror up to who you are, what you
like, what’s important to you,” she said.
Your next step is to do a market assessment to “drill deeper” into the areas
that interest you, Heisler said. She recommended educating yourself about
the field by reading industry publications, adding that if the topics can’t hold
your attention, then that field is probably not the best fit for you.
After doing your homework on the industry, you need to talk to people in the
field. Marc Luber, founder of JD Careers Out There, an online video resource
helping lawyers find fulfilling career paths, described informational
interviews as “essential” for lawyers looking to transfer to a different field.
“When you are out exploring what to do with your law degree beyond
practicing law, talking with other people will help you discover the many
ways that a law background can be applied, and it will help you envision
yourself in one of those roles,” he said.
Luber suggested meeting with lots of people in their actual workplaces,
which can provide you a “sneak peek” into the environment. He also
recommended asking for referrals of other people who have transitioned out
of law.
Finally, it’s time to get out there and sell yourself to land your desired job.
When discussing your work experience, Heisler suggested finding ways to
present your technical legal skills as transferable skills. For example, if you
do legal research and writing, you can highlight how a good legal writer has
to be able to organize and analyze content, write persuasively and make
deadlines, which are all valuable skills in other industries.
“Remember the burden is on you to explain how your background is an
asset,” Luber said.

He advised to avoid playing into the stereotypes of lawyers. “Listen more
than you speak. Don’t perpetuate the stereotype that no one can get a word
in when a lawyer’s around,” he explained. “Drop all the legalese. Speak like
a human with warmth and creativity.”
Also, be sensitive to your audience, Luber said. “Too many lawyers think it’s
persuasive to say that just because you’re a lawyer, you’re therefore
smarter and able to learn any job,” he said. That’s not persuasive and could
be taken as condescending by someone from a different background who
has worked hard in their field, he explained.
For more information on alternative careers, panelists recommended
checking out “The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention: Essential Survival Skills
for Any Economy” by Pamela Mitchell, the “Thrillable Hours” interview series
about alternative careers for lawyers on the blog Legal Nomads and Brazen,
a lifestyle and career blog for young professionals.
Kathy Morris, who founded Under Advisement Ltd. in 1988 to assist lawyers
in their job searches and to help them manage their careers, moderated the
webinar, part of the LIVE! Series of free monthly webinars for ABA members.
Past programs are available on demand for free to ABA members and cost
$95 per program for non-members.
This entry was posted on Thu Feb 20 13:57:28 CST 2014 and filed
under Center for Professional Development and Top Stories.
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