A Former Attorney's Thoughts on the Legal Profession and Alternate Careers

I loved law school. I loved the research, the critical thinking and the writing. I didn't even mind first year exams. After my first year, I interned with the United States Attorney's Office and I enjoyed that too. I got to research and write and observe in court. After my second year, I was a summer associate with a small law firm. Again, it was mostly research and writing and all went well.

Then graduation happened. I had a job at the firm where I was a summer associate. It was a general litigation firm. I hated every minute of it. Now, I had interns doing the research and writing and I was expected to communicate with our existing clients, find new clients and go to court. Most of my work required very little thought and although I am a graduate of a top 25 law school, law school did not prepare me for this position. I continued with the firm for a year and then I decided to pursue alternate careers.

Deciding to leave the practice of law can be difficult. Family, friends and especially colleagues and classmates, often do not understand how you can go through law school and pass the bar exam and then leave the field. However, if you are unhappy practicing law, a career change can be just what you need.
It can be very liberating to make the decision to pursue another career but, it can also be very overwhelming. "They" say that there are many things you can do with a law degree but what exactly are those things? And, how do you decide on just one?

I found my best resource to be my law school's alumni career network. I was encouraged by the number of other graduates who working in education, business and academic fields. I talked to many of them to see what they liked and disliked about their new professions.

After speaking to one woman, I pursued a job in legal compliance with the state Department of Education. It was a job I truly enjoyed for several years. I did a lot of research and critical thinking. However, I didn't do enough writing. So, I have since left that job to pursue my writing career.

I do not regret my decision to go to law school (something I need to remind myself of when my loan payment is due each month). I enjoyed it, I learned a lot about myself, and I gained the skills I need to pursue a career in the field of my choice.