3 Careers for Law School Graduates Outside the Legal Field
If you've realized that a traditional legal career path is not for you, you aren't alone. Perhaps you were turned off by some of the required law school material, or you graduated and started working at a law firm like you always dreamed -- and you hate it.
Don't panic. Your legal degree still has value.
Alternatively, maybe you're considering law school but can't picture yourself as a traditional lawyer. Whatever the case, below are some of the top nonlegal career fields for law school grads to consider.
[Learn about unique career paths for law school graduates.]
1. Marketing: If you have a flair for the creative, you may wish to explore marketing as a potential career. The writing and research skills you fine-tune as a law student will come in handy in the marketing field, where every word is perfected and extensive studies are performed to determine the best strategy to sell a product.
According to the U.S. News Best Business Jobs rankings, the median salary for a marketing manager, No. 44 in the overall Best Jobs Rankings, is more than $119,000. Since three years of law school can cost roughly $150,000, a career in marketing can help you pay off any debt you incurred. Keep in mind that if you don't have previous marketing experience, you may need to start at a lower level than manager and can expect to start at a lower salary.
2. The nonprofit sector: Someone with a law degree is well-suited to the nonprofit sector. It is ideal for students who were passionate about law school because they wanted to make a positive impact on the world.
Law school grads tend to be adept at empathizing with others and solving problems, and thus the opportunities in the not-for-profit world are plentiful. You could pursue a career in fields such as public interest law, business development or communications.
[Explore some nontraditional law school summer activities.]
Salaries in the nonprofit sector can vary widely. The good news is that law school financial aid is partially based on your postgraduate salary.
That means that if you take a job at a top firm with a high salary, you won't receive aid after graduating. However, if you embark in social service with a lower salary, you will likely receive some of your tuition back.
I worked with a student at Stratus Prep who got his law degree and immediately began working at a big firm. He didn't enjoy his work at all and was devastated that he had invested so much time and money in education for a job he no longer wanted. However, he was able to land a new job in the legal department of an environmental nonprofit, and he couldn't be happier.
3. Entrepreneurship: The problem-solving and critical thinking skills developed in law school prepare students to start a business. You will possess knowledge of legal documents and contracts that proves invaluable in a new business venture.
With your legal proficiency, you will probably avoid a lot of mistakes that fellow entrepreneurs make. As an entrepreneur myself, I know that my law degree has come in handy in more ways than I originally realized it would.
[Find out if you should pursue a law degree if you don't plan to practice.]
Clearly, it is impossible to estimate the salary of an entrepreneur because it depends on the success of your business. As you will likely hear if you explore this route, many new businesses fail. Carefully consider your options before launching a company and be sure to do your research and plan ahead.
These are just a few examples of the opportunities available to J.D. holders. While they may not be the traditional careers for law grads, they can be financially smart choices, particularly for those who already have a law degree who are searching for a nontraditional career. They can also be good options for practicing lawyers who are ready to transition to a new industry.
What's your ideal post-law school job? Let me know in the comments, email me or contact me via Twitter.
