Don't want to be a lawyer anymore but don't know what else to do? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any resources for someone who is currently a lawyer, no longer wants to be, but doesn't know what else to do? More specifically, I never enjoyed law school, probably should not have gone in the first place, and was too much of a coward to admit it and drop out. I also don't really want to do anything related to my undergraduate majors. I went straight from undergrad to law school so do not have a wealth of work experience outside of this field.

Any thoughts/ideas? Thanks!

[Desert Fox]

fobstory.jpeg

[Anonymous User]

describe your current practice. might be a matter of changing what you do as a lawyer rather than changing careers entirely.

[DELG]

Why don't you just start browsing job postings and see if anything sounds good, then apply, interview, and ask lots of questions before accepting an offer? Why do you have to have some sort of grand plan for "what to do"?

[bballbrett5]

What do you like doing?

[KMart]

How do you feel about recruiting? That's another job which takes virtually anyone willing to do it and isn't sales.

[Anonymous User]

Can you do sales?

Highly doubt I'd have any success there.

describe your current practice. might be a matter of changing what you do as a lawyer rather than changing careers entirely.

I've had two jobs already (2013 graduate) and hated both, even though both were somewhat different.

Why don't you just start browsing job postings and see if anything sounds good, then apply, interview, and ask lots of questions before accepting an offer? Why do you have to have some sort of grand plan for "what to do"?

True, just wasn't sure if there was some generally accepted ideas about how to spin being a lawyer then making a career change/if employers in other fields are skeptical of this/what other fields are looking for the "transferable skills" that an ex-lawyer may have.

[Desert Fox]

fobstory.jpeg

[Desert Fox]

fobstory.jpeg

[KMart]

How do you feel about recruiting? That's another job which takes virtually anyone willing to do it and isn't sales.

recruiting is defnitely sales.

Eh I guess if you think about it. Still, OP, how do you feel?

[CanadianWolf]

Agree that more background information is necessary in order to generate reasonable suggestions.

[Anonymous User]

If you want ideas about transitioning to something vaguely ralated to what you do, then you gotta tell us what you do.

No I want to run as far as possible from this life while somehow being attractive to employers.

How do you feel about recruiting? That's another job which takes virtually anyone willing to do it and isn't sales.

recruiting is defnitely sales.

Eh I guess if you think about it. Still, OP, how do you feel?

Doesn't sound appealing to me.

[CanadianWolf]

If lawyering, sales & recruiting are out, then consider teaching while writing & tutoring on the side.

[Desert Fox]

fobstory.jpeg

[Anonymous User]

If lawyering, sales & recruiting are out, then consider teaching while writing & tutoring on the side.

Applied to one tutoring job and asked my friend about it who only tutors. Thanks for the suggestion.

Supply chain management

Application development

Don't know anything about these but will look into. Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Figure out what you're actually interested in doing next and then start thinking about how to move in that direction.

You'll likely face an uphill battle transitioning out. Employers will want to know why you no longer want to be a lawyer and the reality is that not many attorney skills are directly transferrable to non-legal professions. You can pitch the soft skills as much as you can (ie. critical thinking, writing, presentation/public speaking, etc.), but in this market, many positions are looking for specific skill sets. Cast a broad net and be prepared to start over at the bottom of the ladder in a new career. While being an attorney might show employers that you're competent, that alone won't get you a different job. Sell your experience (both legal and non-legal) on both your resume and in any interviews you get.

[xiao_long]

Can you do sales?

Highly doubt I'd have any success there.

describe your current practice. might be a matter of changing what you do as a lawyer rather than changing careers entirely.

I've had two jobs already (2013 graduate) and hated both, even though both were somewhat different.

OP, could you tell us what specific aspect of lawyering you find so distasteful? Are you in big law? I think some feedback on your part could help the lurkers on here better ascertain if they should really become lawyers. I'm sure there are tons of people ambivalently signing up for law school and ending up three years down the road in the same shoes as you are.

[Johann]

just here to re-recommend DFs choices. Sales jobs are pretty understaffed and pay handsomely because our generation is too risk averse and views the field negatively.
Supply chain management is a good field with lots of positions.
Application development also.

It is boring, but you can use your legal background for lots of compliance jobs in big banks. Lots of trust work and anti money laundering.

[Anonymous User]

I'm OP

Figure out what you're actually interested in doing next and then start thinking about how to move in that direction.

You'll likely face an uphill battle transitioning out. Employers will want to know why you no longer want to be a lawyer and the reality is that not many attorney skills are directly transferrable to non-legal professions. You can pitch the soft skills as much as you can (ie. critical thinking, writing, presentation/public speaking, etc.), but in this market, many positions are looking for specific skill sets. Cast a broad net and be prepared to start over at the bottom of the ladder in a new career. While being an attorney might show employers that you're competent, that alone won't get you a different job. Sell your experience (both legal and non-legal) on both your resume and in any interviews you get.

Any thoughts on how to figure out what you're actually interested in?

Can you do sales?

Highly doubt I'd have any success there.

describe your current practice. might be a matter of changing what you do as a lawyer rather than changing careers entirely.

I've had two jobs already (2013 graduate) and hated both, even though both were somewhat different.

OP, could you tell us what specific aspect of lawyering you find so distasteful? Are you in big law? I think some feedback on your part could help the lurkers on here better ascertain if they should really become lawyers. I'm sure there are tons of people ambivalently signing up for law school and ending up three years down the road in the same shoes as you are.

I am not in big law. This job is transactional in nature; the other job I've had since graduating law school was a non-practicing JD-preferred job. Unfortunately, I don't have a fantastic answer as to why I do not like my jobs except that I just find them uninteresting, and I dread going each morning. Also I do hate billing hours.

just here to re-recommend DFs choices. Sales jobs are pretty understaffed and pay handsomely because our generation is too risk averse and views the field negatively.
Supply chain management is a good field with lots of positions.
Application development also.

It is boring, but you can use your legal background for lots of compliance jobs in big banks. Lots of trust work and anti money laundering.

Thanks for the input.

[Anonymous User]

Consulting if you went to a T-14

[barkschool]

.

[seespotrun]

I dunno but sucking dick seems preferable to lawyering

[blsingindisguise]

Can you do sales?

Bro?