{"id":99681,"date":"2025-01-09T10:03:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T18:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/01\/09\/the-great-escape-nonlegal-careers-for-lawyers\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T10:03:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T18:03:12","slug":"the-great-escape-nonlegal-careers-for-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/01\/09\/the-great-escape-nonlegal-careers-for-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Escape: Nonlegal Careers For Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you a lawyer interested in moving to a nonlegal career? Start that journey here.
\nThe post The Great Escape: Nonlegal Careers For Lawyers appeared first on Above the Law.<\/p>\n

\"briefcase<\/p>\n

(Photo by Taylor Hill\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ed. note<\/u>: This is the first in a series of articles by our friends Neil Handwerker and Kimberly Fine of ex judicata<\/a>, who will be writing about lawyers interested in transitioning to nonlegal careers.<\/em><\/p>\n

The wave of lawyers and law students interested in leaving law for new careers continues to grow exponentially.\u00a0 It was with that tailwind that we launched ex judicata in July of 2023.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

ex judicata Hypothesis: \u201cEvery practicing lawyer knows at least two other practicing lawyers who would like to leave law for a new career.\u201d<\/p>\n

ex judicata Hypothesis #2: \u201cEvery civilian knows at least one practicing lawyer* who would like to leave law for a new career.\u201d<\/p>\n

*My cousin, my friend, my ex-wife, my brother-in-law \u201c\u2026is a lawyer and they\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

ex judicata was designed to be the first total solution for lawyers and law students interested in leaving law for new careers.\u00a0 Here are the Top 10 things we have learned to date:<\/p>\n

1. Against \u201crecovery\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

Lawyers who have left law and friends and family of lawyers who have left law use the phrase \u201crecovering lawyer\u201d accompanied with a chuckle way too much. There are three problems with this.<\/p>\n

Not funny.\u00a0 Not original and to quote the mighty Gabriel Byrne in The Usual Suspects, \u201c<\/i>You\u2019re missing the point!\u201d\u00a0 You are always a lawyer and should be proud of all you have accomplished.\u00a0 This is just a new chapter where you will still be calling on your JD skill set.<\/p>\n

We had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Scott Westfahl at Harvard Law School last year.\u00a0 He told us: \u201cWhen I left my law firm for a nonlegal job, I had a lot of people asking me at the time, \u2018What are you doing? You\u2019re throwing away your 10 years of practice and your law degree.\u2019 I\u2019m like absolutely not, because I <\/b>knew I could leverage all my experiences to do well on my new chosen career path.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Two converging themes driving the exodus<\/b><\/p>\n

Lawyers who have hit the wall and\/or dislike practicing law and want to find something else.<\/p>\n

Lawyers who enjoy practicing law but would like to move to a career more in line with their passions and\/or lifestyle.\u00a0 Never has the entire world of work been more transparent.\u00a0 Lawyers and law students are embracing the chance to use their JD skill set in alternative careers.<\/p>\n

3. Never too late for a Second Act<\/b><\/p>\n

While most of the activity is younger lawyers in law firms and law departments pivoting, there is a growing base of older, more experienced lawyers who want to make a change.\u00a0 We are seeing this most often in partners, say 55 and above, who have already enjoyed a successful legal career.\u00a0 They want a Second Act.<\/p>\n

The following example is illustrative: We were tasked by Marsh & McLennan to find a senior bankruptcy partner at a major law firm to come aboard in a newly created nonlegal job in their Global Turnarounds Group.\u00a0 We placed a Paul Weiss partner, Alan Kornberg, in the position, thankful for this unimagined Second Act.<\/p>\n

4. The JD ain\u2019t what it used to be<\/b><\/p>\n

The definition of a JD degree in the American work force is evolving.<\/p>\n

Old:\u00a0 A JD is a law degree.<\/p>\n

New: A JD is a foundation for myriad careers.\u00a0 Law being just one of many paths.<\/p>\n

Kellye Testy is the Executive Director & CEO of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and widely perceived to be the most influential person in legal education.\u00a0 One of her mandates is expanding the universe of opportunity for law students beyond the traditional practice of law.\u00a0 She gave us the following definition which we have co-opted and use all the time.\u00a0 \u201cA JD is a degree in complex problem-solving.\u00a0 And if there is one thing the world needs more of, it is\u00a0complex problem-solvers.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Asked and answered<\/b><\/p>\n

In LinkedIn polls we have conducted asking \u201cWhat is holding you back from leaving law?\u201d the answers rank as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Economics. Can\u2019t afford a cut in pay<\/li>\n
  2. Fear of change<\/li>\n
  3. Don\u2019t know what else to do<\/li>\n
  4. Perceived loss of prestige<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    6. However\u2026.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Yet, hands down, the question we have gotten most often since starting ex judicata is \u201cWhere do I even begin? (to try to find a new career).\u201d Nothing to do with how to afford to make a change or tips to overcoming fear.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

    This may make sense as, anecdotally, we have found in working one-on-one with lawyers, if we help them isolate a career more in line with their passions and purpose, money questions and fear become much more manageable.<\/p>\n

    7. Know thy coach<\/b><\/p>\n

    There are a boatload of lawyer coaches out there who will show you how to leave law.\u00a0 There is nothing new here.\u00a0 Back in 2014, Liz Brown in her book, Life After Law: Finding Work You Love with the JD You Have<\/i><\/a>, came up with this wonderful sentence, which we\u2019ve seen so many people use as if they just came up with it:\u00a0 \u201cLaw is the only career that has a sub-profession dedicated to helping people get out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s the problem.\u00a0 These lawyer coaches fall into three categories and one can easily get lost in the noise.<\/p>\n