Vivek Manoharan, 2L
Contributor
On a rainy Tuesday evening during Passover break, the New York City Bar Association Committees on Law Student Perspectives and on Career Advancement amp; Management held a panel on alternative careers for lawyers. The panel included a legal recruiter, a career consultant who is the author of Alternative Careers for Lawyers, a sports agent and the founder of a non-profit. The panelists shared their insights on careers in law and how lawyers and law school students can transition to alternative careers.
After briefly introducing themselves, the panelists discussed aspects of legal education that they felt were valuable. The usual suspects were listed. Research skills, writings skills, and a unique way of thinking were all lauded as valuable assets, as well as a lawyer’s ability to interview and counsel clients, the ability to advocate for/persuade others, and organizational skills.
The panelists seemed to be in consensus that the best way for a lawyer or law student to seek employment outside of the law was through networking, and that a resume and cover letter would only take an individual so far. Some tips on networking included joining a professional association, volunteering, or performing pro bono work in a certain area of the law. These are seen as valuable ways to meet people with similar professional interests but also ways to show your interests on your resume. Showing your interest in a specific area seems to be a critical aspect of making a transition to an alternative career because people can be skeptical of lawyers who say they want to leave the legal profession. Anything that can be included in your resume to persuade people of your interests is only going to help.
More than one panelist suggested that law students take advantage of the resources of a law school. Clubs are a great way to meet people in a particular field. If you have an interest that isn’t represented by a club, the panelists recommended starting your own. Although individuals pursuing less traditional careers will have more work to do, there are a number of resources available, including faculty and fellow students.
The panelists seemed conflicted when discussing the benefits of taking the bar and practicing law. It was recommended that people take the bar following law school even though it will require a summer of studying, because it will be a credential for you to include on your resume. Having passed the bar can always serve as a fall-back and can have unforeseen benefits in the future. The Bar is another professional association to belong to and will be a source of contacts in the future, whatever career path an individual pursues. The panelists even suggested that those who are interested in an alternative career try to practice law for some time. This will be a way to confirm your feelings about a legal career and a way for you to test skills developed over the previous three years.
Some suggestions for individuals interested in remaining in the law included listing any document review experience one may have. While document review may not be the most exciting job, it is an experience legal recruiters actively look for. If someone is interested in eventually pursuing a legal career but is unable to find a legal job that is an appropriate fit, paralegal or legal temp positions were recommended. Whether searching for a legal or non-legal career, job seekers will benefit from maintaining a flexible attitude.