Potential Career Alternatives For Law School Grads ~ Career Online ...

With the nation struggling through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and unemployment at levels not seen in more than a generation, many Americans are finding themselves in a position where their skills, education and training are either no longer in demand within the marketplace, or if they are able to secure a job, are not sufficient to provide a solid, steady income. For that reason, many people, including professionals with advanced degrees, are looking to branch out into other areas where their work experience and educational background can be applied sometimes in unexpected ways or in unconventional settings.

The law has not been untouched by the same forces affecting the rest of the economy. Law firms are downsizing, associates are being let go or are working more for less, and solo practitioners are having trouble getting their practices off the ground. Although the juris doctor degree is still a prestigious title and the need for lawyers is still substantial, law schools are graduating more students than the market can bear. Moreover, many of the services offered by lawyers and attorneys can be obtained online, from professionals in non-legal fields (such as accountants), or through other means which do not require an individual to hire an actual lawyer. Although lawyers must attend law school for three to four years, pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, and pass the bar exam, law school graduates and practicing attorneys are facing great uncertainty.

However, there is a silver lining to the dark clouds hovering over the legal field. The training law students receive in law school and the experience lawyers obtain through their practice provide a unique set of skills that translate well in other fields. Here are a few areas that offer opportunities for creative thinkers, and ways law school graduates and lawyers can effectively contribute to them:

Journalism

- One of the most important skills a law student or lawyer must have is writing ? in fact, many law school professors and practicing attorneys argue it is the most important skill. The law school curriculum is built around reading and writing, but speaking extemporaneously, speaking comfortably in public, and ?thinking on your feet? are also important skills a good lawyer must master. Reading, writing, and speaking are also precisely the skills required of any good journalist. Many high-profile journalists, including Geraldo Rivera and Jeff Greenfield, are lawyers by training. Law students learn to communicate clearly and synthesize ideas, both of which are critical journalism skills.

Real Estate

- Property law and contracts are two of the foundational courses taught in every law school, and real estate transactions are generally either facilitated by a lawyer, or involve some legal work done by an attorney. Law schools teach students how to negotiate and structure financial transactions, analyze contract terms, and assess the risks involved ? all of which are very useful in the field of real estate investment. Some of the biggest real estate moguls and businesspeople, such as Sam Zell, who once owned the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, are law school graduates.

Entrepreneurship

- Some of the most successful companies and businesses in the United States were either founded or are currently led by lawyers. Although many foodies rely on the Zagat restaurant guides to help them find the best places to eat, most would probably be surprised to learn that the husband-and-wife team behind them ? Tim and Nina Zagat ? actually met at Yale Law School and practice corporate law. Lawyers and entrepreneurs must be able to think critically and come up with creative solutions to challenges.

These are a few of the areas in which the skills of a lawyer can come in handy ? and none of them involve the actual practice of law. With an open mind and a little determination, law school grads can weather the current slowdown in the legal job market and find good positions, competitive income, and intellectual satisfaction in a variety of fields.

Marcelo Dieguez is a practicing lawyer at Diefer Law Group and specializes in employment law and as a sexual harassment lawyer in Orange County and throughout California.

Source: http://www.careeronlineblog.com/2012/07/potential-career-alternatives-for-law.html

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