Well, the job market is barren and discouraging. I have practiced for just over two years and am considering striking out into a new career territory but I want my JD to be marketable. So my question is this: Where do you suppose are the best places or industries to seek employment that usually encourage a JD but are not law firms? I am willing to look into various arenas but certainly have an interest and ability to work in real estate and business strategies.
Anyone else with a JD that isn't practicing law? What are you guys up to?
Results 1 to 25 of 30
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05-25-2006, 03:15 PM #1
Good-lookin' wool
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Using a JD for something other than law practice?
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05-25-2006, 03:17 PM #2
40 Nickels!!!!
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My former boss owned an apartment management company. I would think any job/business where there are a lot of contracts involved should have a spot for you...
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05-25-2006, 03:20 PM #3
Funky But Chic
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The founder of my wife's company has a JD but never practiced, they did $200 million in sales last year.
My brother has his JD and writes for The Simpson's.
So I guess there's plenty of possibilities out there.
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05-25-2006, 03:32 PM #4
Media Whore
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Oh, sure - but is there anything lucrative?
I would think there are plenty of consultant agencies looking for folks versed in the law... also lobbying companies and associations.
Or you could become a Concigliere.
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05-25-2006, 03:39 PM #5
Registered User
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I know a number of private equity firms are into JDs.
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05-25-2006, 03:43 PM #6
Antisocialite
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Estate planning
Almost all estate planners are lawyers. It can very lucrative. Pretty much anything with lots of contracts and or negotiating. Mediators are another big one too.
"They don't think it be like it is, but it do."
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05-25-2006, 04:03 PM #7
Good-lookin' wool
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Originally Posted by iceman
Hell, I could write the dialogue for Lionel Hutz, attorney at law. "Your honor, my client couldn't have been at the Quicki-Mart on the night in question. I have 11 maggots who can place him at the Mangy Moose asking for change for a nickel."
I suppose that it is hit or miss with the non-practicing opportunities. I like the equity firm ideas and estate planning leads.
I actually have a friend who is a legal consultant for Boston Legal. Now that is a job.
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05-25-2006, 04:38 PM #8
40 Nickels!!!!
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Just marry Tanya Memme when you crash the set and then you'll have a sugar mama. There, problem solved!
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05-25-2006, 06:13 PM #9
Is moving right along
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Heh...I wanted to do the same thing straight out of law school. You have a definite advantage of having practiced for a few years, so maybe your luck would be better than mine. Oh and Seattle job market blows even outside of law. Originally Posted by commonlaw
Someone mentioned mediation. That is a great field, in theory, but right now that market is tough (especially in the progressive PNW) and saturated by already practicing attys who have incorporated mediation into their practices. There are a few dispute resolution non profits that you might want to look into. However, be prepared to do the 40 hour certification then shadowing (unpaid) to get fully certified. This is my game plan eventually and I am hoping that the market changes by the time I am ready.
Think of your JD as added marketability, but think about the practical experience that you have gained since law school. What are the skills and abilities that you would bring to any other job? SELL YOURSELF! There is plenty of cross over just based on your prior employment."You look like you just got schnitzled..."
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05-25-2006, 07:08 PM #10
Cold? The Heater.
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Mediator, human resources department of a big company, risk manager for a large business.
Better yet, sports agent!!!!
I'm trying to move again myself, law is my second career and I have been here for 18 years. Actually, I am getting into some real estate with my partners and a fledgling snow making company that should be on line next year!!
Ken
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05-25-2006, 07:31 PM #11
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I've worked for two companies that had lots of JDs. Lexis/Nexis and Thomson-West. If you work at HQ that means Ohio or Minnesota, but there are loads of good field jobs. If you are reasonably articulate, mildly persuasive, and have OK people skills, there are lots of Field Sales jobs. Also plenty of product specialist, training, content, etc. jobs. There are some headhunters that focus on legal related businesses. PM me if you'd like some names.
Good luck. Lots of others have gone before you. I know almost as many ex-lawyers as I do practicing lawyers.Last edited by Sinecure; 05-26-2006 at 03:35 PM.
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05-25-2006, 07:56 PM #12
40 Nickels!!!!
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Keep the ideas coming. I might need to show this thread to my sister. She graduated from SLU and is now an Asst. DA in St. Louis. Basically law school got her $100,000 in debt and a $500 per year pay raise.
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05-25-2006, 09:02 PM #13
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Lots of investment bankers are lawyers (M&A is half law anyway) if you want to sell your soul...
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05-26-2006, 07:09 AM #14
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Along the banking/finance lines, the distressed sector is always looking for JD's. when i interviewed in that arena they would say we only need a banker or two, a trader, and a team of lawyers.
...And the greatest ice must crumble when it's flower's time to grow.
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05-26-2006, 07:56 AM #15
Independent Dentist
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Lobbyist, trade association exec, compliance specialist banking finance, liftie
Damn, we're in a tight spot!
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05-26-2006, 08:50 AM #16
Nothing but stoke.
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Do you have a specialty in your practice? For example, say you represent entities on energy issues. Switching to in-house energy counsel for a large entity would be a natural move. Anything like that you can do?
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05-26-2006, 11:23 AM #17
Registered Undead
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Adding to Yeti's question... the next part is what do you want to do? What, that is law related in any way, do you love doing?
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05-26-2006, 11:24 AM #18
Zen Master
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I was the controller for a company founded by two JD's. They would buy equipment, finance them at 4% from bank A, lease them to a company at 6%, and have the equipment revert to them at the end of the lease when they would sell them.
Fuckers where rich as hell. They obviously knew alot about contracts and filing UCC's.
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05-26-2006, 11:25 AM #19
Harshed Mellow
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A republican with a JD? they may need your help explaining away torture and the like....
Last edited by MassLiberal; 05-26-2006 at 11:30 AM.
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05-26-2006, 12:07 PM #20
Vagitarian
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JD = Jack Daniels?
You are what you eat.
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There's no such thing as bad snow, just shitty skiers.
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05-26-2006, 12:39 PM #21
What are you looking at?
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666 uses his JD to slay the gnar and buy vintage video games from Hong Kong. Best use of a graduate degree I've ever seen.
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05-26-2006, 01:27 PM #22
Is moving right along
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Oh god this hits just a little too close to home...Nothing like going to an overpriced law school, owing essentially 3 down payments on a home, and working for the DA's office at a whopping 42K a year. THAT makes it all worth it... Originally Posted by Theodore
"You look like you just got schnitzled..."
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05-26-2006, 03:26 PM #23
Good-lookin' wool
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You guys hit the nail on the head. 100K in debt and no better off (in most cases worse) than by reprobate college buddies.
I dig all these ideas and will follow up on them. If I had my druthers, I would try to stay in the real estate sector (what I currently do and what I want to continue to do). Then again, ski bum sounds good too.
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05-26-2006, 03:32 PM #24
back in the game
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Entertainment industry. Seriously. Everyone has their JD, even the writers (note iceman's post, above)
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05-26-2006, 08:41 PM #25
Registered User
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In the long run I don't think the right question to ask is "where is my JD marketable", but rather, "what am I interested in". I think there are positions where a JD is valuable in any field. JD earners have demonstrated an ability to think around all issues, communicate, and reason logically. I do administrative adjudication, which is certainly not going to get me the most bling when I die, but it's good honest work that I enjoy and I don't have to compromise any principles or take shit from clients/bosses/partners/etc.
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