LawCare - Health Support and Advice for Lawyers

An Alternative Career

The legal profession can be rewarding, but it also has its stresses and strains. At LawCare we have found that situations can occur where the levels of stress can become so high that the affected lawyers begin to wonder whether or not they are suited to the continuing practise of law. A study by a major life insurance company revealed that 35% of people who left employment for pastures new did so because of stress, and a 1998 American survey contacted 1,000 lawyers at random and found that a third of them were so unhappy and disillusioned with the profession that they were considering leaving.

While LawCare cannot actually provide specific career advice, this document aims to help you think about the options available to you, and point you in the right direction. We can also support you not only with the stress you may be suffering now, but also as you make your decision. The following pages offer some advice on your options. For further help you can call 0800 279 6888 in complete confidence. Click here to view, print or download a copy of this Alternative Careers document on PDF. To download or learn to use Adobe Acrobat reader required click here.

The number of calls to LawCare’s freephone helpline relating to intolerable stress, bullying and other workplace issues have increased enormously over the last few years (see chart). Whilst our aim is to help and support the suffering lawyer, so that he / she can return to effective work in the profession, inevitably there are some who have no wish to do so.

There are a number of reasons for wanting a change of career that we regularly hear from our callers:

Some people may become lawyers only to discover that the profession it is not what they had expected it to be.
Others find they simply lack the skills required, or the personality / mindset that would make them a really good lawyer.
Many people tell us that while they would cope well and enjoy the work under more relaxed conditions, the levels of stress are such that they cannot face going into the office any more.
We frequently hear from lawyers who are disillusioned because they have failed to make partner once again, or are not achieving the income and / or recognition that they reasonably expected.
Serious physical or psychological illness – stress induced depression, for example – may make it impossible for someone to remain in practice.
Poor relationships with others in the office e.g. bullying (which can be far more insidious than outright aggression / shouting / abuse) are making the working environment intolerable.

Obviously, a career change is not a decision to be taken lightly, so it is vitally important that time is taken to consider all of the options and an emotional reaction to a particular set of circumstances does not lead to throwing away all of the years of time and energy invested in achieving qualification and a career. If you are feeling particularly distressed or frustrated at present, perhaps over a recent incident, or you are suffering from stress, depression, or a similar illness, then take time to recover, or calm down, before making any hasty choices. LawCare has information available on stress, depression, bullying and other topics, which may help you.

If you are dissatisfied with your current job there are three levels of changes you could consider.

The first is job change, or doing the same type of work in a different setting, which is the least radical move. A change of specialism or firm, for example.
The second is career alteration, or utilising one's legal skills and background in a different setting – teaching at a law school, or working as an industry solicitor, for example. A list of a few such careers is on page 6.
The third is career transition or the pursuit of another career significantly different from the practice of law. This could well involve retraining. A list of professions which you might consider is on page 9.

Reviewing your Situation

When it all gets too much it is easy to declare that you want to give it all up, but there may be an easier and less drastic solution. Review your situation by asking yourself these questions.

When did you last take time off? Do you simply need a good holiday?
Are you working too many hours? Neglecting your family or any recreation time to recharge your batteries?
Would you feel differently about leaving the profession if you could find a way to reduce the stress or improve your work/life balance? (Ask for LawCare’s Anti-Stress Desk Workbook and Stress/Depression pack.)
Would a change in specialism or area of practice help?
Can you remember a time when you loved the profession and enjoyed your work?
Do you need additional training to help you do your job better?
Would a change of firm help? Believe it or not, there are firms that value their employees and treat them well.
If a particular person were to leave the firm, would you feel differently? There’s little you can do to influence another’s behaviour, but ask for LawCare’s information on bullying for further advice.

Try to remember that you are a worthwhile human being as well as being a well educated and highly trained professional. Your firm has doubtless invested a good deal of time and money in recruiting and training you, and it is in their interests to keep you if at all possible. Speak to a Partner / fellow Partner, Supervisor or Manager in confidence. Often, the first that a firm knows of an individual’s unhappiness is when that person hands in his / her notice and, in fact, the firm may be willing to make any changes necessary to encourage you to stay on, rather than lose you.

Leaving the Law?

One problem with being a lawyer is that it can lead you to believe that you are not qualified or fit to be anything else. This can lead to a feeling of being trapped in an unhappy career, which simply adds to the stress already being suffered.

Also, many people understandably feel that if they leave the legal profession altogether, they will be wasting the time, money and energy they / their families spent in their qualifying as a lawyer. These thoughts can be unhelpful and cause feelings of guilt about moving on. Remember, that whatever you choose to do in future, a law degree / professional qualification / experience gained in practise on your CV are marketable commodities, and you may find that you can use these experiences and qualifications in another setting, outside private practice.

The list below shows a selection of career options which require little or no retraining and might enable you to continue to use your legal skills and qualifications. The list is not exhaustive – just a few suggestions to get you thinking laterally.

Locum / Owner of Locum Firm	Acting as a locum gives you the chance to control the days you work, and to check out local law firms. Locum placements can often lead to permanent job offers.
Consultant to other Law Firms	If you have particular specialist knowledge or experience then this can be put to good use
Legal Secretary / Paralegal / Legal Executive	Try not to see these as a step down. They are opportunities to use your skills in a familiar setting, but without the stresses, targets and responsibilities that may have caused problems in the past.
Law Firm Manager / Trainer / Researcher	There may be many more staff in a law firm than just solicitors, doing far more varied tasks than just dealing with the law and clients.
Law Centre Worker	Here you could be putting something back into society as well as pursuing a worthwhile career.
Lawyer for Local Government / Charity / Company	A different approach to the use of legal knowledge than that you will have had in practise. It will have its own pressures, but different from those you will have experienced before an, quite possibly, far more tolerable to you.
Law Society / Local Law Society / OSS / Bar Council / ILEX	This could involve you working for / with the profession but from the aspect of the profession’s regulating body.
Court Reporter / Legal Journalist	Can you turn your skill with words in a different direction?
Licensed Conveyancer / Estate Agent	Additional training may be needed if you wanted to run an estate agency, but a knowledge of property law is an excellent grounding.
Magistrate’s clerk	Can you guide the Bench on points of law?

An internet search can also help to show you just what opportunities exist. Some sites to look at include jobsunlimited.co.uk, gojobsite.co.uk and topdogjobs.co.uk.

Career Counselling

Career counselling may help to provide you with the advice and ideas you need, but it can be expensive and it can be difficult to find careers counsellors with specific knowledge of the legal profession. Life Coaching is another option to help you identify your goals and strengths but, again, this is not always viable for those facing a financially uncertain future.

There are often smaller, local careers agencies but whilst they may act as a good starting point, their knowledge of the profession is likely to be limited and they are often more geared towards school leavers than professionals looking to change. However, they may have a helpful library and be able to give you general advice.

A simple exercise my help you to be your own career counsellor. Career planners often start off with a "career check-up" to identify what are the major employment issues that have led the person to seek help. A comprehensive and detailed personal history is taken which includes professional status, education, employment, professional affiliations, marital and family background and financial needs. Why not create one for yourself, adding as much detail as possible and thinking laterally, to include all of your experiences in practise e.g. admin., staff relations, cash flow, initiatives?

If you have a sympathetic friend, spouse or colleague, why not ask whether you can talk it through with them? The process of openly discussing ones strengths and weaknesses, with an understanding and supportive friend, relative or counsellor can be beneficial. A strong sense of self is gained which, if nothing else, empowers the individual to address the problems they are facing.

If you don’t have someone you can discuss it with, then take some quiet time to brainstorm with your career check-up, a blank sheet of paper, and perhaps the career pages of the newspaper, or the internet.

Your initial aim should be to:

evaluate, renew and re-energise your career goals
clarify your personal values and priorities, including balancing the competing demands of work and family
explore whether a job change or career change will be needed and beneficial
develop a concrete and realistic plan for changing job or career
get your CV up to date and as attractive as possible. There are several firms and internet sites which can advise you on this.
explore temporary or contract employment opportunities as a transitional option to get you out of an unhappy situation and buy you thinking time.

Try asking yourself these questions.

What are your major and secondary skills, interests and capabilities?
What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
What part of your work do you enjoy most, find challenging or gratifying?
What do you dislike about your job (irritating, boring, etc.?)
List your network contacts, both in and out of the legal profession; clients, associations, etc.
What do you do for fun? Can any of these lead to a potential job or career choice?
Are you prepared to take a pay cut in favour of greater job satisfaction?
Are you prepared to requalify in another career, with all the necessary cost, study and training that will entail?
Has the time come to go it alone in that big business venture you’ve always wanted to try?

The table below lists professional careers that you might consider.

Bank Official	Training is likely to be given on the job, and your legal grounding will be valued.
Teacher	If you are able to teach law, this may be an easy transition. If not, the training programme is considerably shorter for graduates.
Police Service	Again, your knowledge of the law will be invaluable.
Insurance Claims Officer	Practical experience of litigation would be a real asset
Official Receiver / OR’s office	Legal experience, especially if insolvency related, would stand you in good stead
Politician / MP’s staff	Are you a political animal as well as a lawyer?
Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths	Be there at the beginning, middle and end of other people’s lives
Novelist / Screenwriter	It worked for John Mortimer and John Grisham!
Property Developer	Conveyancing knowledge could prove helpful if you have a talent for buying, developing and selling houses at a profit.
Financial Consultant	Do you have a head for figures? (though some examinations would be necessary)

Making the Change

Changing jobs is in the top ten in any list of sources of stress, immediately following bereavement, divorce and moving house, but it needn’t be traumatic if you think it through calmly and quietly and make considered decisions. Your financial and family position obviously needs to be considered before you hand in your notice and unless you cannot bear to stay in your present position, it is only prudent to secure alternative employment, or a training place, before handing in your notice. If you need additional training or skills for your new career, and cannot afford a period without an income, consider taking night classes whilst still working.

Check your contract and note how much notice you need to give. If it is as little as a month, you could put off handing in your notice until you have secured an alternative position – most employers expect to wait at least a month before you start work. If you need to give three months notice, then, again, most employers expect that an executive will have that notice period and will be prepared to wait. If it is considerably longer e.g. six months for a Partner, you may have to try and bargain your way out early or negotiate with your new employer to wait that long. It may be important to plan ahead and build up a cash reserve to live on whilst you look for a new post and / or put in place all the skills and training you need before going for any interviews.

Ideally, try to take at least a week off between finishing one position and starting another. This gives you a chance to recover and take stock, and to spend some quality time with your family, without using precious holiday entitlement.

Finally, remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It is not always easy to start somewhere new, doing work which is unfamiliar, with new surroundings, systems and people, especially if you have been used to being in control.

101 OTHER THINGS A LAWYER COULD DO

Law Centre Worker
Legal Consultant
Company Solicitor
Locum
Bank Official
Management Consultant
Government Legal Services
Business Valuation Expert
Armed Forces Lawyer
Communications Consultant
Legal Aid Official
Law Related Insurance Sales
Insurance Claims Officer
Financial Consultant
Crown Prosecutor
Pension Adviser
Legislative Annotator
School Teacher
Tribunal Chairman
Sports/Entertainment Agent
Probate Official
Novelist
Local Government Official
Screenwriter / playwright
Rent Officer
Publisher
Magistrate’s clerk
Technical Writer
Recorder
Claims Adjuster
Trade Union Official
Investment Banker
Lobbyist
Property Developer
Charity Lawyer
Stockbroker
Legal Publication Editor
Lloyds Underwriter
Legal Reporter
Foreign Exchange Trader
Law Lecturer
Litigation Support Consultant
Researcher to Court of Appeal
Website Designer
Law Society/OSS Official
Marriage Guidance Consultant
CAB Volunteer
Forensic Accounting Consultant
Law Firm Manager
Owner of Locum Agency
Law Firm Trainer
Legal Computer Systems Consultant
Know-how/Professional Support Lawyer
Computer Programmer
Law Firm Marketing Worker
Professional "Mackenzie" Friend / Guardian Ad Litem
Law Firm Public Relations Manager
CAB Official
Compliance Officer
Legal Secretary
Personnel Officer
Proof Reader
Newsletter Publisher/Editor
Licensed Conveyancer
Litigation Insurance Lawyer
Patent Agent
Political Campaign Manager
Trade Mark Agent
Court Official
Master/District Judge
Politician’s staff
Tipstaff
Foreign Service Official
Official Receiver
Fund Raiser
Registrar of births, marriages and deaths
Estate Agent
Member of Parliament
Court Reporter
"Online" Legal Adviser
Paralegal Instructor
Law Firm Public Relations Manager
Continuing Legal Education Instructor
In-house Commercial Solicitor
Law Librarian
Technical Writer
Law School Careers Adviser
Coroner
Mediator
Human Resources Manager
Arbitrator
Researcher for Law Firm
Court Expert
University Lecturer
Policeman
Local Law Society Official