Is there a way out of corporate law?

September 10, 2008 4:03 PM

What other fields have former corporate lawyers escaped to?

I'm a corporate lawyer in New York City. I'm still fairly junior (only 3 years practicing), but it is abundantly clear to me that I not only dislike this job but regardless of how hard I try, I'm not good at it. So I'm wondering what other fields corporate lawyers have gone into? I'm hoping to leave law firms altogether, but I'm unfortunately saddled with a heavy student loan load, so I can't just quit and run off to into the sunset.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (9 answers total)

Working with philanthropic foundations might be a good fit.

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posted by Sidhedevil at 4:31 PM on September 10, 2008

There was a lot of interest among those I knew in the field in moving to investment banking and hedge funds. For obvious reasons, that may be less appealing now, or less likely in any event. Others moved into GC offices at corporations.

Don't you know a lot more about this from those who have left the firm already, and those in your law school class who have, than anyone here would? Or are you looking for more unorthodox suggestions . . . that are probably less likely to be available?
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 4:40 PM on September 10, 2008

You could always go to library school. The pay is nowhere near what you are making now, but you will never have trouble finding a job and can always live in pretty college towns.
posted by rachelpapers at 5:25 PM on September 10, 2008

You could try going in-house. The work is almost just as good, better in many ways, and the hours much more reasonable, with of course a commensurate drop in pay.

If it is not the hours, but the subject matter, then you might try starting your own business. There is no better way to consume your life with something that interests you and makes you wealthy, but it can and often does dominate your life even more than firm practice. You have told us almost nothing about your wants so answering is difficult, but you know that management, teaching, consulting etc. are all frequent next steps with such training.
posted by caddis at 5:31 PM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite]

Arbitration.
posted by availablelight at 6:10 PM on September 10, 2008

If you like editing and writing about the law, legal publishing. Be prepared for a big pay cut though.
posted by orange swan at 8:03 PM on September 10, 2008

Arbitration.

without first being a judge? you are not likely to get chosen as an arbitrator in any significant disputes with a mere three years of non-litigation experience.
posted by caddis at 8:29 PM on September 10, 2008

I know two corporate attorneys who left their firms to work as executive directors of non-profit organizations. One is no longer the executive director but is now the general counsel. That particular organization (a large national educational org) has former lawyers in most of its VP roles. The pay is not nearly as good, but isn't bad (around $100,000/yr).
posted by jrichards at 6:52 AM on September 11, 2008

Another vote for non-profit, specifically fundraising. I know three corporate attorneys who moved to the field. One does lawyerly type stuff related to planned giving (wills, trusts, bequests), one started out grant writing and then became a major gift officer (meeting with large donors). The third worked in international fundraising, and now is the director of major gifts for a law school.
posted by kimdog at 6:58 AM on September 11, 2008