Career rechanneling advice for a Canadian law-talking guy
August 4, 2015 1:28 PM Subscribe
I'm a lawyer in Ontario, and I'm considering a career change, but I'm trying to find a realistic career option that both works with my skillset and which satisfies at least some of what I want from work at this point.
I practice primarily in family law, which means that I do a lot of small-scale negotiation and court representation. (If I practiced in England or in other countries with a formal solicitor/barrister divide I would probably be a specialized barrister.) I've done a wide range of work in the area, including complex support and property cases, vicious custody battles and Hague Convention cases (international child abductions).
I also have some experience in speech rights/libel and slander law, but on a less formal basis.
Things I would like from a new career:
1. The opportunity to travel for work purposes
1a. But, if possible, still having Ontario as a home base rather than having to move
2. Continuing to work within the law (but, as a general rule, avoiding corporate / international contract law as much as possible - BigLaw has never really been an interest for me)
3. If possible, the opportunity for said legal work to be more people-focused; court representation opportunities would also be great, of course, but I recognize that's a much more difficult ask
3a. A people-focused career that isn't necessarily serving them as counsel is an option
4. Not giving up TOO much money (I typically make very low six figures and I can give up some of it for a job that's more fulfilling, but I also still have a fair amount of student debt to get rid of and I would like to start saving for a home).
5. And I realize that this last one is not likely, but if it could be, shall we say, "cause-oriented" in a way that lets me help make the world a better place, that would be wonderful.
Basically: I'm looking for fleshed-out ideas that I can explore further rather than a rock-solid plan for a particular job, because I will most likely need some form of additional training in order to find something that ticks most of these boxes - for example, if I want to try working for international NGOs in a legal capacity I'll probably need charity law training and/or more language skills. If I want to work for the Canadian government or a provincial government - well, I'd have to wait for a government that actually wants to hire people again rather than maintain the public employment level status quo. (They are very, very leery about hiring anybody at this point, and lawyers with government jobs already have death-grips upon them.) But before I commit to working towards a particular career path, I need to know what career paths I can/should reasonably consider.
(And is there such a thing as an international family law career? It seems unlikely to me given my experience with it - IE it tends to be locally focused in individual countries - but that would be ideal if there's some element that I'm missing.)
I practice primarily in family law, which means that I do a lot of small-scale negotiation and court representation. (If I practiced in England or in other countries with a formal solicitor/barrister divide I would probably be a specialized barrister.) I've done a wide range of work in the area, including complex support and property cases, vicious custody battles and Hague Convention cases (international child abductions).
I also have some experience in speech rights/libel and slander law, but on a less formal basis.
Things I would like from a new career:
1. The opportunity to travel for work purposes
1a. But, if possible, still having Ontario as a home base rather than having to move
2. Continuing to work within the law (but, as a general rule, avoiding corporate / international contract law as much as possible - BigLaw has never really been an interest for me)
3. If possible, the opportunity for said legal work to be more people-focused; court representation opportunities would also be great, of course, but I recognize that's a much more difficult ask
3a. A people-focused career that isn't necessarily serving them as counsel is an option
4. Not giving up TOO much money (I typically make very low six figures and I can give up some of it for a job that's more fulfilling, but I also still have a fair amount of student debt to get rid of and I would like to start saving for a home).
5. And I realize that this last one is not likely, but if it could be, shall we say, "cause-oriented" in a way that lets me help make the world a better place, that would be wonderful.
Basically: I'm looking for fleshed-out ideas that I can explore further rather than a rock-solid plan for a particular job, because I will most likely need some form of additional training in order to find something that ticks most of these boxes - for example, if I want to try working for international NGOs in a legal capacity I'll probably need charity law training and/or more language skills. If I want to work for the Canadian government or a provincial government - well, I'd have to wait for a government that actually wants to hire people again rather than maintain the public employment level status quo. (They are very, very leery about hiring anybody at this point, and lawyers with government jobs already have death-grips upon them.) But before I commit to working towards a particular career path, I need to know what career paths I can/should reasonably consider.
(And is there such a thing as an international family law career? It seems unlikely to me given my experience with it - IE it tends to be locally focused in individual countries - but that would be ideal if there's some element that I'm missing.)
I know a woman who left the firm where she did Wills $estates to work for s non-profit helping the poor and indigent negotiate their various difficulties. She does it pro bono, but you might find a non-profit that would suit.
posted by SemiSalt at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2015
posted by SemiSalt at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2015
My understanding is that teaching law doesn't require a PhD in law, though what it requires beyond an LLB is not something I know. If it's possible, I would think that law school professor meets all your requirements. I don't imagine it's an easy job to get, but it's one thing you might look into.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:46 PM on August 4, 2015
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:46 PM on August 4, 2015
I heard a while ago from a family sole practitioner I know that there is a need for good child protection lawyers in Ontario (i.e. representing the children, not the CAS). Not much opportunity for travel, but hits all of your other requirements. Not sure if her information is still accurate but if so, practice in that area might provide you with experience in an area that could be segued into teaching, policy work, etc., that might allow you to travel a bit.
posted by girlpublisher at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2015
posted by girlpublisher at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2015
seconding CAS - I remember looking at some CAS job postings last year and I think they would meet your criteria. Seems like interesting work as well, and the people I know who work as CAS counsel like it there.
posted by iona at 4:25 PM on August 4, 2015
posted by iona at 4:25 PM on August 4, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ironmouth at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2015