Legal Research

"JDs Not to Be"

Posted by Carolyn Elefant : "With law firms cutting back, some career counselors are advising lawyers to think about another profession. This week's Maryland Daily Record profiles lawyers who did more than think about leaving the law; they've actually done it.

According to the article, nonpracticing lawyers fall into one of two categories:

Of course, these days, I'd add a third category as well: those who wanted to be lawyers but simply couldn't find a job.

The nonpracticing lawyers profiled hold a diverse range of positions. Janet Sinder, who aspired to be a civil liberties lawyer, found that she didn't like working as a criminal appeals lawyer, so she decided to get a degree in library sciences. Today, she is a law librarian at University of Maryland Law School.  According to Sinder, most of her colleagues in the library sciences field enjoy their jobs.

Amir Eyal got a J.D., largely because he wasn't sure of what he wanted to do. After trying unsuccessfully to start an estate planning practice, he became a certified financial planner. Other former lawyers include entrepreneurs and a training and diversity director at a law firm.

In most of these positions, a J.D. seems as if it would be an asset. The only question is whether these kinds of positions will be flooded with applicants in a down economy."

The active link is available at the source site listed below.

Source: Legal Blog Watch, 8 September 2009

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on September 09, 2009 (boomark / email).