Alternative Legal Careers

Legal Business Alternative

by Art Bousel

More than 10% of law school graduates pursue alternative careers. There are literally hundreds of career paths open to those with a legal education. The range of options is almost infinite and defined by personal desire. Everyone has a different idea of  what an “alternative career” is, however. Some regard alternative careers as any job outside a law firm. In this article the discussion is limited to careers in business, which do not require admission to a state bar.

Three D’S

Any deviation from the norm may create difficulty. An alternative career is no different. Peers may not be supportive and may regard the candidate as a failure. Some business opportunities lack the prestige of legal practice. Candidates who are pursuing a career in a small business or creating an entrepreneurial opportunity often find themselves needing to perform a wide variety of job functions—doing whatever it takes to make their business successful, whether it’s law-related work or routine clerical and custodial tasks. Starting at the beginning is rough for someone who has just earned a law degree. An alternative career often requires taking an initial pay cut. Many employers of attorneys in non-legal positions will not provide extra compensation for a J.D. degree. The candidate must be willing to accept a pay scale different than what might be received by a starting
attorney, particularly one at a large law firm. Therefore, many attorneys who have pursued alternative careers ascribe their motives to the Three D’S— Desire,  Determination, and Desperation. According to many business operators, the way to survive is desire and sheer determination. Several entrepreneurs maintain the only reason they elected to leave their legal employer was “desperation.” According to one entrepreneur, “leaving and starting my business was the only way to achieve what I wanted to. I could not do it in the confines of practicing law.”

Who are they?

In business, lawyers are everywhere. Attorney Gerald Levin served as CEO of AOL Time Warner. Jack Allen, a graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law, is CEO of United Consumers Club. Randy Dessau, also a Valpo graduate, is Senior Vice President of First Data Corporation. Attorney Milton Rosenthal as featured in Forbes Magazine as America’s highest paid CEO. The food industry is populated with lawyers. A Chicago gourmet supermarket was recently opened by two Yale law graduates. The founders of California Pizza Kitchen are both lawyers, as is the mastermind behind one of Chicago’s Italian restaurant chains. So are both Zagats, founders of the eponymous restaurant guide. The ABA’s Stuart Lazarus has been the Milwaukee franchisee of a major fast-food chain.

Popular options

Management consulting firms and investment banks routinely hire lawyers for their brainpower and analytical ability. Commercial banks, securities firms, technology consultants, and real estate developers are popular options. The Big Five accounting firms are employers of large numbers of attorneys in their tax and consulting practices.

Reprinted from NALP Bulletin, April 2002.
NALP 2002. All rights reserved. This article may be printed for personal use only. Any reproduction, retransmission or
republication of all or part of this material is expressly prohibited unless NALP or the copyright owner has granted prior
written consent. For reprint permission contact the NALP office at (202) 835-1001 or www.nalp.org.