The legal profession is one that many parents still hope their children will grow up to enter. Non-professionals perceive the practice of law as a prestigious and highly lucrative career choice.

 

“The perspective of actual attorneys is, however, often very different,”

“Disenchantment with legal life is pervasive among practicing attorneys today.”

 

Recent surveys have found that more and more lawyers are unfulfilled in their jobs. Statistics indicate that prior to 1989 only 6% of practicing attorneys ever left the law. Since then, studies show anywhere from 40-70% want to work at something other than law. What most lawyers don’t realize is how marketable they are outside of the legal profession. Their education and experience gives them loads of opportunities.

 

The following is an interview with a solicitor:

 

“I thought it was a grind. I was in a general practice, doing litigation, it wasn’t “Slip and fall” type of law or product litigation, but still, this type is basically between two parties who can’t agree and there are no winners except the lawyers. It wasn’t interesting to me. There are no gratification of doing the job well outside of making partner and a bigger salary. My work didn’t seem to matter. So I decided to do something different.”

 

That’s when I enrolled in flight school.

 

No, we’re not going to tell you that he is now happily flying F-16s or piloting billionaires to Vail and back. But while in a Vero Beach flight school, Gaines was able to “clear his head” and decided to go to work for his family’s real estate firm, a move he has previously resisted. In the process, Gaines found a job he loves.

 

“I do ‘a little of this, a little of that’-every day is different,” he explains. “I don’t practice law in jurisdictions where we own property, but I supervise other attorneys who handle our litigation. “Gaines also oversees property management, which involves direct responsibility for some of Rivercrest’s properties, while supervising on-site management of apartment buildings, shopping centers, and offices. In addition, he prepares all the leases Rivercrest uses for its tenants.

“I think my legal education was phenomenal. My undergraduate degree really didn’t prepare me for any type of profession. Law taught me analytical skills-how to analyze solutions to problems. It also taught me negotiating skills. I think I use my legal skills every day, both in my professional life and in my private life.” Gaines agrees that identifying transferable skills such as these (and others) is an essential step in the job search process. 

I went to law school mainly because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I wish I’d had a little bit of guidance. I might have been able to pinpoint an appropriate job without having to spend years practicing a type of law I don’t use anymore.”

 

And while he values his law background, Gaines is quick to note that there are things that you learn in law school that make you “skeptical and cynical.” And, he adds, “I have maintained contact with many colleagues who all say that the happiness quotient [in their lives] is very low. My friends who are happy are the ones who have gone out on their own and are either making a ton of money or not, but are working for themselves.” The only other colleagues who seem to enjoy their legal careers are the “people who see everything in black and white-the tax people. Most others, even if they made partner, seen to wish their lives could be different.”

 

So should you stay in a job that you hate just because money is good? Not according to Gaines. “You spend at least half of your life at your job. You get trapped by the high salaries, but it’s not about money, it’s about happiness. For partners who stay, it’s always the next case, the next distribution. If they’re happy, fine, but there are about 500 gazillion things out there, so go for it!” And it’s never too late, he says. “I know an attorney who practiced law for 30 years, then went to dental school. He loves it.”

 

So law can be a great career but we hope this interview shows you you're not trapped. You can do loads of things with law and you will certainly be valued in any institution. Commerical law isn't the only career choice you have - will all those hours make you happy? Will the money alone make it worth it? Make sure a career in law is really the best choice for you. It can be an amazing career choice. But you certainly shouldnt go into it because you don't know what else to do.

 

Sites such as https://www.guardian.co.uk/law and https://studyinglaw.co.uk may also be useful to you.