Did you know that the CEOs of Fannie Mae, Dominion Energy, and Oracle all have law degrees? Like an LSAT conditional logic question, while one usually requires a law degree to practice law, nowadays, having a law degree does not mean one has to practice law. A quick perusal of leading figures in media and business in the United States shows that many have law degrees despite not practicing law. Some are even actors—the late Jerry Springer, for example.
The analytical skills honed and refined by law school and legal practice are not solely useful in the practice of law. Knowledge of the law can be beneficial to nonlegal pursuits as well. It is more than a mere coincidence that so many lawyers (including those who have a JD but have not practiced law) are found at the top levels of business in fields as varied as technology, finance, sports, and media. For example, what do Paul Tagliabue, the long-time National Football League commissioner before Roger Goodell; Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve; and Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money for almost two decades, all have in common? They all have law degrees.
Although not every attorney can become the commissioner of a sports league or oversee a country’s money supply, there may come a time when we encounter an opportunity—or hope for one—to leave the formal practice of law and put our skills to use in a different way. I have seen law school classmates already move into roles working with media, corporate businesses, financial investors, and more. In my career, I previously worked briefly with media, where I witnessed the impact attorneys in the field had on analyzing legal and journalistic issues.
Moving from the traditional practice of law can come down to a mix of drive and opportunity. A sudden opportunity may become available where your recognized talent has become useful and needed in a nontraditional setting. As a lawyer, how you demonstrate your capabilities outside of the traditional practice of law may come greatly into play. In an in-house role, for example, your company’s internal leadership may have seen your wide understanding of business, ability to lead and positively interact with others, and adequate acumen to succeed in a nonlegal role.
Entrepreneurship is also worth discussing. Many founders—whether of startups or small businesses—are attorneys. Entrepreneurship requires its own mix of spirit and luck (different from traditional business or government settings). Still, it is a case where your legal training may inform your decisions and business planning more directly. Though one may think of lawyers as people used for defining structures and adverse to the open mindset many entrepreneurs must have to thrive, the sheer number of prominent attorney-founders of businesses begs to differ. After all, for the many who started their own law firm—this is a form of entrepreneurship.
As a law student, you can test the waters for nontraditional uses of your law degree through classes at other graduate schools at your university or through a part-time internship during the school year that doesn’t detour you from your summer legal work. As a young lawyer, you may need to network with those outside the legal field. You may need to engage with businesses, ventures, and side hustles with nonlawyers. Even if you do not pursue those nontraditional paths immediately, the skills, knowledge, and networks may come in handy when someday you do.
Even outside of a traditional legal career, your law degree and attorney background may assist in other leadership avenues. Many attorneys are naturally drawn to leadership positions in community organizations, homeowners associations, nonprofits, and other civic functions. An attorney’s ability to manage deadlines, complex laws and regulations, social adaptability, and communication skills all come in handy for organizations or projects where that is needed.
Attorneys also make great hosts, commentators, and contributors for television, radio, podcasts, columns, and books. Attorneys have a unique ability to analyze and present information on various topics from a legal and informed perspective.
A law degree is oriented toward legal practice, but many lawyers have and will continue to find alternative ways to use their law degrees to make an impact. A lot may depend on circumstance, opportunity, and goals. Still, for those looking to pursue new paths outside of traditional legal careers, there can be extraordinary and surprising ways to do so.
