The author Lawrence Sanders created a fictional character whose stint at Yale law school ended somewhat prematurely. Not surprising given his streaking prank, but luckily his daddy had a law firm and appointed him a kind of private eye. This got me thinking about the possible paths that failed law students, law students like Mike, disgruntled lawyers or lawyers who migrate might consider in their search for an alternative.

* Politician

Many of our Politicians are lawyers. In fact 25 US presidents have been trained lawyers. Some consider the training and talents of those who choose law are a natural match for the world of politics so we will let that be the first option. Some of you may wonder how you can enter this field. It means as a start getting involved in your communities, networking with established politicians, joining the youth wing of political organizations, joining ongoing political campaigns, letting your voices be heard through the press about problems in your community and putting forward your recommendations for solutions.

* Trust Officer

This position could be perfect for the lawyer who craves a less aggressive and competitive atmosphere than the typical law firm. If you work in estates or trusts but are seeking to leave the bar, this could be ideal for you. Trust officers typically manage assets which are held in banks or act as executors in the estates of deceased persons. If you are one of those lawyers who have a knack for detail but find the life inside the firm too demanding then you could think about this.

* Actor

My friend who blogs under the name Law Student Hot Mama gave me this idea. She reminded me that like lawyers actors supposedly have high levels of testosterone. So how about it you lawyers battling over in the real life courtroom? Why not show those guys over at Law and Order how it’s really done. Can you imagine even making more money and getting better perks without the real life hassle of brown nosing with clients you really despise.

* Writer

You write enough on a daily basis, whether it’s briefs, contracts, wills, trust deeds or legal opinions a lawyer’s life truly involves a lot of writing, so why not think about writing your own books instead. If you think you are not the creative type remember they say that truth is stranger than fiction so write about something you know, like Martha Kimes did in her Ivy Briefs. If you do believe that there is a writer inside of you, you have lots of success stories of lawyers turned writers like Scott Turow, John Grisham and Neeraja Viswanathan so don’t dismiss it. If you aren’t into fiction think about writing fact based articles as a journalist or legal writer. You could end up as a blogger on a blawg (law blog) even, who knows?

* Editor

If you really aren’t convinced that writing is your thing but you enjoy the world of books and law, then maybe you should contemplate entering the field of legal editing. I have heard of law firms hiring full time legal editors to edit law firm articles, briefs, motions and so on. Legal editors are also required to interpret, analyze, organize legal information for the purpose of case law publication. Sometimes they are hired by quasi legal magazines or journals to research, edit and analyze articles or even to contribute towards columns involving legal issues.

* Business

So many of you corporate law practitioners enjoy the thrill of the deal coming to fruition; but the drudgery it entails such ad the dotting of the I’s and the crossing of the T’s and the need to anticipate every eventuality in the contracts just contribute to your boredom and general dissatisfaction with your job. So use the talents developed in your area of specialization and either start your own business, buy into an existing business or seek work in a business environment like investment banking.

When considering a change of career you may or may not have to retool or go back to school. Remember that many lawyers especially those qualified in the States acquired a degree prior to law school so you have skills and knowledge of areas outside the law. In any event try to think of the skills that you already possess and where you can apply them in a way that gives you more satisfaction than in your current job and you will agree that you do indeed have the power to leave the bar.