101 Things to Do With Your J.D., Besides Practice Law
Last week we responded to Slate's article bashing the notion that you can do anything with a law degree. We disagreed, and noted that while it is our opinion you can do anything with a law degree, it shouldn't be the sole, or main, reason you decide to go to law school.
To prove that you can, in fact, do just about anything with a law degree, we decided to give you a list of 101 things that you could do with your J.D. (because 99 was simply not enough). If this list proves anything, the starting point is to follow your passion and the rest falls into place.
In no particular order ...
- 1. President of the United States: Jefferson to Obama (Yes, we know we skipped Adams, we like Jefferson better.)
2. Lego artist
3. Fashion designer
4. Legal novelist, i.e. John Grisham
5. Restaurateur
6. Sports journalist
7. Chef
8. Entrepreneur
9. Photographer
10. First lady (à la Michelle Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton)
11. Activist
12. Singer
13. TV network boss
14. Consultant
15. Journalist
16. Crazed talk show host (oh, and mayor) like Jerry Springer
17. Real estate agent
18. Actor
20. Radio producer
21. Publisher
22. Editor
23. Motivational speaker
24. Fashion blogger (there are a few of us just at FindLaw)
25. Meditation coach
27. Professional football player
28. Boutique owner
29. Venture capitalist
30. Doctor
31. Engineer
32. Illustrator
33. Therapist
34. Compliance consultant
35. SEO consultant
36. PR Manager
37. Law blogger (ahem)
38. Senator, i.e. oh, forget it. Too many.
39. Legal department operations manager
40. Baker
41. CEO
42. Law Professor
43. Yoga instructor
45. Nobel Prize winner
46. Law clerk
48. Book store owner
49. Playwright
50. Rapper
51.Reality TV star (sad, but true)
52. Resort manager
53. Speech writer (then become beloved character actor): Ben Stein
54. Sports coach
55. Art gallery owner
56. Manager
57. School principal
58. Governor
59. LSAT instructor
60. Marketing Manager
61. Lobbyist
62. Banker
63. Nomad
64. Interior designer
65. Headhunter
66. Contract negotiator
67. Stand-up comic
68. Television producer
69. Poet
70. Screen writer
71. Agent
72. Career Coach
74. Internet troll (sadder, but true)
75. Movie critic
76. Graphic designer
77. Inspiration for the character of Wonder Woman
78. Magazine editor
79. Grant writer
80. E-discovery specialist
81. Nanny
82. Crazy journalist/talk show host, i.e. Geraldo Rivera
83. Teacher
84. Food critic
85. Curator
86. Ambassador
87. Social media platform creator
88. App creator
89. Fundraiser
90. Author
91. House flipper
92. DJ
93. Fashion stylist
94. Website developer
95. Personal stylist
96. Furniture tester
97. Cartoonist
98. Coffee roaster
99. Hipster farmer
100. Sommelier
101. Clinical Ethicist
Convinced yet? The point is -- a law degree is not a handicap. It may not necessarily come into play in your next career, but it won't hurt you either.
Editor's Note, May 12, 2015: This post was first published in May 2014. It has since been updated.
Related Resources:
- 33 Reasons to Be Happy You Went to Law School (FindLaw's Greedy Associates Blog)
- How Else to Use a Law Degree: 5 Fun, Non-Lawyer Careers (FindLaw's Greedy Associates Blog)
- Kill Law School? This Guy Might be On (to) Something (FindLaw's Greedy Associates Blog)