3 Nonlegal Activities Lawyers Will be Great At
There are plenty of activities outside the firm door that most lawyers are great at -- and they're not just drinking and golf! Lawyers can use their analytical minds, competitive nature and creative thinking to thrive in all sorts of endeavors, from coaching little league to setting up a hobby winery.
So, what new world of leisure time activities might be available to you? Here are three non-law activities that lawyers will be great at:
1. Winning Games
Logic games, legal games, board games -- whatever they are, lawyers are good at them. After all, an attorney's job is understanding and navigating rules in order to achieve a favorable outcome. That skill isn't just for objecting to discovery requests. It's also great for Sudoku or board games like Settlers of Catan -- no one can manipulate the markets for brick and sheep quite like a good attorney. If you're more of an online gamer, something like Town of Salem will let you unleash your legal powers on your opponents and maybe help you develop some new skills before your next trial.
But remember, if you're playing in mixed company (with other non-lawyers), drop the lawyer's obsession with winning -- maintaining friendships can be hard when you pull out the rule book every time it's Mary's turn to play in Scrabble.
2. Writing the Next Great American Novel
You're probably writing all the time already, whether it's briefs, contracts or motions. Why not use that skill for something fun? Plenty of lawyers have gone on to make millions not as partners, but as writers.
Household names like John Grisham and more obscure poets like Wallace Stevens all started out in the law. And there's plenty of material to mine from your legal experience -- one of America's greatest short stories, after all, is set in a law office.
3. Organizing Other People's Hobbies
The parent in charge of organizing the school fundraiser, the head of the volunteer drive at the Kiwanis club, the chief of the local soccer league -- they should all be lawyers. Why? Lawyers are great at thinking backwards, knowing what needs to be done and what steps are needed to get there.
Attorneys also great at anticipating problems, which can be a great way for to make sure your kids' bake sale doesn't turn into a lawsuit. Sure, organizing others doesn't always seem like the most leisurely activity, but once you've got things running like a well-oiled machine, you can sit back and enjoy it, while everyone else does the rest of the work.
Not only will you naturally excel at these outside-the-firm hobbies, your sanity will thank you, too.
Related Resources:
- These Layers Got (Video) Game (Los Angeles Times)
- Ex-Lawyer Turns Jewelry-Making Hobby Into High-Fashion Career (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- 5 Hobbies Ruined By Law School: Why you Should Remember Them (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Can You Sue if You're Hurt at a Sporting Event? (FindLaw's Injured)
