What Can You Do with a Law Degree?: A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law

I am a career counseler at a law school in Chicago, and I used Ms. Arron's book about a year ago to decide what career I should pursue when I left the practice of law. I bought other career-change books and found none of them to be as useful as this one. I knew I wanted to stop practicing law, but was completely lost as to what career I wanted to pursue next. I kept dragging my feet because I felt so unsure of what awaited me. As soon as I started reading Ms. Arron's book, I instantly felt that she understood exactly what I was going through. Doing the self-assessment exercises really brought me a lot of clarity, and helped me decide what career I wanted to pursue next. Her book also contains an abundance of valuable resources which I used to research my options. By the time I applied for my job as a career counselor, I felt 100% ready to leave the practice of law and very excited about embarking on my new career. I had a much better understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, and values than I ever had before. Without this book, however, I think I would still be unhappily practicing law (or worse yet, that I would have left the practice of a law for a job that suited me even less than being an attorney). I recommend this book to all the law school alums I counsel with respect to career change issues, and I have also recommended it to several laywer friends of mine who are struggling with the question of whether they should continue practicing law. Everyone I know who has read the book has enjoyed it as much as I have and found it to be just as useful. It is, without a doubt, the best career-change handbook for lawyers.

I have looked through practically every book on career change/transition for lawyers, and generally found them totally lacking in concrete advice as to lawyer-specific issues, self-assessment and options. This book not only hits the nail on the head as to reasons for dissatisfaction with the law, but offers sound ways to evaluate possibilities for change, both inside and outside the law, in terms of one's personal interests. And the examples of people who did make changes are very inspirational. The resources offered are the most comprehensive I've seen. Very valuable. If, as a lawyer, you question the path you are pursuing, this book will make you feel less alone in the process.

Arron's book does three things well: it offers clarity if you have undefined feelings of dissatisfaction; it gives concrete steps for discovering the transferability of your lawyering skills while assessing your passions and talents; and the appendices alone are worth the price of the book (hundreds of helpful books and websites related to the profession).

Deborah Arron covers career assessement, career change, issues and concerns unique to lawyers. I read her book and didn't feel so alone when I finally admitted to myself I didn't want to practice law after three years of law school and $X in student loans. After thoroughly covering psychological issues specific to attorneys considering transitions to non-traditional careers, Arron provides effective assessments to determine a new direction. The final chapters teach exactly how to obtain that new career, including cover letter and resume tips. Arron's book also helps attorneys who want to continue to practice law, but in a different way. Buying "What Can You Do With A Law Degree" is among the best investments I've made.

As a former attorney turned career coach for attorneys and JDs, this book is an invaluable part of my "tool chest." I also prescribe it for clients and for those thinking about career options in or out of the law. It is the best resource available today for the JD or attorney wanting something MORE. When I was transitioning out of the law after over 10 years of practice, this book was a godsend -- it offered a real understanding of a lawyer's life and a myriad of tried and true career options. The author profiles hundreds of non-legal careers actually transitioned into by lawyers. (In addition, the resources and references are the most extensive I've ever seen.) Dissatisfied lawyers feel stuck and immobilized -- not knowing what else to do but a slight variation of what they are already doing. While the book underscores the need for self-assessment (i.e., figure out what you really want to do, based on who you are and what really matters to you), it also provides grounding reassurances that the journey to a fulfilling "lively-hood" is to be taken at the pace and stride most comfortable to the journeyer. There is no "jumping into the void" strategy recommended here. The author's approach and recommendations are very pragmatic and practical -- which can be implemented by the busiest. The exercises are user-friendly and help the reader self-assess easily. It also provides the reader the ability to design a clear career path and undertake meaningful actions to progress. The book opens expansive frontiers for attorneys in a world where being in control of your career is absolutely necessary -- there are no clear paths to follow other than those one dynamically creates for Self.