MYTH: It is irrational and wasteful to choose not to practice law after completing a legal education.
REALITY: Many professionals consider a legal education to be the best type of overall training a person can have. Your legal education will never be wasted, regardless of the work you choose to do.
MYTH: Your work experience gives you a thorough and realistic picture of the universe of legal practice.
REALITY: Most lawyers, as most other professionals, are aware of only a small percentage of work options available to them. In reality, you have a large menu of job opportunities from which to choose. To fully educate yourself, investigate every practice area; the advantages and disadvantages of work in large, medium, small and solo practices; and opportunities in all levels of government, law schools, the judiciary, public interest, bar associations, business and education.
Alternative work arrangements also exist in some work settings. Surveys indicate that many women attorneys neither know about, nor take advantage of flexible schedules or part-time arrangements that may be offered by their firms. In fact, many women lawyers are not even aware of their firm's maternity leave policies.
Some women do not choose to use alternative arrangements for fear of being permanently "mommy-tracked." This concern is often well-grounded. But as Nossel and Westfall demonstrate in their book, "Presumed Equal," there are vast differences among law firms in the flexibility of work arrangements and opportunities for advancement and partnership they offer women who choose thee options.
To find out about alternative practice areas, check the ABA web site and follow the links to every section and practice area. Attend your local Women's Bar Association meetings and network with lawyers from different work settings.
Certainly, if you decide to change practice area, you'll have to make yourself marketable. But there are steps to follow and role models to inspire you; many women lawyers have already paved the way to success.
MYTH: There is no other way to produce sufficient income to pay down law school debt besides continuing to work as a lawyer.
REALITY: There's no question that law school debt can be daunting. But so is the prospect of spending your life feeling trapped. There are many ways of generating income once you leave the law behind. By pursuing your "right livelihood," you'll put yourself in a better position to pay off your debt in the long run simply because you'll be more effective and successful in your new field.
MYTH: You'll need another degree to find a job outside of legal practice.
REALITY: Consider the skills you've acquired through law school and your legal experience: the ability to write clearly and persuasively, to think on your feet, to think analytically, and to communicate effectively, to synthesize ideas, problem-solve, advocate and advise.
Although certain professions (like medicine) require a degree for licensure, many of the careers you're likely to consider will value the skills and training you've already acquired. Most will require experiential training (internships, for example) rather than degrees. Though some schooling may be required, it probably won't be as rigorous (or expensive) as law school was.
Finding career satisfaction isn't impossible, and with a few steps, you'll be on your way to a satisfying job.
