I posted this awhile ago on the working moms board and got some great feedback but thought I'd see if you ladies have some fresh suggestions. I have been practicing law for 10 years (!!) and am trying to think of some alternatives. Litigation is just not my bag, baby. I can do it and do it well but I hate it. I love to write and problem solve but would prefer something that is not so contentious . . . if that helps. I do realize I am lucky to have a job - period - in this economy, lest you think I missed the message of Thanksgiving

TIA!
Re: NBR - ideas for alternative career for atty?
* HR -- especially if you had any dealings with employment and labor law; gives you a big advantage
* teaching law or teaching period
* technical writing
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
hee! Isn't it scary how many refugees there are? At least for me... most of my classmates aren't practicing anymore or if they are, they are wishing they weren't.
Same here!
Oh, and have you considered doing litigation management as an in-house attorney? Litigation support with a company like Kroll?
I am definitely open to something like that - or working for Westlaw or Lexis - but I haven't found any open positions in those areas yet. Keeping my eyes open though.
My brother is an atty, looking for something new as well. He's thinking about possibly setting up his own practice so he can work on his terms (he's a tax atty, has worked with large firms, specialist in gaming/REIT stuff) because he's burned out by the biglaw scene. The other option for him is to go into real estate as there's a lot of overlap, but again, he could be more flexible and he thinks he would enjoy it more.
I'm also thinking about a career change - I'm a little bit bored and frustrated with aspects of my current profession. I'm thinking about real estate as well, or about starting my own consulting business. In my crazier moments, I dream about becoming a full-time writer, or getting yet another degree and becoming a psychologist - I would then open up a counseling practice specializing in things related to my current profession. I suppose my craziest dream is to start a luxury travel company running tours to exotic locations.
What do you most want to do? If you could dream up something entirely new, what would it be? If you didn't have to worry about _____, what risk would you take? What do you love doing? and what aspects of your current job are most fulfilling? Where would you like to be in 5 years? 10 years? I often do consulting work with groups as part of the HR process in my profession and asking people about 5 and 10 year goals is very helpful because most people can see and plan realistically within 5 years, while 10 is more abstract - both sets of answers can lead to helpful insights.
You can do almost anything, so you might as well do what you love. I'm sure there are a lot of wonderful possibilities and I hope you find the right fit for you and your family. Good luck!