Hi there! Does anyone have any advice for the application process to a non-legal job? I’m basically worried about being asked why I’m leaving a firm to work in a different field and have them think it’s because I’m a bad attorney when really I just hate being lawyer, but I am good at it. Any advice on how to respond to those questions or present myself in a competent way and that I just want a different path for my career? Any help greatly appreciated!

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Feign interest in the area you’re moving to. I liked XYZ about law and this position touches on all that etc. for example, I talked about how I liked regulatory work and it was relevant to my current job. Career changes are not odd at all!

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I don’t think “I hate being an attorney” is all that bad. Maybe identify the particular problems with being a lawyer. Also, as someone else said, be able to articulate why you’re interested in the particular field you’re moving to. Some people might be wary. Others might be ecstatic to have an attorney apply for the position. You won’t know until you interview. Mostly, just be likable and express a willingness to learn new things without an attitude of entitlement. Lawyers are experts at learning new things. But some people are afraid you’ll look down on them. Manage those expectations/fears and I suspect many people will be receptive to your career change.

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Always focus on pull vs push. What appeals to you about moving into the role you applied for. Analogize to the parts of being a lawyer you like, distinguish the parts you don’t like and note the appealing new responsibilities you’d have in the role. Help show how your unusual background for the role translates and adds value.

helpful

I’m not sure they’ll think you’re a “bad attorney” simply because you want to transition roles. Being a lawyer affords us a whole host of transferable skills that can benefit us in non legal roles. I’ve applied to more than a few non legal related jobs that (in all fairness some were legal adjacent since I was working with lawyers but my previous role was in taxes). I’ve never really gotten the impression the companies were feeling anything other than respect for my background.

I think you’ll be fine as long as you can tie what you did as a lawyer to what you’re interviewing.

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