Previous OUT OF LAW features
This section is dedicated to those of you toying with the notion of becoming an ‘ex’ lawyer. We talk to people who have already left law behind them to do a wide variety of other things. Our interviews will give you food for thought by telling you what they are doing now, how they made the move and, having been in your postion, what advice they can offer....
Authors
Ex-City PSL wins prize for first novel (Louise Soraya Black, 4/11/2010)
Ex-City lawyer making his living from writing (Daniel Harris, 14/10/2010)
Ex barrister now animator and cartoonist (Alex Williams, 30/7/2009)
Career as actress, writer and editor for ex-City lawyer (Emma Kennedy, 16/4/2009)
Random House publishes ex-City lawyer's first novel (written during her training contract) (Jennie Rooney, 4/9/2008)
Ex-Lovells lawyer embarks on a career in journalism and writing (Andy Sloan, 12/7/2007)
Ex-partner branches out from law (Sue Stapely, 2/11/2006)
Ex-Freshfields lawyer finds that the best job is snow job (Isobel Rostron, 7/9/2006)
Lawyer turned author (Penelope Evans, 29/6/2006)
Ex-City lawyers find success is child's play (Lucy Martin, 6/4/2006)
Banking / finance
Ex-solicitor switches to stockbroking (Andrew Thomson, 11/10/2007)
Ex-City lawyer moves to the trading floor of UBS (Emma Eyres, 19/4/2007)
Ex-City lawyer moves to investor relations via a bank (Emma Parr, 28/12/2006)
Ex-Clifford Chance lawyer is laughing all the way to the bank (Lisa McDermott, 24/8/2006)
Barrister has new business role after part-time MBA (Tim Wakefield, 9/8/2007)
Ex-City trainee switches to business development (Hannah Boddy, 3/5/2007)
Ex-partner sets up business development consultancy (Meena Heath, 5/4/2007)
Charity sector
Ex-City lawyer working for a conservation charity in Jersey
(Rachel MacNeil, 16/11/2011)
Ex-Linklaters lawyer joins Chickenshed theatre and charity
(Kate Varah, 3/1/2008)
Coaching
Former lawyer now a career coach after a varied career (Simon Broomer, 30/12/2010)
Family lawyer becomes fundraiser and then coach (Tessa Armstrong, 16/12/2010)
Ex-employment lawyer becomes a careers coach after running her own business (Karen Gill, 24/7/2008)
Comedians
Career as actress, writer and editor for ex-City lawyer (Emma Kennedy, 16/4/2009)
Career in comedy for ex-lawyer (and former recruiter) (Simon Lipson, 11/1/2007)
Ex-Clifford Chance lawyer jacks it in to do something funny (Simeon Goulden, 10/8/2006)
Ex-City lawyer switches to CR (Thomas, 13/3/2008)
Design
Former Google laywer now designing gardens (Nigel Jones, 3/2/2011)
Handbags for ex-Dentons lawyer (Jackie Cawthra, 13/7/2006)
Ex-City lawyer chooses shoe design over partnership (Angeline Tournier, 18/5/2006)
Events planning
Ex-City lawyer finds Comic Relief (Colleen May, 27/7/2006)
Fitness / sporty things
Ex-City lawyer delivering you the "perfect body" (Jared Williams, 20/12/2012)
Corporate lawyer leaving the City to run cycle tours (Rob Cartledge, 9/12/2011)
Ex-finance lawyer teaching snowkiting and kiteboarding (Simon Watson, 5/5/2011)
Ex-A&O lawyer gets high (naturally) (Alex Shirley, 20/4/2006)
Further study
From law in the City to advertising (James Hodson, 2/11/2010)
Ex-Linklaters lawyer opens Axiom's London office (Al Giles, 10/7/2008)
INSEAD MBA and strategy role in industry for ex-Linklaters lawyer (Tom Clementi, 24/1/2008)
Barrister has new business role after part-time MBA (Tim Wakefield, 9/8/2007)
Hospitality
From law to financial PR to inn-keeping in New Hampshire (Tom Randell, 18/11/2010)
Newly qualified lawyer heading to the Alps (Angus Grierson, 21/10/2010)
Ex-City lawyer making "Moolis" (Mathew Chandy, 23/2/2010)
Aussie law graduate opens London cafe (Shelagh Ryan, 19/3/2009)
Ex-Linklaters lawyer opening a restaurant in central London (Ben Fordham, 15/5/2008)
Ex-City lawyer sets up bar empire (Jonathan Downey, 17/5/2007)
Ex-City lawyer heads for the hills (Sofia de Meyer, 25/1/2007)
Ex-Herbies lawyer lives chateau dream (Patrick Bergot, 2/3/2006)
HR
Ex-City lawyer moves to HR (Alys Carlton, 23/8/2007)
Industry
INSEAD MBA and strategy role in industry for ex-Linklaters lawyer (Tom Clementi, 24/1/2008)
Investor relations
(Interview currently being updated)
Ex-City lawyer now Head of Social Media at an online publishing company (Sarah Louise Dean, 22/12/12)
City lawyer making his living from writing (Daniel Harris, 14/10/2010)
From banking lawyer to eco and radio journalist (Ikenna Azuike, 6/1/2009)
Ex-Lovells lawyer embarks on a career in journalism and writing (Andy Sloan, 12/7/2007)
Law firm - non fee-earning roles
Ex-City lawyer moves to HR (Alys Carlton, 23/8/2007)
Ex-City trainee switches to business development (Hannah Boddy, 3/5/2007)
Ex-Freshfields lawyer running a business consultancy (Ben Kent, 16/10/2008)
From managing partner to management consultant (Maury Shenk, 21/8/2008)
Other
Ex barrister now animator and cartoonist (Alex Williams, 30/7/2009)
Ex-criminal barrister explores her creative side (Aruna Khanzada, 25/6/2009)
City litigator turned eco-tourism guide (Holly Faithfull, 24/2/2009)
Frying pan to fire? From lawyer to primary school teacher... (Penny Bullen, 6/1/2009)
Ex-Linklaters lawyer opens Axiom's London office (Al Giles, 10/7/2008)
Interview with Moretolaw's founder: Alex Dunstan-Lee (Alex Dunstan-Lee, 10/4/2007)
Ex-lawyer moves into international development (Katie Frith, 25/10/2007)
Ex-Linklaters trainee swaps the office for a dance studio (A Dancer, 28/6/2007)
Own business (see web-based businesses below too)
Ex-City lawyer running a ski travel company (Ian Barrie, 8/11/2012)
French lawyer now working as a wedding / portrait photographer (Emilie White, 25/10/2012)
Using a legal background to make and do business (Nick Lindsay, 16/11/2011)
Ex-finance lawyer teaching snowkiting and kiteboarding (Simon Watson, 5/5/2011)
Mixing law (on demand) with film production (Darren Heath, 21/4/2011)
Ex-competition lawyer running his own art consultancy (Rich Pepper, 5/3/2011)
Former Google laywer now designing gardens (Nigel Jones, 3/2/2011)
Ex-City lawyer making "Moolis" (Mathew Chandy, 23/2/2010)
Ex-City lawyer now Mr. Organic (Carlo Buckley, 17/12/2009)
Ex-lawyer now running skincare company (George Gordon, 3/12/2009)
Life after losing your job (Kareen Cranston, 30/4/2009)
City litigator turned eco-tourism guide (Holly Faithfull, 24/2/2009)
Ex-A&O finance lawyer running an independent bookshop (Nic Bottomley, 29/1/2009)
Ex-Freshfields lawyer running a business consultancy (Ben Kent, 16/10/2008)
Government lawyer's sabbatical leads to a new career in food (Clare Jackson, 1/5/2008)
Ex-DLA lawyer sets up training business (Simon Price, 20/9/2007)
Ex-City lawyer sets up bar empire (Jonathan Downey, 17/5/2007)
Ex-partner sets up business development consultancy (Meena Heath, 5/4/2007)
Ex-solicitor gets rude (David Vines, 22/3/2007)
Ex-City solicitor sets up cookery school (Jo Bertinet, 8/3/2007)
Ex-City lawyer runs kitchen business (Lara Quie, 8/2/2007)
Ex-City lawyers go green (Tom Pakenham and Jonny Goldstone, 5/10/2006)
Life is sweet for two ex-Lawrence Graham lawyers (Simon Pattinson, 21/9/2006)
Ex-Freshfields lawyer finds that the best job is snow job (Isobel Rostron, 7/9/2006)
Ex-City lawyers find success is child's play (Lucy Martin, 6/4/2006)
PR / advertising / communications
From law in the City to advertising (James Hodson, 2/11/2010)
Ex-City trainee switches to business development (Hannah Boddy, 3/5/2007)
Ex-City lawyer moves to Merlin (Tom Randell, 30/11/2006)
Ex-partner branches out from law (Sue Stapely, 2/11/2006)
Ex-lawyer is Blunt about the law (Jim Brough, 15/6/2006)
Property
Ex-City lawyer moves to a property fund via Goldman Sachs (James Gilbert, 26/7/2007)
Ex-lawyer picks up a property (Ed Sykes, 14/12/2006)
Recruitment
Ex-City lawyer working for niche recruitment consultancy (Karen Glass, 8/11/2007, updated 9/2008)
Career in comedy for ex-lawyer (and former recruiter) (Simon Lipson, 11/1/2007)
Reflexology
Ex-Freshfields lawyer gets (re)flexible (Kate, 4/5/2006)
Retail
Ex-lawyer now running skincare company (George Gordon, 3/12/2009)
Ex-solicitor gets rude (David Vines, 22/3/2007)
Life is sweet for two ex-Lawrence Graham lawyers (Simon Pattinson, 21/9/2006)
Ex-City lawyer advising parents (Sarah-Jane Butler, 6/12/2012)
Ex-City lawyer giving you a nudge (Neil Frame, 19/5/2011)
From City lawyer to UK expert (Hannah Wiltshire, 17/2/2011)
Ex-City lawyer becomes an urban gardener (Cesca Maurice-Williams, 9/7/2009)
Ex-entertainment lawyer sets up "Click Tonight" (Kate Jackson, 18/9/2008)
Ex-Bakers lawyer gives fair trade a fair go (Greg Lovell, 7/8/2008)
Interview with Moretolaw's founder: Alex Dunstan-Lee (Alex Dunstan-Lee, 10/4/2007)
Ex-City lawyer runs publishing company and lawyers' gift service (Philip Jenks, 22/11/2007)
Ex-CC lawyers launch luxury boutique (Claire Rous and Kara Iland, 14/6/2007)
Ex-solicitor becomes an art dealer (Gavin Rosenthal, 31/5/2007)
Ex-lawyer picks up a property (Ed Sykes, 14/12/2006)
Glittering new career for ex-city lawyer (Rebecca Doyle, 16/11/2006)
Ex-lawyer in a tights spot (Charles Duncombe, 1/6/2006)
Wine / food industry
Ex-City lawyer delivering you the "perfect body" (Jared Williams, 20/12/2012)
Government lawyer's sabbatical leads to a new career in food (Clare Jackson, 1/5/2008)
Ex-City lawyer joins the wine trade (Katy Thorniley, 20/12/2007)
Ex-equity partner has nothing to whine about (Sarah Ahmed, 19/10/2006)
And just in case you were losing sight of the benefits of a legal career:
Ex-management consultant FINDS the law (Alana Tervo, 10/8/2006)
Each feature tells you where that lawyer started and how they reached where they are today. The aim is to inform and entertain. There is no better way to get a grip on what your options are than to read about the first-hand experiences of lawyers who have been through it. Equally, it’s nice just to be nosey.
Please get in touch if you know any lawyers who have left private practice and are enjoying themselves doing something OUT OF LAW.
(Note: this section is all about lawyers who have moved to pastures new OUT OF LAW. You can read about lawyers who have moved jobs within the legal world in our WITHIN LAW section.)
Click here for details of careers advisers and coaches.
Click here for a page of advice and links for small businesses and entreprenuers.
Mixing law with something else...
We also want to tell you all about lawyers who spend a large part of their lives pursuing other interests and manage to fit these other interests around their legal careers. Click here to read more.