What did you do after your law career?

[Anonymous]

Lobbyist
Executive search
Adjunct law professor
Trade association exec
Human Capitol Officer

[Anonymous]

Shepherd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same—would love some ideas for fed lawyer

I moved into management after 12 years as a fed lawyer. First into a front office in a senior advisor and then chief of staff role, and then into the SES-equivalent running an administrative division. I love my job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say go for it. As long as you enter service by 59, you can stay until forced retirement at 65. You can come back as a contractor the next day and double your salary if that's your jam.

Could you recommend a pathway for a current govt attorney? Take the FS exam? Or is the routing different?

Is this seriously a thing? I was an international relations major and speak 3 languages but went to law school instead. Are they really taking 50 year olds with no foreign service experience? And then they slot you into the usual 3 year country assignment routine? Very tempted to send my teens to boarding school and do this.

Yes, this is seriously a thing, especially at USAID where you need a graduate degree to get in the door as an FSO. You missed a big hiring push by about a month, but keep your eye out for more opportunities. You can also compete for offshore hire PSC positions that give you many of the same benefits (including education, travel, housing) that FSOs receive.

[Anonymous]

I’m the guy who left Biglaw at 53 and has done nothing since. Serious question: if you’ve earned enough Biglaw money to do nothing else for money, why do anything else? Everyday I thank my lucky stars for being in the position that I’m in, and I can’t understand why so few others are also taking the plunge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the guy who left Biglaw at 53 and has done nothing since. Serious question: if you’ve earned enough Biglaw money to do nothing else for money, why do anything else? Everyday I thank my lucky stars for being in the position that I’m in, and I can’t understand why so few others are also taking the plunge.

Well, the OP doesn't say "what would you do *to earn money*" she asks "what would you do". Lots of people want to stay productive and fill their days with challenge, etc. I assume you don't sit around all day every day? What do you do with your freedom from BigLaw? How do you fill your days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the guy who left Biglaw at 53 and has done nothing since. Serious question: if you’ve earned enough Biglaw money to do nothing else for money, why do anything else? Everyday I thank my lucky stars for being in the position that I’m in, and I can’t understand why so few others are also taking the plunge.

Well, the OP doesn't say "what would you do *to earn money*" she asks "what would you do". Lots of people want to stay productive and fill their days with challenge, etc. I assume you don't sit around all day every day? What do you do with your freedom from BigLaw? How do you fill your days?

Before the pandemic my wife and I traveled all over the world for weeks on end, and when we found ourselves back in town we helped with the grandkids etc. The pandemic changed that, obviously. Like everyone else, we’ve been riding it out. We bought a second home in the country as a getaway last summer and spend a lot of time there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say go for it. As long as you enter service by 59, you can stay until forced retirement at 65. You can come back as a contractor the next day and double your salary if that's your jam.

Could you recommend a pathway for a current govt attorney? Take the FS exam? Or is the routing different?

Is this seriously a thing? I was an international relations major and speak 3 languages but went to law school instead. Are they really taking 50 year olds with no foreign service experience? And then they slot you into the usual 3 year country assignment routine? Very tempted to send my teens to boarding school and do this.

Yes, this is seriously a thing, especially at USAID where you need a graduate degree to get in the door as an FSO. You missed a big hiring push by about a month, but keep your eye out for more opportunities. You can also compete for offshore hire PSC positions that give you many of the same benefits (including education, travel, housing) that FSOs receive.

I have a relative who took the foreign service exam at ~55 ( when her husband retired and kids were grown). Because of a past cancer diagnosis, they didn't give her hardship posts. Instead she was posted to major cities in western Europe. It was great (she is not a lawyer and this was about 20 years ago).