Lawyer jobs that are just a job
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Anonymous
| I have spent the past 10 years (not counting law school) working myself to death, and I need a change. I was a federal appellate clerk, then spent 4 years as an associate at a Biglaw firm, then have been a federal prosecutor for the last 5 years. I have always been ambitious and could never imagine myself working at "just a job." Recently, however, I've started thinking about how there's more to life than work. I still want to work but I want a job that I can leave at 5:00 and not think about until I come back the next morning. Obviously, any such job will not be high paying, but I don't even really know where to look. Everybody I know is looking for more challenging and prestigious opportunities, but I want to go in the opposite direction. Any ideas? Anybody done this? |
Anonymous
| Get out of law entirely. Or sell Lexis Nexis. |
Anonymous
| other agencies - not DOJ or SEC but some of the sleepier ones. |
Anonymous
| any agency that is not primarily lawyers. You may regret it though -- trust me, it's a big snooze. very depressing. |
Anonymous
| Appellate work. It's more predictable than trial work so therefore less stressful and with more regular hours. |
Anonymous
| I think that most non-litigation jobs in the federal govt would qualify. Can you tranition to the non-litigation position in our current agency. BTW, I am a federal attoney and while my little office of 12 work law firm type hour, the vast majority work from 9 to 5:30 and for some its a stretch to call what they do "work". |
Anonymous
| Another vote for appellate work. It can get boring, though. |
Anonymous
| Can you try to transfer to the appellate division of the US Attorney's office? Or keep checking the DC Attorney General's website for appellate openings. |
Anonymous
| In-house jobs. You will be dealing employment law, etc., but it is closer to a job/job than being a lawyer at a firm as you would work normal business hours and such. |
Anonymous
| I do administrative appeals for a federal agency and its sometimes interesting, sometimes boring, but always just a job. 8:30-5 hours and I dont think about work outside those hours. Least stress I've ever had. |
Anonymous
|
i know someone who does in house work - reviewing contracts for a pharmaceutical company. she does not work a ton of hours and has a decent income. she's in the bay area, though.
i work 50 hours at a small firm. it's ok, but not something i want to stay in, and doesn't pay much. it is just a job though, i don't worry about it at night or anything. and i NEVER work weekends or more than the bare minimum. i'm over it. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the suggestions, all. I'm in the USAO, so there are no non-litigation jobs in my current office. I also hate writing appellate briefs, so I think that's out. Reviewing contracts or employment matters sounds perfect though. I always assumed that those in-house jobs go to people who've actually practiced employment law though. My resume is fairly impressive, but I don't have much experience that would be relevant to most in-house jobs. I'm sure I could learn quickly though. Do you think anyone would hire me? |
Anonymous
| I'm a trademark attorney at the USPTO. The work is very repetitive and can get a tad boring but you can work at home full time after 2 years. The hours are never more than 40 per week. You can make your schedule using a "maxiflex" scheduling or you can do an alternate work schedule. The Trademark Attorneys also have the only maternity/paternity comp system in the whole government. (Patent side might, but I'm not completely sure) There is plenty of opportunity to move up in the agency, if that is something that interests you. |
Anonymous
Posted by someone who doesn't work in house. My in house job certainly isn't like that. No way could I stick to working 40 hours only and get the work done. |
Anonymous
| I also recommend other federal agencies (not DOJ or the SEC). Some of them offer challenging work and you rarely have to work beyond 40 hours a week. |