My Favorite Non-Traditional Lawyers

I never hoped or expected to become a partner at a big law firm, a high-powered trial lawyer, or really, any kind of traditional lawyer in between. Why I went to law school is a topic for a separate post, but it should come as no surprise that when I found a great opportunity to work in a non-traditional legal job, I jumped at the opportunity to transition away from the billable hour. Now, I’m a non-traditional lawyer, and I’ve never looked back.

With every new non-traditional lawyer I come across, I’ve sworn to put together this list since I’ve been compiling it in my head for years now…

Just to clarify, I don’t have any problem with practicing law. It just wasn’t a great fit for me, and I know so many lawyers who feel stuck – locked into their profession for any number of reasons. Lawyers get a powerful education. I hope this list can help you see your career in a broader context. Don’t let the idea that you’re only a lawyer stop you. They didn’t.

My Favorite Non-Traditional Lawyers

• Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project, Yale)
• Herb Kelleher (Southwest Airlines, NYU)
• Michael Melcher (The Creative Lawyer, Stanford)
• Ben Stein (Yale)
• Brian Clark (Copyblogger and co-founder of DIYthemes)
• Daniel Pink (Drive, Yale)
• Jonathan Fields (Career Renegade)
• Warren Brown, Cake Love (GW – my alma mater)
• Fred Thompson (Vanderbilt)
• David E. Kelley (BU)

Other Interesting Non-Traditional Lawyers

• John Grisham (Ole Miss)
• Charlie Rose (Duke)
• Howard Cosell (NYU)
• Geraldo Rivera (Brooklyn Law School)
• Jerry Springer (Northwestern)
• John Cleese (Cambridge)
• Will Shortz (NYT puzzle creator, UVA)
• Nina & Tim Zagat (creators of Zagat Guides)

More Information

• Top 10 Famous Lawyers (of all time, including politicians)
• What Else You Can Do With That Law Degree (comprehensive)

Please add your thoughts or additional names of non-traditional lawyers in the comments below! Thanks, Angela

Tagged as: law school, lawyer, non-practicing lawyers, non-traditional lawyers