Best Jobs for Former Lawyers in 2026
The legal profession is experiencing significant changes, leading many lawyers to reevaluate their careers. As the legal landscape evolves, former practitioners are increasingly seeking alternative career paths that align with their skills and interests.
While the number of students pursuing law degrees remains steady, the number of individuals opting for a traditional legal career is declining. This raises an important question:
What career paths are former lawyers exploring now?
To find out, we analyzed the resumes of former lawyers to identify the types of jobs they transitioned into after leaving the legal field. We compiled a list of the top 100 roles based on this data.
Here’s a quick overview of the ten most common jobs for former lawyers:
These roles leverage skills honed in the legal field or serve as gateways to new careers. However, the list might seem predictable, lacking some of the more unique transitions former lawyers are making.
Let’s explore some of the more surprising career paths taken by former lawyers:
While some of these roles may be more appealing than others, they certainly reflect the diverse opportunities available to former attorneys in today’s job market.
How We Determined the Most Common Jobs of Former Lawyers
To identify the most common jobs, we analyzed resume information from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes. We focused on those that listed “lawyer” in their work history and tracked the subsequent job titles that emerged after their time in the legal profession, sorting them by frequency.
This method allowed us to compile a ranked list of the most common transitions for former lawyers.
To highlight the most unique career paths, we looked for positions that:
- Appeared in fewer than 1% of all job listings
- Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs in our database
Below, you’ll find the detailed ranking of the most common jobs for former lawyers.
Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Lawyers
In conclusion, the career landscape for former lawyers is evolving, offering diverse opportunities beyond traditional legal roles. By leveraging their unique skill sets, many former lawyers find fulfilling careers in a variety of fields, from education to executive leadership. Whether you’re a former lawyer or contemplating a career change, exploring these diverse paths can lead to rewarding new opportunities.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
