Considering an Alternative Career

2. What you are looking for may be closer than you think. Be careful not to make the assumption that all law firms are alike, even if you have worked for two or three that were very much alike. Again, there are big differences to be found. A larger or smaller firm, a firm in another geographic region, starting your own firm-these are all options that can give you an entirely different perspective on the law.

3. Is it law, or is it working that you don't like? If you are just our of law school, it may be that you are having trouble adjusting to working 40 or more hours a week for the first time in your life. Speaking of adjusting, if this is the case, you probably won't enjoy insurance adjusting any more than you do practicing law.

If you are used to working 40 or more hours a week, that too could be a problem. Especially if the "or more" is "or much more." In other words, maybe you like the law, but it takes so much out of you that it's no longer fun or enjoyable. In this case, maybe too much of a good thing is bad, and you just need to manage your workload.

4. Are you itching to start and run your own business? Whether you had a Rich Dad or a Poor Dad, you may be feeling the urge to start your own business. When most lawyers do this, they think about what kind of business ventures they might want to launch. Take a minute to consider that a law practice can be very much like your own business. This is true if you start your own firm, or it can also be true within a law firm environment.

Especially when you hit the partnership level, or even as an of counsel, you may be able to find a situation where you can work autonomously, be paid directly for your efforts, and call most of the shots. Some firms, of course, will be more conducive to this than others, but the point is that again you might find what you are looking for within the legal profession.

5. Finally, it may be that you just need to give yourself some time before making the jump out of law. Your situation might improve, and you'll enjoy the law more as you get more senior. One of the advantages of paying your dues practicing law is that more and more opportunities present themselves to you. With a few years under your belt, you will have a better sense of what you are looking for and be in a position to do things you were not qualified for just out of law school.

If none of the above applies, it might actually be the case that you were meant to be an astronaut.

• See 60 Nontraditional Jobs You Can Do with a Law Degree (and Should Strongly Consider Doing) for more information about alternative careers for lawyers.