Five Alternative Legal Support Careers

Five Alternative Legal Support Careers

Five Alternative Legal Support Careers

Over the last year, this blog has attempted to address alternative legal careers for anyone with a Juris doctorate, typically by the field in which the alternative legal careers may be found. This blog takes a look at five alternative legal careers related to legal support for a law firm engaged in litigation.

Legal consultant

The demand for specialized legal expertise in recent decades has resulted in an expanded market for legal consultants. A need has arisen for specialized methods such as strategic planning, research, and analysis, training and coaching, as well as other various services based on the context of the litigation. These legal professionals typically have prior litigation, regulatory, healthcare, compliance, e-discovery, and records management experience and work on a contract basis.

Legal project manager

Law firms and corporate legal departments often hire outside legal experts to manage complex legal cases, such as e-discovery litigation projects. These arrangements offer more efficient management and cost options for the hiring organization while offering the flexibility to expend resources in other ways. The growing popularity of the annual e-discovery conference held by the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists® (ACEDS) demonstrates the increased importance of these new career opportunities in litigation support.

Legal mediator or arbitrator

More and more legal organizations seek to resolve legal matters through alternative dispute resolution without litigating within the confines and rules of the courtroom. Working as a legal mediator requires a legal professional who possesses strong analytical, reasoning, and communications skills, with the ability to be effective in building a consensus among individuals.

A company conducted a survey a few years ago in which it asked legal professionals what career alternative would be most appealing if they were to resign from their current job. 54 percent, more than half chose “mediation or alternative dispute resolution counselor.”

Law technology expert

Technology continues to evolve and greatly affects the operations of law firms everywhere. Technology has significantly changed how the legal services industry operates as well. This has created employment opportunities for those who possess knowledge of the latest technical tools, as well as legal experience.

Legal editor or publisher

Legal professionals with superior writing and communications skills may appeal to other attorneys by creating website and social media content, as well as writing and editing blogs, articles, newsletters, and other website content for attorneys. A recent trend on lawyers’ social media sites is the use of video rather than the written word to communicate with and provide information to prospective clients.

Attorneys must be prepared to satisfy clients regardless of the nature of the services provided. The CDTA provides the training that attorney-advocates require to meet the needs of clients in the 21st Century. At CDTA, we train, educate, and develop students to be exceptional attorneys and trial advocates. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.

 

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