How Legal Professionals Can Change Practice Areas

How Legal Professionals Can Change Practice AreasHow Legal Professionals Can Change Practice AreasQ Im interested in changing my legal career and possibly switching practice areas. How have other legal professionals made this transition? And in what industries are there the most legal jobs?There are many factors that could cause legal professionals to set their sights on a new course. You may discover that you specialized too early in your career, or youve chosen legal jobs with stagnant growth and limited opportunities.Read How an Employment Agency Can Help You Change Careers.Look before you leap between legal jobsChanging practice areas is a big move that shouldnt be taken lightly. So before you make any major career transitions, ask yourself the following questions1. What are your reasons for switching?Your first job as an attorney or paralegal/legal support professional shapes what future roles you qualify for. Depending on the field and your skill set, you may have to learn an e ntirely different facet of the law or completely different procedures. Changing firms is more common. You should be able to articulate reasons for making the switch, since hiring managers will want to know why youre refocusing your career.2. Are you comfortable taking a possible step backwards?Anotlageher aspect to consider Employers pay more for specialized knowledge, and the jobs may not be out there for candidates without the requisite work history. While a change in legal jobs - maybe a turn toward nontraditional legal employment options - can realign your career path with your aspirations, its important to weigh the cons along with the pros. Entering a new specialty will likely affect your seniority and land you in a less prestigious role. You salary may also take a hit.Many legal firms and departments are looking to bring in experienced legal professionals who can start adding value immediately, without the organization having to spend time or expense on training, said Paul Farnsworth, past president of the Association of Legal Administrators and the executive director of Woods Oviatt Gilman, in an interview for Robert Half Legals Future Law geschftszimmer report.Robert Half Legals annual research project examines key trends affecting the legal field today. Download the your free copy of the Future Law Office report now.3. Do you possess skills and expertise that will transfer to a new role?Perform a skills and experience audit. Look at the specialties that pique your interest and what tools you already have in your kit. For example, its safe to say that theres not much overlap between personal injury and tax law, but some of those skills would likely easily transfer to general litigation and healthcare.When conducting your audit, consider the education you have. If your academic background includes hard science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM fields), then a transfer from your present practice area to intellectual property, patents or he althcare might hold appeal. The key takeaway here is to make good use of the knowledge and skills youve already spent years developing and honing.4. Have you researched the hottest practice areas?If youre shifting your focus, why not consider an area thats got some heat? Here are some in-demand fields, gleaned from Robert Half Legals Salary Guide and Future Law Office researchLitigation - insurance defense, medical malpractice, commercial litigation and employment lawGeneral business/corporate law - contracts, financial reporting, procurement, compliance, and mergers and acquisitionsHealthcare - legal counsel to drive strategy and protect against risk, negotiate and prepare provider contracts, and manage complianceIntellectual property - patents, copyright infringements and litigation support, especially in the biotech and high-tech fieldsReal estate - commercial development/construction, leases, property management, residential salesPrivacy and data security - online and mobi le technology transactions, regulatory compliance, healthcare privacy, cross-border data protection 5. Do you need to obtain some expert legal career advice?Confused about career transitions? Seek the advice of a mentor or career counselor. Also contact a recruiter who has experience in placing legal professionals he or she can give you a realistic assessment of what legal jobs you qualify for and help find a suitable job in your desired field.Keep track of hiring trends for legal professionalsCareer transitions are exciting but disruptive, so its crucial to study hiring trends as well as larger industry trends that are reshaping the legal profession. Robert Half Legals annual Future Law Office research project offers insight into developments driving change in the legal profession. Learn best practices and future predictions for legal solutions from leading experts in the legal field as well as our legal staffing and consulting professionals.SEARCH LEGAL JOBS