Do a Google Images search for the term “lawyer”. You may not be surprised to see pretty much the same image over and over again. Navy or grey suit in a courtroom setting. Your basic Matlock or Ally McBeal look.

But that hasn’t been my experience nor the experience of countless other lawyers I know. There are four lawyers in my family and three very different paths have been taken. I knew early on that private practice and litigation were not my cup of tea. Instead, I’ve gained a myriad of experiences from policy development to knowledge engineering. I currently combine many of the diverse skills I learned in my new position and additional contract work on the side. I’ve carved out my niche and I love it.

An Indeed study found that it takes the average person eight jobs before they find the one that gives them ultimate job satisfaction. Also, on average job satisfaction doesn’t happen until the age of 45, having been through four major career setbacks. As I noted in my post from last year, Everytime I Go Away, the stigma surrounding professional wanderlust is decreasing. There are several benefits to changes direction in your career, one of which is learning what is the path that will bring you the most satisfaction. Sometimes you just don’t know until you try it.

But can you really let your true colours shine through and carve out your own unique path in the legal profession? Nearly 20 years ago when I was finishing law school, there didn’t seem to be as many options for a new lawyer. I’m excited to see more possibilities now, particularly in legal tech and knowledge management. If you are looking to branch out into a ‘less conventional’ legal career, where do you start? Here’s a few things I did:

• Get to Know Yourself: What are actually good at and enjoy doing? Not the jobs you do because it is what’s expected of you but what is authentically you. This doesn’t mean you have to love every bit of your workday, but that it feels ‘right’. Perhaps most folks don’t find job satisfaction until the age of 45 because of a combination of experience and needing the time to really get to know yourself.
• Explore What’s Out There: Don’t just look at the job postings to see what legal careers are possible. Look into different areas of the legal world that are outside your day to day. Pay attention to the innovators and risk takers. They may inspire you to pivot in a new direction that better suits your personality and skillset. Heck, a simple Google search will provide numerous hits on alternative legal careers.
• Pick Their Brains: I’m always surprised at the generosity of these innovators. I’ve reached out to several over the years for tips on breaking into less conventional or emerging areas in the legal profession. They’ve always been willing to help and share their experiences.

Being a lawyer doesn’t have to just mean one thing or take you down one rigid path. Do some exploring and talk to others. You’ll find a way to let your true colours shine through the grey and navy.