“So You Don’t Want To Be A Lawyer” panel explores alternatives after law school

While almost all of his graduating class will go on to practice law, Noah Ornstein has his eyes set on movies.
With a couple of classmates, Ornstein hopes to start an international theater company to develop film industry markets in places such as Latin America.

Currently a student in the UCLA School of Law, he represents a small portion of students hoping to do something different with their degree than practicing law.

The law school will hold a panel today called “So You Don’t Want to be a Lawyer?” for other students like Ornstein. Panelists will include professionals with law degrees who work as bankruptcy consultants, marketing mediators and healthcare providers, said Sabrina Eisenbrei, a coordinator of the event.

“Some people just want to practice law for a limited time and then choose a different career path,” Eisenbrei said. “We want to help students think about the different skill sets they can use and how they are transferable.”

Ornstein belongs to the 4 percent of students with a law degree who end up pursuing a business-related career ““ a small portion compared to the 92 percent that do practice law upon graduation, said Beth Moeller, assistant dean of career services of the law school.

Other options that students pursue include public service, government jobs, health care and academic careers, Moeller said.

“A law degree can enhance marketability to different employers because it requires strong analytical skills and strong communication skills, both writing and verbally,” Moeller said. “It definitely gives opportunities for alternative careers.”

She added that some people start out with the intent of practicing law and transition out of it, whether in school or after they have started their careers.

Ornstein, who studies international transactions in real estate, said he did not want to be a lawyer from the outset, but learned in his real estate and politics courses that lawyers make crucial decisions.

Education in law is essential to starting a company abroad because it allows someone to understand a country’s specific business laws and how they function, Ornstein said.

However, Ornstein said he does not feel like an anomaly.

“I feel like a lot of people are unhappy about the prospect of working at a law firm, but then they eventually settle in with the good pay,” he said. “I’m actually doing something about it by pursuing something different.”