Alternative Careers — General

Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers, 5th Edition, Gary A. Munneke and William D. Henslee

American Bar Association (ABA Career Series), 2006. For students who know they don't want to practice law but aren't sure what their career options are – and for students who want to consider all of their options – this book offers a discussion of the reasons for choosing a nonlegal career and an overview of the job search process.
Available in NALP's Bookstore

What Can You Do With a Law Degree? 5th Edition, Deborah Arron

DecisionBooks, 2004. Author Deborah Arron offers self-assessment tools, job search advice, and extensive resource listings to help law students and lawyers determine which alternative career paths might be right for them.
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Available in NALP's Bookstore

Running from the Law: Why Good Lawyers are Getting Out of the Legal Profession, Deborah Arron

DecisionBooks, 2004. This book presents Deborah Arron's own story of leaving law practice (first published in 1989) and adds not only stories from other lawyers who went on to become successful after leaving their practices but also career tips, support options, and current online job resources for those considering a similar mid-career move.
Available in NALP's Bookstore

The (Un)happy Lawyer: A Roadmap to Finding Meaningful Work Outside of the Law, Monica Parker

Sourcebooks, Inc., 2008. In The (Un)happy Lawyer, Monica Parker has created a step-by-step guide that attempts to recreate the career coaching process through guidance, practical exercises, and real-life case studies. While not a complete replacement for working with a personalized career coach, Parker's provocative, searching questions are valuable for lawyers considering a career change. Those who counsel lawyers considering a career change may also glean some new ideas from Parker's core process questions. This book can be purchased from your favorite bookstore or online bookseller.
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Alternative Career Handouts

For handouts including websites of interest to those seeking nontraditional careers and other advice on the alternative career job search, go to Career Services.

Alternative Careers – Specific Paths

Becoming a Mediator: An Insider's Guide to Exploring Careers in Mediation

Peter Lovenheim, Jossey-Bass, 2002. Lovenheim's book presents a detailed look at a career field that may be of increasing interest to law students. Available from the publisher (and through some online booksellers) in ebook format.
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Career Counseling

For information on career services administration and a collection of student handouts, see the Professional Resources > Career Services section of the NALP website.

Career Choice & Development, 4th Edition, Duane Brown and Linda Brooks

Jossey-Bass, 2002. For career services professionals who want to learn more about research and theories relating to career development, this book is a practical resource that ties the theories directly to working with various individuals in career counseling.
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Career Match: Connecting Who You Are with What You'll Love to Do, Shoya Zichy

AMACOM, 2007. This book is a fun yet effective self-assessment tool. After a quick quiz based on Myers-Briggs to identify primary and secondary personality types, Zichy discusses the kinds of jobs (including some legal specialties) that best fit each personality — and the type of work environment each personality type needs to thrive. Concrete job search tips based on personality type are also included — and students who struggle with interviews will gain tips on adjusting their communication style. Anyone who wants to learn to work more effectively with a team of colleagues will also gain helpful insights from Zichy's charts on how to communicate most effectively with each personality type. Author Shoya Zichy is a career coach and past president of the Myers-Briggs Association of New York. Her proprietary "Color Q" personality model has been featured in Fortune, Barron's, and on CNN.
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Available in NALP's Bookstore

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You through the Secrets of Personality Type, Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron

Little Brown, 2007. Also based on Myers-Briggs, this book has become a classic in its field. The authors explain the key ingredients that must be present in the work of each personality type for that work to be genuinely fulfilling. Real-life case studies of persons with each personality type are featured.
Available in NALP's Bookstore

Getting Unstuck: How Dead Ends Become New Paths, Timothy Butler

Harvard Business School Press, 2007. In this book Butler addresses how to get past an impasse, which is, he says, where we find ourselves when we realize that some key ingredient is missing in our lives. Those who counsel students or lawyers through career decisions will find this book filled with helpful advice, as will anyone who is confronting an impasse of his or her own, whether it's choosing an employer, choosing a career field, or confronting another decision. This book can be purchased from your favorite bookstore or online bookseller.
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What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Nelson Bolles

Ten Speed Press, updated annually. General career counseling self-help books abound, but this remains a classic.
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Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want, 2nd Edition, Barbara Sher and Annie Gottlieb

Ballantine Books, 2003. This is another classic for those in search of good self-help books to narrow their career choices.
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Counseling Basics for Legal Career Professionals

NALP, 2004. Because increasing numbers are entering career services with legal experience but no training in counseling, a NALP committee prepared this pamphlet, which offers a basic introduction to counseling techniques and explains the difference between "counseling" and "advising."
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Available in NALP's Bookstore