How good are you at telling a story? Can you take a bundle of random facts and thread them into a compelling tale? Do you have a terrific turn of phrase and a witty way with words?
Then you’re probably a criminal defence lawyer. But you might also be a writer.
Lots of legal eagles have literary leanings. In fact, a surprising number are published authors and quite a few have a background in the newspaper industry.
Maybe you’ve a half written blockbuster on your own laptop or the colleague you share an office with is a secret scribbler, getting up at 5am to dash off the next draft of their crime novel before heading into the law offices.
On s1jobs you’ll find lots of great opportunities for lawyers . . . but while you’re advancing your lucrative legal career, you might also like to fit in a spot of writing as well.
To help inspire you, here’s the lowdown on writers with a background in the law.
Alexander McCall Smith
The author of the No1 Ladies Detective Agency novels is Emeritus Professor of Law at Edinburgh University. As an expert on medical ethics he has had a seat on many important committees and earlier in his career he co-founded and taught at the law school at the University of Botswana.
Ron McKenna
Before becoming a criminal defence lawyer in Glasgow, Ron McKenna was a reporter on of several of the city’s newspapers. He had graduated from law school but turned to journalism before resuming his legal career. He remains the restaurant critic of The Herald, delivering verdicts on Scotland’s chefs.
Lee Child
The Jack Reacher series has been in the best seller lists since the hero and former military policeman made his debut, before moving onto cinema screens, played by Tom Cruise. Author Lee Child completed a law degree before working in television and then turning his hand to writing.
John Mortimer
What better character for a barrister to create than Horace Rumpole, whose crumpled form is familiar to readers and viewers as Rumpole of the Bailey? The author admitted to basing his hero on a shabby but brilliant QC of his close acquaintance.
John Grisham
Yes, he’s the master of the legal thriller, but John Grisham didn’t have the urge to write until he witnessed a harrowing trial and began to speculate on how it could have turned out differently. The novel he wrote about it, A Time to Kill, was followed by best sellers including The Client, The Firm and The Pelican Brief.
Write your own bestselling career with the latest Legal vacancies from s1jobs.