The skills learned while studying law don’t have to remain trapped in dusty reference books or hidden from sight under a powdered wig in droning court rooms.
The truth is not everyone follows the direct path from university to traineeship to law firm.
At any point in your career, from newbie solicitor to senior partner, you can always choose to use your talents in a completely different field.
A legal qualification can lead to a career in the city, journalism, town planning, insurance or a graduate role in the Civil Service Fast Stream.
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these well known faces, all of whom have a law degree under their belt but ended up doing something completely different.
Gerard Butler
Yes, Paisley’s own Hollywood heartthrob studied law at Glasgow University. He worked as a trainee lawyer at an Edinburgh firm and was literally a week away from qualifying when . . . well, let’s say his life swerved in a new direction.
Despite his close-but-no-cigar legal career, we’re all in agreement things have turned out pretty sweet for Mr Butler.
Jerry Springer
Would you believe the world-famous American chat-show host actually started his working life not in front of the cameras but as a lawyer and political aid?
After graduating in 1968 he worked as an aide to Robert Kennedy. Following Kennedy’s assassination he moved to a law firm in Cincinnati before settling into local politics.
However his distinctive style and public profile meant it wasn’t long before he was offered a talk radio gig . . . and the rest, as they say, is history.
John Cleese
British funnyman John Cleese studied for a law degree at Cambridge University but the seeds of his career had been sown before he even crossed its esteemed threshold.
It was while still at school he met Graham Chapman and the pair went on to become writing partners and co-found the comedy troupe Monty Python.
Cleese may never have practised law but we’ll never forget his silly walk!
John Grisham
The best-selling novelist qualified as a lawyer and practised for a decade. He only gave up his career when his writing took off in the form of second novel The Firm.
Most of his books are legal thrillers and his intricate knowledge of the world of lawyers and courts give them an authentic feel and made him a multi-millionaire. That’s what we call making a law degree pay.
If you’d like to discover new Legal roles – and a range of tempting alternatives in job sectors across Scotland – simply visit s1jobs.com