At some point in your career, you may be interested in another area of law. So interested that you are thinking about changing the areas of law. A change of legal field is quite possible. If you find another area of activity more fulfilling, it`s definitely worth investing in change. But it`s not easy. As some lawyers consider adding or modifying practice areas in response to COVID-19, it`s important to take a strategic approach and be aware that change won`t happen overnight. This advice is especially important for lawyers who change their area of expertise during difficult times. Creating some sort of structure for your “project” to change practice areas will keep you accountable – and healthy. Alycia insists on asking yourself why you want to change your area of practice and really become critical before you do. The reason? You may be able to discover efficiencies or make changes to your existing practice, which is much easier than taking on a whole new area of practice.

Not everyone has the pleasure of starting their legal career in the field they are most passionate about. A lawyer may feel stuck in the area of practice they were in after their first job offer, or they may have opted for an area that wasn`t their passion, but was the most stable and convenient choice for paying off hefty student loans. Or maybe the practical specialization you chose was your dream job when you started, but after years of experience, you`re looking for a different kind of challenge. Despite the potential fear of changing exercise zones, you can rest assured that there is no reason to hold back. Moving can actually be quite easy and fun if you have the right tools to support change. Of course, the evolution of areas of law is not limited to reading case law. Alycia compares the acquisition of knowledge required when adding or changing areas of law to opening a new firm. Why do you want to change? Lawyers who choose an area of practice for the “right reasons” often do so because they realize they are not a good fit for the field in which they find themselves. It is important that you fully assess why you want to change.

Be realistic. Have you listened to your colleagues brag about the mega-mergers they`ve worked on or the salary they`re asking for? Does a colleague work for a glamorous entertainment company with lots of wrap parties and you want to be a part of it? Of course, it`s perfectly normal to occasionally feel dissatisfied with your work, and the reasons for unhappiness may not be related to your field of activity. But if it`s related to your area of practice, it`s up to you to explore why. In addition to deciding why you want to change your field of activity, you should critically analyze your skills and personality traits, as well as your academic and professional qualifications, before embarking on the process of changing your field of practice. As Alycia pointed out again, you don`t want your customers to be worse off because they`ve hired you and you haven`t been up to date with this yet. “When you think about how long it takes to become a master`s degree in a particular area or really good at a particular area of law, it`s not really something you can really spend in a matter of weeks,” she said. Instead, use someone else`s expertise. At its core, successful change in areas of law will require a serious and dedicated effort on several fronts. It will also take time and it is important not to rush the process.

It may take 1-2 years before you feel like you`ve fully entered your new area of law. You should also research whether a business change would allow you to achieve your desired goal. If you have superior references, are serious about changing your field of practice, and there is a demand for such lawyers in the market, you are likely to succeed in changing your field of practice. In anticipation of the change in area of practice, consider attending a seminar or course to familiarize yourself with your desired area of practice. This would show the company`s initiative on your part, and it would show companies that you are serious and committed and that you have done extensive research on the field of activity you want to enter. If you don`t already have a new practice in mind, or if you`re considering adding a practice to your practice instead of changing, you should be strategic when choosing: I asked myself: Are there things you liked about your pro bono experience? Did you take any CLEs that were particularly interesting but were not related to your current field of activity? Do you have hobbies that are suitable for other areas of law? Were there any specific courses at law school that you found attractive but didn`t pursue? As I reflect on these things, I keep coming back to my pro bono experience and my family law courses, which I really enjoyed. I liked the idea of conducting adoptions, helping same-sex couples deal with property issues, and helping a single parent spend more time with their child. Once you`ve done a critical self-analysis, you need to create a plan.

If your law firm has the resources to change your line of business, contact a mentor or trusted staff for advice. If you have a strong track record of quickly taking on new tasks and have done some research to change, there`s a better chance your request will be taken seriously. If you know of a need in your law firm in this area, present yourself as a candidate to fill this vacancy. For lawyers who want to change their scope of practice, we spoke to Alycia Kinchloe of Kinchloe Law. She moved from disability law to family law and spoke at length about the evolution of areas of law. In my part-time role as Regional Alumni Advisor (Toronto) at the University of Ottawa`s Faculty of Law, I provide coaching and career advice to lawyers during their first ten years of practice. Due to the pandemic and a weak market for legal jobs, many new lawyers have sought advice on how to find a job. These lawyers were not reinstated under the section or fired due to COVID after working at the same firm for several years.

Some of these lawyers wish to change their area of expertise for a variety of reasons. Some chose an area of law that they later learned did not fit their personality. Some thought they would like to go to court, only to find that they suffer from debilitating anxiety. Others had limited choices in terms of areas of practice and were simply happy to find an articling or lawyer position in each area of law. Now they want to find a job in an area of practice that better matches their interests and skills.