Let’s face it! Being a lawyer is demanding. The long hours, the mental grind, and the pressure to deliver results can take a toll on your mental health. On top of that, there is the burden of hefty student loans or the desire to build a financial safety net. This leads us to think about ways to make money on the side and that’s where side hustles for lawyers come into our mind.
Lawyers have unique skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of the law, which makes them well-suited for various side hustles.
These side hustles for lawyers are just not about making money. It is a way to bring balance to our lives and discover the world outside of the courtroom.
This article will dive into 16 side hustle ideas for legal professionals. If you’re looking for inspiration, these side hustles for lawyers will help you earn extra cash, explore your interests, and even let you explore other career options.
Table of Contents
Why a Lawyer Should Start a Side Hustle?
The legal profession is rewarding but it brings with it a set of challenges which includes financial pressure, burnout, or the longing to do something else. A lawyer should start a side hustle because of various reasons.
First of all, for many lawyers, high student loans and living expenses can create a financial squeeze. A side hustle offers a practical way to earn on the side and help you pay your debt letting you live with less financial stress.
By experimenting with different side hustles for lawyers, you will be able to explore your passions. Maybe you want to write, teach, or launch a podcast. These side hustles allow you to open doors that you have closed otherwise.
A lawyer’s work is intense. From handling domestic abuse to criminal cases or property disputes, the work is demanding and can easily lead to burnout. You are mentally exhausted. These side hustles for lawyers help you by providing you with a mental space from the daily grind of client meetings, court filings, and deadlines. This can help improve your overall health and give you a much-needed break.
You will be able to diversify your income sources. By choosing the right side hustles for lawyers, you can achieve greater financial security, explore your interests, and create a more balanced lifestyle.
Best Side Hustles for Lawyers
If you are looking for some side gigs to make additional money, here are some side hustles for lawyers:
1. Freelance Legal Writing
You can start working as a freelance legal writer. As a lawyer, you can easily break down complex legal topics into understandable content. You can write for legal blogs, legal eBooks, and publications that are looking for well-researched, insightful articles. You can also create downloadable legal guides. Fiverr, Upwork, and several other freelance platforms are great for finding work.
2. Teach Law
You can start teaching as a lecturer at local universities or you can create online courses that cover legal topics like contract law, intellectual property, etc. You can use platforms like Udemy and Teachable to sell online courses. Teaching as a professor at any university in your area will help build your authority in your field.
3. Contract Review Services
There are a lot of small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs who need legal help but can’t afford a full-time lawyer. You can provide contract review services for business owners to ensure that their agreements are clear and enforceable and protect their interests. You can also draft new contracts for various business needs, such as partnerships, sales, or services.
You can provide your services through freelancing platforms or by connecting with the local business community in local chamber meetings. This way you will be easily able to build a client base.
4. Legal Consulting Services
If you enjoy problem-solving and working closely with clients then legal consulting is a fantastic side hustle for lawyers. Small businesses and startups often need some guidance on compliance issues, intellectual property rights, or contractual matters but they usually don’t have the budget to hire a full-time lawyer. You can specialize in specific areas, such as data privacy, trademarks, or employment law. You can advertise your services on LinkedIn, etc.
5. Create Legal Templates
Small businesses often need some legal documents but don’t know how to create them. You can create some common legal templates and sell them. This will also work as a passive income stream.
You can start by developing standardized templates for common legal documents such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), employment contracts, leases, or partnership agreements and then sell your templates on websites like LawDepot, Rocket Lawyer, or your website.
6. Mediation Services
This might sound weird but meditation is a dispute resolution method. This can help parties reach agreements without going to the court. This is one of the best side hustles for lawyers.
You can get a certification in providing meditation and offer your services to individuals or businesses to resolve disputes (related to contacts, partnerships, workplace issues, etc.). You can also offer your services to law firms, small businesses, or individuals who are seeking an alternative to litigation.
7. Legal Tech Consulting
Technology is shaping almost every other industry. Just like any other industry, law firms are also looking to select and implement the right tools and technology to make their work efficient. If you are a lawyer who loves and understands technology, then you could start offering legal tech consulting services. This is one of the best and in-demand side hustles for lawyers.
Your work will include advising law firms on selecting and implementing case management software, document automation tools, e-discovery platforms, or other legal tech solutions. You can help them by choosing the right tools to improve their efficiency and reduce costs.
You can start this work by building your expertise in the most popular legal tech tools and systems. You can network with other professionals and attend business parties to connact with firms in need for this service.
8. Expert Witness Services
If you have deep expertise in a particular area of law, you can become a legal expert witness. Lawyers need witness experts to affirm in court or provide a deep case analysis. You can offer your expertise as an expert witness in your practice area such as criminal law, intellectual property, corporate law, etc.
You can start working as an expert witness by networking with attorneys who handle cases in your niche or else you can join directories for expert witnesses, such as SEAK or ExpertPages. These can help you find opportunities.
9. Provide Mentoring for Law Related Exams (Bar Exams/LSAT)
Many students need help to pass difficult tests like the bar exam or LSAT. This is one of the best side hustles for lawyers as they already have the skills. Mentoring is a flexible job.
You can easily offer one-on-one tutoring sessions or group classes to help law students prepare for the bar exam or LSAT. You can also provide tips on test-taking strategies, review key concepts, and offer mock practice exams to ensure your students are fully prepared.
You can also start by advertising your services on platforms like Wyzant, and Tutor.com, or run paid ads on social media to get clients.
10. Start a Legal Blog or YouTube Channel
You can start a legal blog or a YouTube channel. Your content will consist of legal tips, guides, and advice for individuals or small businesses for example, you could cover topics such as contract law, intellectual property basics, or how small businesses should always follow the law.
Once you have a good following, you can run ads, accept sponsorships, or start affiliate marketing. You can also offer premium content or consulting services to your audience.
11. Write a Book
You can write a book on topics like legal guides, law career advice, or even a fiction novel based on your legal experiences. You can then publish your book on platforms like Amazon Direct Publishing (KDP) or find a local publisher. This is an excellent side hustle for lawyers and can build a passive income stream.
12. Invest in Real Estate
Lawyers have strong analytical skills which can be an advantage especially when you are deciding to buy a profitable real estate property.
As a lawyer, you can invest in rental properties, commercial real estate, or even invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs). Real estate investments provide a long-term passive income through rental properties and also offer tax benefits making it one of the best side hustles for lawyers.
13. Stock Market Investments
If you have some interest in personal finance and understand the market rules and regulations, then stock market investments might be a perfect side hustle for you. You can invest in stocks, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). You can start by exploring online platforms like Robinhood, E*TRADE, or Charles Schwab. This will help you build wealth over time.
14. Public Speaking or Workshops
As a lawyer, you have lots of knowledge that can be shared. You can speak at conferences or corporate events about legal topics, leadership, or other related areas. This can be an exciting and rewarding side hustle for lawyers.
You can start by offering keynote speeches or lead workshops on legal subjects like law firm management, legal ethics, leadership, or career advice for law students. To start this side hustle, you can reach out to conference organizers, legal associations, or corporate event planners or even build a personal brand. In return, you will get a speaking fee. Platforms like SpeakerHub or LinkedIn can help you connect with potential clients who are looking for legal experts to speak.
15. Start a Podcast
Podcasting has become the next big thing. People love sharing knowledge and engaging with their audience. You can start a podcast where you discuss legal trends and career advice, or interview other legal professionals.
You can invest in podcasting equipment and set up a hosting platform (like Podbean or Anchor). You can promote your podcast on social media and within your legal network.
16. Make legal content for Others
If you love staying behind the camera but still have the skills to produce great content, then you can start producing content for law firms marketing can be one the best side hustles for lawyers.
You can create written content, infographics, videos, or other digital media for law firms’ websites or social media channels. You can reach out to law firms or legal marketing agencies offering content creation services. You can also advertise on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or you can start your own blog offering content creation services for law firms.
Besides these, there are tons of side hustles that you can try. These are not related to law but anyone can do them and there is a huge market for these side hustles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manage a side hustle with a full-time legal career?
Yes, many side hustles for lawyers offer flexibility. This allows you to work on your schedule, such as freelance writing or creating legal templates.
Do I need additional certifications for legal-related side hustles?
Some side hustles, like mediation or expert witness services, may require some certifications, but other side hustles like legal blogging or consulting don’t need you to have a certificate.
How can I ensure my side hustle doesn’t conflict with my legal practice?
You should check your firm’s policies and maintain ethical boundaries. Choose a side hustle for lawyers that aligns with your expertise without overlapping your firm’s clients.
Can side hustles help me grow my legal career?
Absolutely. Side hustles like public speaking or writing a book can build your authority as a thought leader and help expand your professional network and reputation.
Which side hustle is most profitable for lawyers?
It depends on your skills and interests. Legal consulting, online courses, and real estate investing are among the best side hustles for lawyers.
Conclusion
These side hustles for lawyers offer flexibility and the opportunity to do something new. Starting a side hustle does not mean that you will compromise your main full-time job.
It’s just a way to start something new, experiment, and find different career choices that suit you best. Starting anything new is terrifying, but if you want to earn something extra on the side and increase your financial safety cushion, you must take the first step. Go for something that aligns with your interest and experiment with different things.