September 17, 2026 In blog

You can have your cake and eat it too – the hybrid business/legal role for attorneys who want to do more than just law!

More than 20,000 attorneys have called me to talk about leaving their law firms and moving to in-house roles. Many of them have told me they are also considering “something on the business side.” They don’t know what that “something” is, which is where I come in. We specialize in helping attorneys obtain roles that combine some legal functions with some business-side responsibilities. More on that later – for now, let’s talk about some basic considerations for an attorney career change.

To begin, legal practice offers intellectual challenge, professional credibility, and financial success. However, the structure of law firm practices does not always support every stage of a life-long career.

Attorneys spend years balancing demanding client expectations, court or regulatory filing deadlines, business development, administrative responsibilities, and firm performance metrics. While these are part of life as a law firm attorney, they can also stymie opportunities to focus on impactful organizational leadership or long-term career growth.

As careers mature, many successful lawyers begin asking practical questions:

  • Do I want my next 15 or 20 work years to focus on generating billable hours?
  • Do I look forward to going to work in the morning, and do I feel like I did something worthwhile when I am ready to go home at night?
  • Do I want to live with this work/life balance for the rest of my life?
  • Where can I use my experience to have a greater impact on an organization?

As far as I know, we only have one life to live. What do we want it to be? As younger attorneys, we are willing – nay, eager! – to put in the hours and make the personal sacrifices that are necessary to make partner or to start and run a successful small practice. But having achieved those goals and lived with them for a few years, what comes next?

As I tell my clients who are in their 40s and 50s, you have arrived – so nothing is going to change about your daily work life for the next 20 or more years. For some attorneys, that’s OK. For others, the thought is daunting.

Your Legal Experience Is Valuable Far Beyond the Practice of Law

One of the most common misconceptions attorneys have is that changing career direction means leaving their legal identity behind unless they migrate to in-house legal positions.

The reality is quite different.

Years of legal practice develop capabilities that organizations actively seek in management-level business roles. Successful attorneys often bring:

  • Strategic decision-making
  • Keen judgment
  • Risk assessment and management expertise
  • Sophisticated negotiation skills
  • Project leadership under pressure
  • Crisis management capabilities
  • Abilities to engender trust and confidence of clients and stakeholders
  • Strong persuasive communication skills

These strengths translate naturally into executive environments where organizations value professionals who can evaluate risk while supporting growth, solve complex business problems, and guide critical decisions.

Rather than limiting opportunities, legal experience often becomes a significant competitive advantage for attorneys looking to go into business-oriented roles.

Many lawyers start looking for a change because they want a better work/life balance, more meaningful work, or a chance to be involved in business decisions instead of only solving legal problems. Working in a corporation, either as an attorney or executive, often gives people the chance to:

  • Work closely with business leaders.
  • Help shape company decisions.
  • Focus on long-term goals instead of on billable hours.
  • Help prevent problems from happening instead of dealing with what should have been avoided in the first place.
  • Build stronger relationships with, and feel connected to, one organization.
  • Enjoy a more predictable work schedule.

The Business/Legal Hybrid Job

What comes as a surprise to many attorneys is that the move to a company doesn’t have to be a choice between going in as a lawyer or going in on the business side.

At Career Strategies Group, we pioneered the concept of a hybrid business/legal position, where a client goes into a company performing some legal duties but also having responsibilities for which a JD is not required. This can be the best of both worlds for attorneys who want to keep a hand in the law, but also get more involved in meeting business challenges.

We have applied this strategy successfully to many hundreds of our clients. It might work for you, too.

If you would like more information on this type of hybrid role, or if you are thinking about exploring your career options, give us a call today and schedule a no-obligation 20-minute strategy call.

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Bruce Blackwell has been named at the top of the 2026 list of “The 10 Best Career Coaches in New York City” by Digital Reference, an online reference publication, and has been shortlisted for nomination for ‘Top Alternative Career Solutions 2026’ by Management HR magazine, a leading publication focused on advancing human resource practices and workforce leadership. Bruce has also been called a “Dean of Career Counselors for Attorneys” by the New York State Bar Association.

If you are an attorney or executive and have been thinking about “what else is out there?” get in touch with him for a virtual cup of coffee. In a confidential, no-cost 20-minute call, you can discuss your situation and get expert career advice. To schedule a call, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

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