In
a
legal
world
often
defined
by
rigid
swim
lanes
and
limited
career
trajectories,
how
do
you
carve
a
new
path?
On
Season
10,
Episode
9
of
“Notes
to
My
(Legal)
Self,”
I
had
the
pleasure
of
talking
with
Neil
Handwerker
and
Kimberly
Fine,
co-founders
of
ex
judicata,
about
reimagining
what
you
can
do
with
a
JD.
Their
platform
is
transforming
how
lawyers
pivot
to
fulfilling
careers
beyond
traditional
legal
roles.
Here’s
what
I
learned
about
why
lawyers
are
seeking
change,
how
ex
judicata
is
helping
them,
and
what
the
future
holds
for
nontraditional
legal
careers.
Meet
The
Pioneers
Of
Lawyer
Reinvention
Neil
Handwerker
and
Kimberly
Fine
bring
unique
perspectives
to
their
mission
of
empowering
lawyers.
Neil,
a
JD
himself,
left
legal
practice
years
ago
and
recognized
the
lack
of
resources
for
lawyers
wanting
to
pivot.
Kimberly,
an
expert
in
executive
education
and
board
governance,
saw
firsthand
the
need
for
career
paths
that
align
with
lawyers’
unique
skill
sets.
Together,
they
founded
ex
judicata
to
provide
tools,
resources,
and
a
community
for
lawyers
exploring
new
opportunities.
“We’re
here
to
show
that
a
JD
isn’t
just
a
law
degree,”
said
Kimberly.
“It’s
a
degree
in
complex
problem-solving
—
and
the
world
needs
more
of
that.”
The
Problem:
Swim
Lanes
Without
Exit
Ramps
Many
lawyers
feel
trapped
in
what
Neil
described
as
a
“culture
of
isolation.”
In
law
firms,
lawyers
are
often
siloed
into
specific
practice
areas
with
little
exposure
to
other
opportunities.
Corporate
lawyers
may
fare
slightly
better,
but
the
profession
as
a
whole
often
lacks
the
fluidity
seen
in
other
industries.
If
a
lawyer
wants
out,
the
traditional
options
are
stark:
up
or
out.
“Lawyers
just
keep
swimming
forward
without
pausing
to
ask
themselves
if
they’re
happy
or
fulfilled,”
Neil
observed.
“That’s
why
we
wanted
to
create
defined
paths
for
those
looking
to
pivot.”
The
ex
judicata
Solution:
Helping
Lawyers
Navigate
The
Pivot
To
help
lawyers
identify
and
pursue
nontraditional
career
paths,
ex
judicata
provides
a
suite
of
tools:
-
EXJ
Career
Match
Diagnostic:
A
20-to-30
minute
assessment
built
by
PhDs
in
organizational
behavior
that
identifies
your
probability
of
success
in
five
key
nonlegal
areas. -
Job
Board:
A
curated
selection
of
over
1,100
JD-advantage
roles
across
industries. -
Coaches’
Corner:
Access
to
experienced
career
coaches
who
offer
30-minute
complimentary
sessions
to
help
with
resumes,
LinkedIn
profiles,
and
strategic
planning. -
Talent
Network:
A
platform
connecting
lawyers
with
employers
who
recognize
the
value
of
a
JD
in
non-legal
roles.
Kimberly
emphasized
the
importance
of
helping
lawyers
realize
the
breadth
of
opportunities.
“From
compliance
and
public
policy
to
sales
and
marketing,
there’s
a
wide
array
of
roles
where
legal
training
shines.”
Why
Do
Lawyers
Leave
The
Practice?
Not
every
lawyer
exits
the
profession
out
of
unhappiness.
Some
seek
a
better
work-life
balance,
others
crave
intellectual
growth,
and
some
simply
want
a
change
of
pace.
Kimberly
noted
that
the
pandemic
forced
many
lawyers
to
reevaluate
their
priorities.
“For
the
first
time,
lawyers
were
home
for
dinner
with
their
families,
and
they
realized
there’s
more
to
life
than
billing
hours,”
she
said.
But
the
billable
hour
and
the
constant
“always
on”
culture
remain
the
top
reasons
lawyers
want
out.
Opportunities
Beyond
Traditional
Legal
Roles
The
hundreds
of
job
titles
tagged
by
ex
judicata
as
JD-advantage,
reflecting
roles
where
legal
skills
are
highly
valued,
include:
-
Compliance
and
risk
management -
Diversity,
equity,
and
inclusion
leadership -
Sales
and
business
development -
Brand
and
product
management
“There’s
a
hidden
talent
pool
in
plain
sight,”
Neil
explained.
“Lawyers
bring
incredible
skills
in
communication,
negotiation,
and
issue-spotting
—
qualities
that
businesses
need
more
than
ever.”
Supportive
Law
Schools
And
Law
Firms
Interestingly,
ex
judicata
is
receiving
strong
support
from
law
schools
and
law
firms
alike.
-
Law
Schools:
Many
have
onboarded
ex
judicata
to
provide
alternative
career
resources
for
students.
JD-advantage
placements
also
count
toward
ABA
employment
metrics,
a
win-win
for
schools
and
graduates. -
Law
Firms:
Innovative
firms
with
internal
outplacement
services
see
value
in
supporting
associates
who
wish
to
pivot.
This
approach
keeps
alumni
in
the
firm’s
ecosystem,
creating
opportunities
for
future
collaboration.
“By
helping
lawyers
transition
successfully,
firms
actually
strengthen
their
alumni
networks
and
client
relationships,”
Kimberly
noted.
Practical
Tips
For
Lawyers
Exploring
A
Pivot
If
you’re
thinking
about
leaving
the
practice
of
law,
where
should
you
start?
Neil
and
Kimberly
shared
actionable
insights:
-
Take
The
EXJ
Career
Match
Diagnostic:
Pinpoint
your
strengths
and
find
areas
where
your
JD
skills
are
most
valuable. -
Read
Personal
Stories:
Explore
how
other
lawyers
have
successfully
transitioned
into
new
fields. -
Ignore
The
Naysayers:
Neil
encouraged
introspection.
“Listen
to
yourself.
Ignore
those
who
say
you’re
throwing
away
your
degree
—
it’s
your
life.” -
Leverage
Resources:
Use
tools
like
ex
judicata’s
job
board,
coaches,
and
community
events
to
explore
your
options.
Building
A
Community
Around
Reinvention
The
mission
of
ex
judicata
extends
beyond
tools
and
resources
—
they’re
creating
a
community.
Their
WeFunder
campaign
allows
supporters
to
invest
in
their
mission,
fostering
a
shared
vision
for
reimagining
what
a
legal
career
can
look
like.
“Changing
someone’s
job
often
changes
their
life,”
Neil
reflected.
“And
that’s
what
drives
us
—
to
help
lawyers
find
careers
that
bring
them
fulfillment
and
joy.”
If
you’re
ready
to
explore
your
options,
visit
ex
judicata
and
start
your
journey.
Your
JD
is
a
passport,
not
a
prison.
Where
will
it
take
you
next?
Olga
V.
Mack is
a
Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
a
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
Olga
embraces
legal
innovation
and
had
dedicated
her
career
to
improving
and
shaping
the
future
of
law.
She
is
convinced
that
the
legal
profession
will
emerge
even
stronger,
more
resilient,
and
more
inclusive
than
before
by
embracing
technology.
Olga
is
also
an
award-winning
general
counsel,
operations
professional,
startup
advisor,
public
speaker,
adjunct
professor,
and
entrepreneur.
She
authored Get
on
Board:
Earning
Your
Ticket
to
a
Corporate
Board
Seat, Fundamentals
of
Smart
Contract
Security,
and Blockchain
Value:
Transforming
Business
Models,
Society,
and
Communities. She
is
working
on
three
books: Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers
(ABA
2024), The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers:
An
Analytical
Framework
to
Systematically
Advise
Your
Clients
Throughout
the
Product
Lifecycle
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024),
and
Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024).
You
can
follow
Olga
on LinkedIn and
Twitter
@olgavmack.