Should you attend law school and decide at some point in your career that you want to do more than simply practice law, you may enjoy numerous opportunities across a wide variety of industries.

[See how law grads are finding nonlegal work.]

Here are five nontraditional fields in which you can leverage your law degree.

1. Journalism: Countless well-known reporters, broadcast journalists, and TV personalities studied law as a precursor to a career in journalism. Geraldo Rivera, host of Geraldo at Large on FOX News Channel, graduated from Brooklyn Law School. Jeff Greenfield, former CBS News senior political correspondent, went to Yale Law School. Cynthia McFadden, coanchor of ABC News’s Nightline and Primetime, graduated from Columbia Law School. Finally, Star Jones, former host of The View and contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, obtained her juris doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.

What has allowed these individuals to make the jump from law to media? In law school, you learn to synthesize ideas, communicate clearly, and quickly get to the heart of an issue—all skills that are critical in journalism.

[Find out why it's still a good time to be a journalist.]

2. Real estate: Well-known real estate magnate Sam Zell also came from the world of law; he graduated from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor Law School before building his global real estate empire. You, too, could transition from law to real estate investing since, in law school, you learn a great deal about negotiating and structuring financial transactions to minimize risk, maximize returns, and be as tax efficient as possible.

3. Nonprofit management: Curtis Welling, a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, is currently president and chief executive officer of the AmeriCares Foundation. Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, graduated from the New York University School of Law.

While it is common to think of lawyers as impact litigators at leading nonprofit organizations, such as the NAACP or Lambda Legal, it is also important to note that countless attorneys hold senior executive positions at nonprofits as well. The leadership and management training as well as the problem solving skills that lawyers obtain in law school and throughout their careers prepare them well for these positions.

4. Entrepreneurship: You may be familiar with the Zagat Survey, which rates restaurants and shopping in numerous cities and was cofounded by lawyers-turned-entrepreneurs Nina and Tim Zagat. The Zagats met while studying at Yale Law and both practiced corporate law before starting their entrepreneurial venture.

Daniel Dolan, who launched an online dating site called It’s Just Lunch, among other ventures, graduated from Harvard Law School before starting his career as a leading “cyber matchmaker.” Similarly, I have leveraged my legal training from Harvard Law to found and build my entrepreneurial firms, Stratus Prep and Stratus Careers.

Entrepreneurs, like lawyers, must think both critically and creatively in order to solve challenging problems with limited resources and thereby create value.

[Ask these three questions before becoming an entrepreneur.]

5. The arts: Bestselling authors Scott Turow (Presumed Innocent) and John Grisham (The Firm) are both law school graduates—from Harvard Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law, respectively—and their legal backgrounds played a significant role in their literary success.

University of Virginia School of Law graduate Will Shortz used his talent with words to become the crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times. Finally, David E. Kelly, husband of actress Michelle Pfeiffer and a graduate of Boston University School of Law, utilized the writing skills he developed, in part, at BU Law to become a successful film and television writer and producer.

Yale University is a private institution that was founded in 1701. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,310, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 315 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Yale University’s ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 3. Its tuition and fees are $40,500 (2011-12).

Yale University, located in New Haven, Conn., is known for its excellent drama and music programs, which reach outside the classroom with student organizations such as the Yale Whiffenpoofs, a famous a capella group, and the Yale Dramatic Association. The Yale Bulldogs compete in the Ivy League and are well known for their rivalry with Harvard. Students are assigned to live in one of 12 residential colleges during their time at Yale. Each college has a master and dean who live in the college and eat with students in the dining halls. Cultural houses provide a space for students to build a sense of cultural identity on campus.

Yale is comprised of the College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and 13 professional schools. Included in the professional schools are the top ranked Law School and highly ranked School of Management, School of Medicine , School of Art, and School of Nursing. The School of Drama, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Divinity School are also well-regarded graduate programs. The “Yale Record” is the oldest college humor magazine in the nation. Dwight Hall is an independent umbrella organization that fosters student service and activism in the local New Haven community. Yale is well known for its secret societies, the most famous of which are the Skull and Bone Society, which boasts members such as George W. Bush and John Kerry, and the Scroll and Key Society. Distinguished Yale alumni include actress Meryl Streep, Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, and actor Edward Norton.

General Information

Applying

When applying to Yale University, it’s important to note the application deadline is December 31, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 1. The application fee at Yale University is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 7.9 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

More About Applying

Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Yale University is 5:1, and the school has 75.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Yale University include: Political Science and Government, General; History, General; Economics, General; Psychology, General; and Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 99.0 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	5:1
4-year graduation rate	89% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Political Science and Government, General 14% History, General 11% Economics, General 10% Psychology, General 7% Biology/Biological Sciences, General 6%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Yale University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,310, with a gender distribution of 49.6 percent male students and 50.4 percent female students. 88.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 12.0 percent of students live off campus. Yale University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Yale University.

Total enrollment	11,701
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity	N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority	N/A
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

More About Student Life

Campus Info & Services

Yale University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women’s center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Yale University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Yale University, 5 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Yale University.

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Yale University, 56.7 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $38,914.

Paying for college doesn’t have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$40,500 (2011-12)
Room and board	$12,200 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

More About Paying for School

Princeton University is a private institution that was founded in 1746. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,220, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Princeton University’s ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $37,000 (2011-12).

Princeton, the fourth-oldest college in the United States, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, N.J. Within the walls of its historic ivy-covered campus, Princeton offers a number of events, activities, and organizations. The Princeton Tigers, members of the Ivy League, are well known for their consistently strong men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Students live in one of six residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of the 12 eating clubs for their junior and senior years. The eating clubs serve as social and dining organizations for the students who join them. Princeton’s unofficial motto, “In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations,” speaks to the university’s commitment to community service.

Princeton includes highly ranked graduate programs through theWoodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs andSchool of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Princeton, along withHarvard and the University of Virginia, eliminated its early decision program in 2006 in an attempt to create a more equal opportunity admissions process for applicants of all socioeconomic backgrounds. One unique aspect of Princeton’s academic program is that all undergraduate students are required to write a senior thesis. Notable alumni include U.S. President Woodrow Wilson; John Forbes Nash, subject of the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind;model/actress Brooke Shields; and First Lady Michelle Obama. According to Princeton legend, if a student exits campus through FitzRandolph Gate prior to graduation, he or she may be cursed never to graduate.

General Information

Applying

When applying to Princeton University, it’s important to note the application deadline is January 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 1. The application fee at Princeton University is $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.8 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

More About Applying

Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Princeton University is 6:1, and the school has 71.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Princeton University include: Political Science and Government, General; Economics, General; History, General; Public Policy Analysis, General; and English Language and Literature, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 98.0 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	6:1
4-year graduation rate	90% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Political Science and Government, General 9% Economics, General 8% History, General 7% Public Policy Analysis, General 6% English Language and Literature, General 5%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Princeton University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,220, with a gender distribution of 50.8 percent male students and 49.2 percent female students. 97.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 2.0 percent of students live off campus. Princeton University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Princeton University.

Total enrollment	7,802
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

More About Student Life

Campus Info & Services

Princeton University offers a number of student services including women’s center, health service, and health insurance. Princeton University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Princeton University.

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Princeton University, 59.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $35,688.

Paying for college doesn’t have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$37,000 (2011-12)
Room and board	$12,069 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

More About Paying for School

Harvard University is a private institution that was founded in 1636. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Harvard University’s ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $39,849 (2011-12).

Harvard is located in Cambridge, Mass., just outside of Boston. Harvard’s extensive library system houses the oldest collection in the United States and the largest private collection in the world. There is more to the school than endless stacks, though: Harvard’s athletic teams compete in the Ivy League, and every football season ends with “The Game,” an annual matchup between storied rivals Harvard and Yale. At Harvard, on—campus residential housing is an integral part of student life. Freshmen live around the Harvard Yard at the center of campus, after which they are placed in one of 12 undergraduate houses for their remaining three years. Although they are no longer recognized by the university as official student groups, the eight all-male “final clubs” serve as social organizations for some undergraduate students; Harvard also has five female clubs.

In addition to the College, Harvard is comprised of 13 other schools and institutes, including the top-ranked Business Schooland Medical School and the highly ranked Graduate Education School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and John F. Kennedy School of Government. Eight U.S. presidents graduated from Harvard College, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Other notable alumni include Henry David Thoreau, Helen Keller, Yo-Yo Ma, and Tommy Lee Jones. In 1977, Harvard signed an agreement with sister institute Radcliffe College, uniting them in an educational partnership serving male and female students, although they did not officially merge until 1999. Harvard also has the largest endowment of any school in the world.

General Information

Applying

When applying to Harvard University, it’s important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 6. The application fee at Harvard University is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 7.2 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

More About Applying

Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Harvard University is 7:1, and the school has 79.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Harvard University include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; History, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Sociology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.2 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	7:1
4-year graduation rate	87% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Economics, General 17% Political Science and Government, General 8% History, General 6% Political Science and Government, General 6% Sociology 5%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Harvard University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641, with a gender distribution of 50.0 percent male students and 50.0 percent female students. Harvard University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Harvard University.

Total enrollment	19,627
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity	N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority	N/A
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

More About Student Life

Campus Info & Services

Harvard University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women’s center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Harvard University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Harvard University.

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Harvard University, 61.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $39,156.

Paying for college doesn’t have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$39,849 (2011-12)
Room and board	$12,801 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

More About Paying for School