The Limitless Lawyer

GUEST POST: DISTANCE TEACHING FOR LAWYERS IN TRANSITION

Marie J. Smith, Esq. is an experienced Distance Learning Consultant. She has coached a number of attorneys (including me!) through the process of preparing a curriculum vitae and selecting viable online teaching opportunities. She has provided her guidance and online teaching expertise to me throughout my first years of teaching and is always happy to connect with others who may be interested. She can be reached at marie.smith1@yahoo.com.

THE CALL
In 2001, I left a litigation and management position at a non-profit organization where I had worked for three years to work at a mid-size law firm doing primarily transactional work.  As a result of my frustration and feeling of lack of fulfillment in the legal field, I started searching for other ways that I could use my legal education and experience to earn a living.  In 2004 I stumbled across the college level distance learning industry. The prior year a friend from law school told me about her part-time job teaching online so I decided to look into that.  That was in 1992 and at that time she had to actually go to the University to teach online courses. 

LIFESTYLE
As a mother, wife and law school student, the prospect of adding a commute to a university campus to teach courses was not attractive.  Ten years later, I took a fresh look at online teaching when I decided to change the direction of my career.  After months of research, I applied for an Adjunct Professor position at Strayer University and was accepted into their instructor training program. 

MONEY
Once I completed the training, I resigned my position at the firm.  The pay as an adjunct professor teaching only two courses per quarter certainly did not equal or surpass my salary as an attorney so I could not have made that transition without the benefit of the second income of my husband.

THE ANSWER
This is my fifth year teaching online and I still enjoy doing it.  I look forward to the interactions I share with students, fellow instructors and members of the administration.  I also enjoy the ongoing training opportunities that are available year round that allow me to update my distance learning knowledge base while learning online.  I now teach at more than one online institution and over the years I have had the pleasure of teaching at four institutions. 

SO WHAT IS ONLINE TEACHING ALL ABOUT?
Colleges and universities that provide online education use either synchronous or asynchronous platforms for student and instructors to communicate.  There are many course management systems available to colleges and universities but most of them are very user-friendly and intuitive.  Online learning is provided by both for-profit and non-profit institutions with programs for traditional students and adult learners.  Convenience is the main purpose of online learning programs as opposed to traditional on-location classrooms since they eliminate travel time and work can be done from home, work or anywhere that the learner/student chooses. Whether it’s in their own living room, at a local Starbucks or on vacation, students can complete coursework at whatever location is most convenient for them.  Even in the online environment, there are opportunities for live interaction with instructors and classmates through discussion areas and synchronous seminars that can be held within the virtual classroom. 

Course materials are usually in the form of traditional bound textbooks but some institutions provide students and instructors with electronic textbooks, which can reduce the cost of materials for students.  Other materials like video, presentations and audio are also used in online courses. 

HOW MUCH OF A TIME COMMITMENT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
Most online education programs offer part-time adjunct instructor positions.  Therefore many instructors work full-time in their professional field and teach online part-time.  If you have a full-time job, your time commitment  there is a partial determinant of how much time you can commit to online teaching.  Of course, the ability to effectively handle multiple work commitments varies from one person to another.  The time commitment for teaching online varies based on several factors: number of students; subject matter; synchronous teaching time required; student learning readiness; and one-on-one student communication time.  While the type of work that is assigned differs between institutions, on average, a part-time online teaching position requires a weekly commitment of 3 to 7 hours per week per course. 

IS ONLINE TEACHING FOR ME?
Teaching online is a great opportunity to work from home using the skills and experience that you bring from the legal field.  If you are thinking about transitioning to online teaching you first have to know whether it is an appropriate fit for you.  Ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do you enjoy teaching students?
2. Are you a good motivator?
3. Do you appreciate a flexible work schedule?
4. Are you open to internet technology?
5. Do you have time (varies from two weeks to several weeks based on the institution) for training?
6. Do you have time for teaching?
7. Are you willing to commit?
8. Do you have the required degree(s)?

Over the years I have observed that some online learners are intimidated by the asynchronous platform and the distance learning in general.  Often, the most fearful will include their concerns in their introduction in the early days of a class.  Those concerns include fear that they cannot adapt to the online learning environment, concern that their limited computer experience will have a negative impact on their performance and whether there will be easy and convenient access to the instruction.  All of these fears can be overcome with the assistance of a knowledgeable and caring instructor.  If you can provide students with the support and patience that they require to be successful and you are comfortable with the online learning environment and requirements, you are probably a good fit for online teaching.

WHAT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED FOR ONLINE TEACHING?
While my experience teaching online is limited to post-secondary institutions, there are also primary and secondary education institutions as well as certificate programs, tutoring services and professional continuing education programs that provide online teaching opportunities.  

For college level teaching, most institutions require a master’s degree or a terminal degree in the area of study that you will be teaching.  Experience in that field is sometimes required but if not, it is preferred.  In practice, experience in the area of study that you are teaching is very helpful to keep your classes interesting and make the teaching process easier.

HOW IS COMPENSATION DETERMINED?
Compensation for online teaching varies depending on the institution, the length of the course, the number of credits, number of students in the course and the instructor’s credentials.  College course lengths can vary from four weeks to nine weeks.  College level courses can be taught by master’s degree holders and terminal degree holders. 

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT ONLINE TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES?
Online teaching jobs are listed on the regular job posting websites such as newspaper help wanted ads, Monster and Yahoo Hot Jobs.  There are also sites that focus solely on jobs in higher education including Higher Ed Jobs and Education Jobs.  One of the best resources for finding online teaching positions is by going to an institution’s website.

I was first exposed to online teaching through a friend who was one of my references when I applied for my first online teaching job.  Since then, I have provided references for four colleagues who have become online instructors.  Word of mouth, references and persistent application for open positions are each good ways of seeking online teaching opportunities.

There are some challenges with obtaining an online teaching position.  References through a direct employer/applicant connection are rarely an option.  The time between application for a position and contact from the university can range from weeks to months.  

Despite the challenges, online teaching is an excellent way for an experienced attorney to use his or her knowledge and skills to transition into another career while educating learners in the legal field.

 

Laid-off in Mid-Career, it is never too late for getting help from your alma mater

Rah, Rah, Résumé!
NY Times article that highlights the increasing number of career services offices that are reaching out to help not only recent graduates who are trying to find jobs but more seasoned professionals as well.

One of the great offerings at some schools is a host of webinars for those who don't want to make face-to-face appearances at their old stomping grounds. So call your alma mater today if you are looking for a job or looking to connect with alumni who may be working in fields in which you have an interest.

Returning to school?

NPR interviews a 40 year old who returned to school and must complete a 120-hour internship.

The 40-Year-Old Intern

What does it take to get a job around here?

In December 2008, The Wall Street Journal enlisted eight unemployed M.B.A.s to write about their job hunts on a blog called Laid Off And Looking. Four of the original and three additions have landed full-time jobs.

What did it take? C-o-m-p-r-o-m-i-s-e-s!
...including...
Big pay cuts
Relocation
Entry-level positions in new industries

Read more here.

My Top 5 To-Do's to landing your 'dream job'

 

Hardy Wallace just landed the Murphy-Goode "A Really Good Job" lifestyle correspondent position with a salary of $10,000 a month for six months, and residence in a two-bedroom Victorian in Healdsburg, CA.

So just how did he do it? Well here is my list of the Top 5 To-Do's to land your own 'dream job'.

 

#5 BE FIRST
Wallace caught a plane to San Francisco from Atlanta and woke up at the crack of dawn to be the first in line at the April recruitment.

#4 BE YOURSELF
Wallace said he brought his best self and "[i]t either fits or it doesn't," - obviously it did.

#3 BE DIFFERENT
Obviously this may seem like a contradiction to #4 but in reality, a better understanding of who you really are and the strengths you bring will make you different than anyone else. Wallace said that he pitched himself as offering more than just a persona but also a depth of wine knowledge. He also loves to be goofy and entertain, which isn't necessarily what I think of when I think sommelier.

#2 LOVE THE JOB
How bad does it feel to get rejected from job after job that you don't really even want? Stop the madness! Go for broke! Tailor your search to your passions. Wallace created the dirty south wine blog to showcase his passion for wine, which he maintained alongside his day job in sales at Kodak from which he was laid-off earlier this year.

...and finally...

#1 CREATE YOUR OWN 'DREAM JOB'
Wallace had taken sommelier education courses as well as won a wine-blending exercise at the winery. But my favorite quote, which really sums it up is this:

"I was trying to get this job before there was this job." - Hardy Wallace

Your best investment is always in you. If you are unemployed, take this opportunity to pursue the things that interest you. That goes for the employed as well. Not having time to fuel your passions can never be an excuse...at least not if you're really into a 'dream job' that is.

Intersections: Half Lawyer - Half Amazing

photo by brookenovak

A couple of years ago Marci Alboher began talking about slashes - people who pursue multiple careers or vocations simultaneously.

In an 2007 interview in BusinessWeek following the release of her book, One Person/Multiple Careers, where she spoke with hundreds of people maintaining dual careers, she outlined four essential reasons for this emerging trend:

• Flexibility & Portability - tools allow us to work anytime and anywhere
• Economic security - multiple streams of income can offer more stability
• No retirement - people are living and working longer, allowing for duality
• Search for Meaning - people want both meaning and livelihood, which dual careers can fulfill

Suffice it to say, the new global economy is less about retiring from a big corporation after 30 or 40 years of service than juggling multiple careers that hopefully fuel the success of one another. Some career counselors are calling this trend "Giganomics" - piecing together two, three or even four gigs to make up a career.

While this trend has always existed among artists, musicians and other creative types, increasingly lawyers and other professionals are entertaining this concept either by choice or by force.

Currently, I work with an educational consulting company and teach legal studies online. And while it is, at times, daunting to wear multiple hats, I can honestly say that the prospect of having one job (one stream of income) or career is far more frightening to me. I have many laid-off attorney friends who are just now beginning to think about alternatives to the traditional practice of law. The economy, in many respects, is forcing us to grow in the direction of our dreams.

There are a number of intersections in our lives and careers that, if we pay attention, can blossom into opportunities that provide us with the fulfillment we crave. So even if you are desperately seeking to shed the lawyer moniker, I urge you to begin by supplementing your livelihood with something you find amazing. You may find that to be just the balance you need.

From Lawyer to Matchmaker

Jasbina Ahluwalia, founder of Intersections Matchmaking, shares her story here.

Cool Job for lawyers who still have love for it.

Every once in a while, I run across a legal job that excites me - not usually because it is a law job but it is working at a cool company.

"The ideal candidate has top flight credentials, loves the law (ouch!), and is dedicated to the cause."

If this describes you, read on.

Corporate Counsel - YELP

Lawyers and the search for meaning

comic by Todd Zapoli

Non-lawyers - yes this is how lawyers sometimes come to view the world - us (lawyers) and them (humans non-lawyers) have a difficult time understanding why we spend so much time talking about transitioning from or leaving the practice of law. They wonder, on the offshoot that we cross their minds at all, why this subject consumes us, fueling a growing industry of legal career counselors and meetups throughout the country?

To a certain extent, lawyers are self-involved. But with good reason.... Just hear me out.

In most professions from architecture to medicine, there is a sense that all one needs to do is pay her dues and then the big payoff will burst forth into existence. The legal field, however, appears to lean more toward an indentured servitude where just when you think you have paid enough, BAM!, new dues appear. Some see this as proof that lawyers have an enormous sense of entitlement and should be happy no matter what happens. I don't see it that way.

The big payoff for many lawyers isn't so much about the money as it is about the meaning (or lack thereof). Imagine choosing medicine as a career and never having direct contact with a patient throughout four years of residency. Or imagine studying to become a landscape architect but never being allowed to view the landscape you have helped to research and design. This is certainly the life many attorneys in law firms live, which compels them to initially seek out smaller firms or solo practices. Often that is just the beginning of the search for meaning because what these lawyers discover is that even in smaller firms or solo practices, the legal system itself creates barriers that oftentimes prevent us from serving our clients in a way that is meaningful. Lawsuits do not necessarily equal justice served.

Lawyers who leave the law are not so much running from the law as they are running toward something that provides them a sense of meaning. Recently Matthew B. Crawford, a Ph.D. turned motorcycle mechanic, released his first book, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work where he imbues the reader with a sense of awe for craftsmanship that instills within the craftsman the satisfaction that comes from seeing a task from start to finish. This, he claims, is what is missing from the cubicle nation in which we live.

The further you are removed from seeing how your work impacts the lives of people, the less likely you are to find meaning and fulfillment in that work. Lawyers who leave the profession know this on some level. They whine and complain and host meetings to vent their frustrations about their profession because ultimately they want more from life but don't yet know how to go about getting it. So I'm just asking for a little understanding for all of us. I'm not excusing the behavior - no one likes a whiner. But I do think that there is more to it than narcissism and entitlement.

How do you want to be known?

photo by claudiogennari

...intellectually?
...creatively?
...spiritually?
...professionally?
...emotionally?
...intimately?
...socially?
...physically?

Only humans are forced to grapple with such decisions. Yet sometimes we knowingly do things that directly contradict with how we want to be known. If you want to be known as courageous, running from conflict, problems or life is not going to get you what you say you want. So now what?