https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:49:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576817 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:47:50 +0000 DesertDreams88 2576817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: oh, wonderful!! Then you understand the behind-the-scenes work, too. Luckily for me, I love most of the behind-the-scenes work... I like grading, entering grades, and drafting class newsletters, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576776 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:28:26 +0000 MrsClownfish 2576776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I totally get this as my mom is a former educator (just retired). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576750 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:14:23 +0000 808love 2576750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: I think you should go for it!<br /> Those kind of teaching strategies such as the kind your 'game teacher' provided is just so rich and valuable. It will be a huge benefit to the kids. You just reminded me that technology is new but innovative teaching strategies have always been there. Just so few teachers actually use it and that is something to learn how to wield for the benefit of the kids.<br /> When I was just out of college, a friend of mine was making 6 figures and he calculated my pay including compensation with the hours off and he determined teaching is a very well paid job! Not to mention all the intangible, intrinsic rewards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576737 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:04:43 +0000 simplyfelicity 2576737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: 👏👏👏 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576716 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 09:50:26 +0000 DesertDreams88 2576716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, teaching is amazing but not an "easy" job by any stretch. Some food for thought: <a href="http://musingsonlifeandlove.com/2010/09/13/the-hardest-job-everyone-thinks-they-can-do/" rel="nofollow">http://musingsonlifeandlove.com/2010/09/13/the-hardest-job-everyone-thinks-they-can-do/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576613 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:41:01 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2576613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: background: my husband is atty, I have an MA in English and am getting an MAT currently. My only caution would be assuming certification will be easy to obtain if you need to work while you obtain it. To do alternative certification in my state you have to be hired first, and in GA there were so many teachers looking for jobs that I was not getting anywhere, in spite of a master's in English and 8 years of experience teaching college. The systems are set up for certified teachers to apply (most applications require you Already have an ID number for example). For me it was easier just to go back to graduate school and get an MAT rather than spend a year or more hoping to get hired and possibly not in my geographical location. But getting an MAT required 21 weeks of student teaching (broken up over 3 semesters) so I could only work part time while doing that. Also my graduate school wouldn't transfer any credits from my MA to my MAT so I had to take subject area courses in person because they weren't offered online. My husband, who also has an MA in English along with a JD, has considered becoming a teacher and we've basically decided it wouldn't work until he can take the same path I am, which would mean me getting a job and him quitting his. Fortunately he seems to have settled into law so we aren't considering that anymore. He does teach paralegal classes at a local community college. There is a serious teacher shortage brewing so you may find schools are more open to hiring alternative candidates but then again there are a lot of grads who graduated during the recession who may be looking to grab those spots after leaving the field for a time so you will just have to feel it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576578 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:21:27 +0000 MrsClownfish 2576578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the responses everyone. </p> <p>I am very passionate about history and think it is important for kids to learn what has happened in the past and hope that it would shape them in the way they think about current events.</p> <p>@808LOVE I am definitely open to learning updated teaching techniques. I am a major techie and think it is great to find ways to integrate new technology/ideas as a way to engage students. I had a high school social studies teacher that literally had us copy notes from a projector every day. He probably had written the notes out 15 years prior and just kept going with it. I do NOT want to be that kind of teacher. In contrast, I had a college professor who created a "game" where everyone was assigned an historical figure from WWII and you were graded on how well you advanced the ideologies of your figure throughout the course of the simulation. It was AWESOME. </p> <p>My main concern is securing a job after obtaining my certification. I would definitely need to pick up on the networking to try to get my foot in the door somewhere. </p> <p>Other than that, I am sure I will get a lot of slack from family and friends for making this move as no one understands why anyone would stop practicing law after going through the trouble of going to law school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576492 Tue, 28 Jun 2016 05:59:06 +0000 Miss Sarah 2576492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left a 7 year career in banking to become a high school special education teacher and I love it! I'm still new to the career, but I'm so sooo much happier! Also, now that I have a child, I feel like I have the right job for our family. I did take a pay cut to become a teacher, but I am currently pursuing my master's which will actually put me a little over what I was making before! I'm in the Midwest, so no advice on outlook for you... But I have a teacher friend from here who just left because she got a job at a boarding school in New Hampshire! Good luck to you! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576453 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 22:33:35 +0000 808love 2576453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: Do you love kids? Do you love what you want to impart so passionately that you are willing to teach it to kids in multiple ways (kinesthetic, visual, auditory, etc) and assist them when they still struggle? Are you willing to learn updated teaching strategies/technology to adapt to 'kids these days' curriculum?</p> <p>@simplyfelicity: Agreed, everyone deals with the BS in the system/politics of human non-robotic colleagues, but answering to students' needs first and foremost!<br /> @Mrs Green Grass: Agreed, everyone is a history major these days. In the past 5 years, I've had 4 friends go into secondary and all of them were focusing on history. Most had to go into a non-preferred/non major courses at first before they moved up the ladder at preferred schools. Another friend went straight into Social Studies but she was at a non-preferred school and she went to a lot of interviews, holding out for this one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576452 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 22:31:21 +0000 DesertDreams88 2576452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your satisfaction with your job will very much depend on your district policies, school cultures, administration's style, and assigned classes (academic level, grade, size.)</p> <p>I was certified in 7-12 SS and detoured into departmentalized 5th grade, getting a K-8 license as well. I taught various 5th grade subjects for 5 years. I liked years 1-2, loved years 3-4, hated year 5 and almost quit, moved to 8th grade, and LOVED year 6.</p> <p>Pros: kind of your own boss, creativity in lessons, rapport with students, influencing the next generation, sharing your passions, having fun, not a desk job, vacations</p> <p>Cons: paperwork, admin and parents that don't understand, NEVER being good enough for every kid 100% of the time, lots of work outside normal hours the first couple years, low salary (depending), not being treated like the professional that you are (maybe that's just in my district/school.... our PD is very repetitive and low-level)</p> <p>My list of cons looks longer but the pros list holds more weight and is more concise haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576448 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 21:56:05 +0000 simplyfelicity 2576448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a middle school English/English Language Development teacher and I love it. I do think that having background in law would be especially great for civics and teaching AP classes. Some specialty schools would be worth looking into. Yes, teaching takes time outside of actual instruction but I pick up now that I have been doing this for 8 years, I leave work at 2:35 and have my son home by 3:00pm. That's pretty awesome. Yes, you have to put up with a lot of BS but I love, at the end of the time, I answer first and foremost to my students. I love that. Best of luck to you! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576402 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 20:08:26 +0000 Mae 2576402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been a lawyer for 8 years. If I could make a decent living doing anything else, I'd probably do it. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2576384 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 19:29:25 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2576384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been in secondary Ed (English teacher, then District) for 11 years. I absolutely love the field, but it's not a small amount of work! And you have to be able to work with and create rapport with students. In my area (So Cal), history is the hardest subject to get a job in, everyone is a history major! Law would maybe help getting s job, but I think it would make more difference in a specialized school rather than public. That being said, if you are okay with less money and lot of (rewarding) work, do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575974 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:00:16 +0000 MrsClownfish 2575974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@My Only Sunshine: I actually applied to a job at my law school to work in career services. I did not get the job but then a few months later there was another opening and they called me but by that point I was moving out of state so timing wasn't right. </p> <p>If you want to pursue a career change to higher education I would definitely recommend volunteering at your law school in some type of mentoring role (moot court coach). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575960 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:55:00 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2575960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: I'm a lawyer. I've considered switching multiple times. Right now I'm content with my job, and I only work 3 days a week so the schedule can't be beat. I live in the town I went to law school and I've considered working at the law school as an adjunct prof or in the admissions or career services department. That's always kind of on my radar as a potential job move in the future.</p> <p>Pursuing secondary education seems like it would be a good fit. You'd bring an interesting perspective as a teacher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575917 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:24:26 +0000 marley 2575917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know someone who went from BigLaw to teaching social studies at a specialized high school in NYC and loves it. Obviously less money, but he seems so much happier. Before this school he taught at a private school, so I don't know if the outcome would be the same if he taught at a regular school. I would think a background in law would be a great asset for a school for courses in law and political science/government. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575859 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:39:23 +0000 MrsClownfish 2575859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84 @truth bombs thanks for the advice!</p> <p>I should also add that I am not miserable at my present job. I actually have an awesome boss and great hours. Nonetheless, I find it very unfulfilling and have no interest in the subject matter of what I am doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575846 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:32:09 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2575846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any advice, but I'm kind of in a similar situation. I'm a engineer, going on 10 years, but find myself daydreaming about being a teacher. Looking forward to hearing the responses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575737 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:11:06 +0000 Truth Bombs 2575737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsClownfish: If you're in the Northeast are you near a lot of boarding/prep schools? I went to a boarding school outside Boston and almost all my teachers had advanced degrees in their area of study, rather than actual education degrees. With your background I think you would be particularly attractive for something like AP History at a private school. So I would try to go that route if you decide on the career change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575736 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:10:43 +0000 matador84 2575736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my 12th year in education and I love it. I also have a BA in History and considered pursuing law after undergrad, but decided to go Masters in Ed instead. I haven't regretted my career choice one. Aside from all the vacation time :-), (obviously I spend a ton of time working during the school year), the work is extremely rewarding. </p> <p>With your background, I think if you picked up your teaching certification you would not have a problem getting a job teaching history/government/social studies--as long as you have a heart for kids!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-and-attorney-bees-career-change#post-2575730 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:05:15 +0000 MrsClownfish 2575730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hoping to get some insight from teacher and attorney bees. </p> <p>I am currently an attorney and am contemplating pursuing a certification in secondary education in social studies. I have a BA in History. I almost dropped out of law school after the first year to become a teacher (had an application in and letters of recommendation) but I was on full scholarship at law school and was convinced by my parents to stick it out. </p> <p>So I guess my question for teacher bees (especially those in secondary education) is whether you are happy with your career choice. Also, do you think someone with a JD would be appealing to a social studies department to the extent it would be beneficial for teaching law and politics and other related courses. Finally, to any teachers in the Northeast, do you know what the present job outlook is? I know it was pretty bleak a few years ago for secondary education outside of STEM but they keep saying with baby boomers retiring it should get better. </p> <p>For attorney bees....has anyone thought of and/or gone into a different career after practicing for a few years? </p>