The demanding nature of legal profession, particularly within large law firms, is well-known. Despite the crushing hours often associated with Biglaw jobs, a rising number of lawyers are finding time to pursue alternative careers or “side hustles”.
According to a recent study by Bankrate, engaging in side hustles has become a progressively regular feature of the modern workforce. The study involved a YouGov poll of more than 2,500 U.S. adults, almost 40% of whom reported having a side hustle.
Daniel Farris, partner-in-charge of the Chicago office of Norton Rose Fulbright, suggests that this shift might be linked to changing norms within big law firms. Farris argues that the professional world has moved beyond the era of extensive entertaining of clients, which may have created additional discretionary time for lawyers.
In addition to managing his law office, Farris has embraced the side-hustle trend himself, co-founding NMBL Technologies, a firm that developed the legal workflow management tool Proxy.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting shift towards remote and flexible working may have also contributed to this trend. John McBride, a litigation partner in the IP disputes group at Norton Rose, attributes the rise in side hustles to the newfound flexibility in work arrangements. McBride, who co-founded the cocktail bitters company Devil’s Retort, believes that flexible working conditions have made it easier for professionals to pursue additional projects alongside their main job.
It is clear that lawyers are finding ways to expand their interests and income beyond their primary role. By devoting time to secondary pursuits, these legal professionals are not just enhancing their personal fulfillment, but often also their financial security.