Social Entrepreneurship as an Alternative Legal Career
by Ashley Matthews
Last week, Above the Law ran an article about an Ohio State University grad who decided to postpone her law school education to drive an Oscar Mayer Weinermobile cross-country as a hotdogger. While this may seem like an odd detour, her decision to defer law school admission should not come as a surprise. With the rising costs of tuition, dim job prospects, and the threat of insurmountable student loans, many students are second-guessing their decision to attend law school. And those that are currently in law school want more bang for their buck – including that dream job.
For public interest law students, this may be even harder to attain with increased competition for jobs at legal organizations that are facing major budget cuts and layoffs.
There is, however, a silver lining to the dark cloud of uncertainty that hangs over many recent graduates, especially those focused on public interest. It’s called social entrepreneurship, and chances are you have heard of it before. It’s a constantly evolving field, and social entrepreneurs are known to be passionate risk-takers with undying determination.
Social entrepreneurs see a need and come up with innovative ways to address it. The “need” may actually be a problem or issue, and usually social entrepreneurs create a project or non-profit to fill a gap in services currently being provided to help targeted populations. A law degree increases access to resources that many populations need, so social entrepreneurship is a good example of an alternative career route for those with a great idea.
If you’re interested in using your law degree to trailblaze your own path, check out PSJD’s guide to project-based fellowships or the Yale Guide to Postgraduate Public Interest Fellowships for tips and funding information. Many fellowships specifically require applicants to collaborate with a host organization, but some, like Echoing Green and Ashoka, do not.