I have a law degree and am quite smart-- how can I get into a non-lawyer career? Research or bus based?

i completely disagree with Fiona. dont discourage her.

it is not necessary that since you studied law, you should work in that field. One can study law just for the sake of knowledge. besides, the legal field is too vast and it is not very easy for everyone to establish a good business without a godfather (or mother). further working in that field sometimes has no connection with what you studied as a student.

anyways....
you can look for jobs for firms that hire law graduates basically for dealing with documentation - drafting various legal documents; or you can join a company as a law officer, in which case you wont have to actually work as a lawyer, only do liaisoning work with counsels and lawyers appointed by the company for their matters.; or you can go for lecturership, but you may have to do post graduation or phd to be eligible for that.

In any case you will have to keep an eye on the job market through internet, newspapers, job consultants, whichever way is easy and viable for you.

Send a resume, fill out an application, call for an appointment. In short, just show up in that field.

if you are "quite smart", how come YOU couldn't answer this one? send resumes out, go on the Internet, network, look in the paper....etc.

why get a law degree and not work in law?? not very smart if you ask me...

Register at employment agencies and look online. Also, when talking to the agencies and prospective employers, don't tell them you're "quite smart" that won't go over too well.