17 Best Side Hustles for Lawyers and Attorneys

If you’re a lawyer and looking to make some extra money in your spare time, some excellent options are available. Your legal industry background and legal expertise present money-making opportunities outside your full-time job that may not be available to the average person.

With that in mind, let’s discuss the best side hustles for lawyers and attorneys, including why these gigs are potentially a good fit.

The Best Side Hustles for Lawyers and Attorneys

1. Legal Work on the Side

This is probably the most obvious option for lawyers and attorneys looking to make some extra money, but it’s also one of the best. You can find legal work in various ways, from online platforms to working with companies or individuals directly.

Several online platforms, including UpCounsel and Upwork, connect lawyers with clients who need legal services. These platforms make it easy to find work and get paid. They’re often used by small businesses looking for an easy and convenient way to connect with legal professionals, aside from going directly to a law firm.

If you’re looking for more traditional legal work, you can also reach out to companies or individuals directly, especially those in your local area. Many businesses will hire lawyers on a contract basis to handle specific tasks or projects, and you can often find this type of work through word-of-mouth or networking.

Taking some clients on the side can be an ideal way to make extra income. You’ll earn an excellent hourly rate (rather than resorting to a low-paying side hustle), and you’ll continue to gain experience that can be useful in your legal career.

However, before you start taking any legal work on the side, be sure that there are no conflicts of interest with your full-time employer and that you’re adequately insured for work you perform on your own.

2. Answer Legal Questions

One of the best side hustles for lawyers is answering legal questions. Websites like JustAnswer and LiveAdvice present opportunities for lawyers and other legal professionals to answer questions and give advice as a side hustle. These websites work like this: someone has a legal question, they submit it to the website, and then lawyers can choose to answer the question and get paid.

The great thing about these platforms is that you can work as little or as much as you want while showcasing your legal expertise. You’re also not limited to answering questions about your specific area of law. You can also answer general legal questions.

If you’re looking for a relatively easy and low-commitment way to make some extra money on the side, answering legal questions could be a good option for you. It’s possible to do really well financially with this approach as a legal expert, even though it’s not the highest-paying opportunity covered in this article. You may find it very rewarding and less intense than doing casework for clients on the side.

3. Consulting

If you have a specific area of expertise, you can start a consultancy and provide legal advice and guidance to clients. This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a flexible legal service that can be done on your own time. It’s also a lucrative side hustle.

Starting a consultancy is relatively simple, and there are several ways to market your legal services. Online platforms like Clarity.fm connect consultants with clients needing their legal expertise. You can also reach out to companies or individuals directly through networking or advertising your services online or in print.

Consulting can be a great way to earn extra cash, and it often comes with the added benefit of giving you more control over your work/life balance.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to use your knowledge and experience to help others while earning a good income, consulting could be the perfect side hustle for you. It’s also possible that legal consulting could grow into a full-time income through your own law practice if that’s something that interests you.

Please see Kings of Consulting to learn how to build and grow a successful consulting business.

4. Sell Legal Forms or Templates

If you have experience with legal forms and documents, you could start a side gig selling templates and forms that others can use. This is a great way to tap into a niche market and generate some extra cash.

There are plenty of possibilities here, but what’s appropriate for you depends on your background and experience. Some attorneys sell templates for online privacy policies, terms of use, contracts of various types, and other legal documents. They could be in HTML format for websites, Word format for easy editing and customization, or PDF printables that can be filled out.

There are many different ways to sell legal documents, forms and templates. You could create a website and sell them directly to customers using Shopify, Podia, or SendOwl. You could also create a subscription-based service where customers can access a library of forms for a monthly fee. Alternatively, you could sell them through an online marketplace like Etsy.

5. Adjunct Professor

Teaching could be the perfect side job for you if you’re looking for a way to make extra money that’s both stimulating and challenging. Adjunct law professor positions are available at many colleges and universities and don’t require a full-time commitment.

Adjunct professors typically teach one or two courses per semester, and they’re usually paid per course. This can be a great way for legal professionals like you to supplement your income, and it’s also an excellent way to keep your skills sharp and stay up-to-date on developments in your field.

Gaining experience as a teacher may also help your legal career in other ways. It may help your resume stand out from others in the legal industry, and you may make valuable connections through your association with the college or university.

If you’re interested in teaching, contact local colleges and universities to see if any adjunct professor openings would suit you. If your schedule seems to be an issue with teaching, there may be opportunities to teach evening or online classes that could provide added flexibility.

6. Freelance Legal Writing

General freelance writing is an excellent side hustle, but having legal experience and qualifications opens up possibilities for some of the highest-paying gigs. There’s a lot of demand for legal content, and many lawyers can earn a good income by writing articles, blog posts, or even books on legal topics. There aren’t many freelance writers qualified for legal writing assignments, so your services and skills are likely to be in high demand.

Freelance legal writing is an excellent option if you’re looking for flexibility and the ability to set your own hours. You can often choose the clients you work with and the projects you accept, making the work more interesting. And since you’re paid per piece, you can usually control how much work you take on. Also, you can do the work whenever it fits into your schedule.

Just like teaching, freelance writing also could be excellent for your career. You’ll gain exposure and build a name for yourself in the industry, which may open up other doors in the future.

If you’re interested in freelance legal writing, there are several ways to get started. You can look for online job postings, or you can approach companies or individuals directly. You may also consider creating a blog or website to showcase your work and attract clients.

If you want to learn how to start making money as a freelance writer, please see Freelance Writing 101 by Brad Merrill.

7. Bar Exam and LSAT Tutoring

Are you interested in helping the next generation of lawyers?

If you’re looking for a way to help law students while also making some extra money, bar exam or LSAT tutoring could be the perfect option for you. Many legal experts in the United States choose to tutor to give back to the profession, and it can also be a very lucrative second job.

As a tutor, you’ll be able to help law school students achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Your firsthand experience with the exams will be extremely valuable for those studying and preparing to take the exams.

Tutoring is also a great way to supplement your income, and it can often be done on a flexible schedule. You can usually set your hours and work around your other commitments.

Many tutors start by working with friends or family members preparing for the bar exam or LSAT. Once you have some experience, you may want to consider advertising your services online or through word-of-mouth.

8. Start a Blog or Niche Website

Starting a blog or niche website is an excellent opportunity for those interested in building an online business. It’s one of the most popular online business models because it’s simple, inexpensive, and offers unlimited income potential.

You could use your legal experience to create a blog or website that focuses on some area of your expertise. Your legal industry experience will be extremely valuable because competitors who don’t have a legal background would need to spend a lot of money hiring someone to create content for their site. As a result, you’ll face less competition.

The key to making money from blogging is to find ways to monetize your site. This can be done through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling products or services.

The downside to starting a content-based website is that you won’t start making money immediately. Most new websites earn very little for the first six months or even longer. You’ll need a long-term focus and some patience to put in the work to grow the site before you start seeing the results of your efforts. But it’s a great way to make money once things get rolling.

To learn more, please see our articles How to Start a Blog and Guide to Building a Profitable Niche Website.

9. Start a YouTube Channel

YouTube has become one of the most popular ways to consume content, and it offers a unique opportunity for lawyers and other legal professionals to make money. You could start a channel that focuses on some aspect of the law or use your legal knowledge to provide commentary on current events.

You’ll need to put in some time and effort to grow your channel and build an audience. But once you have a following, there are many ways to monetize your channel. You can sell advertising, promote products or services, or even get paid for sponsored videos.

With the amount of video content consumed today, starting a YouTube channel is an excellent option that allows you to reach a huge audience. You may also wind up branding yourself as an expert in the field, which could open up plenty of other opportunities in your career.

Another option is to create a YouTube channel to market your law firm or legal practice. This can be an effective way to reach potential clients and generate leads, although it’s not technically a side hustle or a separate source of income.

10. Start a Podcast

Podcasting has exploded in popularity over the past few years, and it’s now one of the most popular ways to consume content. If you have a unique perspective or legal knowledge to share, starting a podcast could be a great way to reach an audience.

Starting a podcast is a similar opportunity to blogging or starting a YouTube channel, except you’ll be focusing on audio-based content. You’ll need to invest time and effort in creating quality content and building an audience. But once you have a following, there are many ways to monetize your podcast. You can sell advertising, promote products or services, or even get paid for sponsored episodes.

Podcasting is a great way to reach a broad audience, and it offers the potential for a full-time income if you can grow a large enough following. It’s also relatively inexpensive and easy to get started. Overall, it’s an ideal side job for lawyers and can also be used to promote your law firm.

11. Create an Online Course

With some legal experience and expertise, you could create and sell an online course or even a series of courses. This is an ideal way to capitalize on your knowledge and experience in the legal industry while helping others through your side hustle.

Creating an online course requires upfront effort to develop the content and set up everything. But once you’ve done that, it’s a great way to generate passive income. The great thing about online courses is that they’re evergreen content, which means you can continue to sell them for years after you create them. And once you’ve completed one course, it’s relatively easy to develop others.

There are a few different ways to set up your business. You could offer your courses at popular websites like Udemy or Skillshare. This would allow you to tap into their existing audiences, but your income potential will be somewhat limited.

Alternatively, you could use a platform like Teachable or Podia to sell your course on your own website. This gives you full control and maximum income potential, but you’ll need more work to build up your audience.

12. Write a Book or E-Book

If you have experience with a particular area of law, you could write a book or e-book on the subject. This is a great way to share your knowledge and legal expertise while generating extra income. In some ways, this opportunity is similar to creating an online course, except the content will be provided in a different format.

There are many different ways to publish a book these days, so you can choose the option that makes the most sense for you. You could self-publish through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and sell books and e-books without needing inventory and with virtually no startup costs. Or you could go the traditional route and pitch your book to literary agents and publishers. You could also sell an e-book from your own website through a platform like Shopify, Podia, or SendOwl.

The great thing about writing a book is that it’s a relatively passive income stream. Once your book is published, you can continue to sell it for years without doing much additional work. Of course, promoting your book will take some effort, but it’s a great way to generate long-term income from your side hustle.

Like a few other side hustles for lawyers that have been mentioned already, writing a book could be an excellent career move within the legal profession. Aside from the money you make directly from selling the book or e-book, you could impact your career and open up new doors in the future.

To learn more about how to make money with books and e-books, please see From First Draft to Bestseller, which covers everything you need to know about self-publishing.

13. Public Speaking

Public speaking is another excellent way for lawyers to make extra cash in their spare time. If you’re a confident speaker and have something valuable to share, this could be a great opportunity for you.

There are many different ways to get started with public speaking as a legal professional. You could start by giving talks at local meetups or events. You could also give keynote speeches at conferences or conventions.

The key to success with public speaking is to find your niche and build up a following of people who are interested in what you have to say. Once you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, you can command higher fees for your appearances.

Public speaking can be an excellent way to build your brand, connect with potential clients, and earn extra income. If you can engage and inspire an audience, this could be a great side hustle for you.

14. Virtual Assistant

Working as a virtual assistant (VA) is one of the most popular side hustles overall. It may not be the highest-paying opportunity on this list. Still, if you’re a lawyer or legal professional, you have legal expertise that could make your services highly valuable (like legal research or legal transcription) to clients so you can make a decent income by charging more than the average VA.

As a VA, your responsibilities will vary depending on your client’s needs. But you’ll generally be responsible for handling administrative tasks, managing schedules, and researching. You may also be asked to provide customer service or handle other tasks.

There are many different ways to find clients as a VA. You could start by signing up with a platform like Upwork or Fiverr. Or you could create your own website and market your services directly to potential clients.

The great thing about working as a VA is that it’s a flexible opportunity that can be adapted to fit your schedule and lifestyle. You can choose to work with local clients or work remotely for clients all over the world. And since you’re essentially running your own small business, you can set your rates and choose the projects you want to work on.

15. Invest in Stocks

Over the past few years, investing has become increasingly popular as a side hustle. Of course, you’re not guaranteed to make money and could certainly lose money in the stock market. But if you’re interested in finance, investing could be a great way to use your spare time and develop skills that will be incredibly valuable for years to come.

Platforms like Public.com and Webull make it easy for anyone to start investing, regardless of how much money you want to start with. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cryptocurrency.

Of course, there’s a learning curve when it comes to investing. But once you’ve researched and developed a solid strategy, this could be a great way to generate extra income from your side hustle.

16. Real Estate Investing

Real estate investing is another popular option for any lawyer or legal professional who wants to make extra cash in their spare time. Like stocks, there’s always the potential to lose money when you invest in real estate. But if you’re careful and do your research, this can be a great way to generate long-term income.

There are many different ways to start with real estate investing. You could start by investing in a rental property. Or you could invest in a real estate crowdfunding platform like Fundrise, RealtyMogul, or DiversyFund.

You could also choose to flip houses or develop properties yourself. This option requires more time and effort, but it can be very profitable if you can find the right properties.

Whichever option you choose, real estate investing can be a great way to earn passive income and build your wealth over time.

17. Start or Buy a Low-Maintenance Business

Several types of businesses can generate considerable income without requiring a massive amount of your time. For example, laundromats, vending machines, and car washes are popular with people looking to own a low-maintenance business.

These businesses can easily be started as a side hustle in your spare time. To scale up and grow the business, you can invest in more vending machines or open more locations.

And if you’d rather invest some money upfront than build a business from scratch, you could buy an existing business entity already making money.

Of course, there are many other options aside from the businesses mentioned above. See our article on low-maintenance business ideas to learn about more possibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on Side Hustles for Lawyers

There are several different ways that lawyers and attorneys can make extra money in their spare time. While some options, like starting a consultancy, may require significant time and effort, others, like freelance writing, offer a more flexible way to earn additional income.

Whichever option you choose, be sure to research side hustles for lawyers and create a plan that fits your needs and schedule. With creativity and perseverance, you can find the perfect side hustle to supplement your income.