Have you been wondering where else you can take your legal expertise to earn money on the side? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
This guide outlines the best side hustles for lawyers and attorneys to help you:
- Pay off your law school debt;
- Create multiple streams of income;
- Build a healthy passive income stream;
- Save, invest, or start a small business.
Whether the extra income is essential for your day-to-day expenses, or if you want a way to get ahead financially, the skills you’ve earned so far as a legal professional will help you do so. A site hustle in legal can even help you develop legal skills, increase your expertise, build your brand, and advance your career.
You can also choose side hustles that are not legal-specific to earn additional income while applying your talents outside of work.
Read the rest of this guide to discover some of the best side hustles for lawyers and how much you can make in your spare time.
Online Jobs
These days, side hustles are more common than ever. It’s possible for anyone to create multiple income streams. But, in today’s inflationary environment, many people are working harder and still not getting ahead.
The trick is to work smarter. With that in mind, here are some of the best online job side hustles for lawyers to help you bring in extra income without breaking your back.
1. Start a Legal Blog
Starting a blog is one of the best side jobs for lawyers. It offers unlimited opportunities and you can do it in your spare time.
All you have to do is create unique legal content that helps and educates your audience. If you can do this regularly, you’ll be able to bring in extra income from the comfort of your home.
As a blogger, one of your primary duties will be to create and publish original articles for your website. You have to engage readers and encourage new subscribers, sell products, collaborate with brands, and so on.
You’ll also have to learn about different ways to promote your products, such as email marketing and social media marketing. You can blog about anything you want, including trending legal topics, or even non-legal topics, such as fashion, travel, food, etc.
Where to Find Jobs:
My free blogging course will teach you all the basics to build a successful blog. No prior experience is required. Just sign up and get started right now.
How Much Money Can You Make?
$500-$5,000+/month
Resource to Learn More:
2. Grow a YouTube Channel
YouTube is a major video platform that has a lot of opportunities for content creators to make money, and creating a YouTube channel will allow you to earn a decent side income with no barriers.
As a legal expert, leveraging social media platforms like this one allows you to maximize your income by attracting a massive audience to your content which you can then monetize in a number of ways, including ads, premium content, online courses, brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, affiliate marketing, and more.
Where to Find Jobs:
I offer a free YouTube Secrets course on how to start your own YouTube channel even if you don’t have any prior experience. You can also watch this free training from Matt Parr to learn how to create a channel without recording the videos yourself.
How Much Money Can You Make?
$400-$4,000/month
Resource to Learn More:
3. Create Law-Related Courses
Another lucrative lawyer side hustle to consider is creating online courses. Educational content continues to be a huge money-maker as more and more people go online to satisfy their learning needs.
If you have the knowledge or skills to share, this is a great way to earn some extra money. Compared to blogging or creating a YouTube channel, this option requires a higher initial time/money/effort investment, but the one-time investment has the potential to bring in income for years to come.
Not only will you make money, but you’ll also grow your reputation as an expert in your field. You can build, market, and sell legal courses from online course platforms like Podia, Thinkific, and Teachable.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$1,000-$4,000+/month
Resource to Learn More:
4. Tutor Bar Exam and LSAT Students
Educational instruction is another way qualified and trained lawyers can make money on the side. The knowledge you’ve amassed on your journey to becoming a lawyer can be offered as advice to law students.
For example, if there are some things that you wished were taught during your time in law school, you can pass these on to the next generation of aspiring lawyers who will be glad to pay you for any knowledge, tips, and techniques that can help them get their law degree faster.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$800-$2,500/month
Resource to Learn More:
5. Write An eBook
Sharing knowledge is always rewarding, but not everyone wants to be a teacher or instructor. An alternative is to write an ebook.
Writing an ebook is a creative side hustle for lawyers that lets you capitalize on your hard-earned skills. It also provides you with an excellent way to bring in passive income.
You can even turn your ebook into an audiobook to cater to non-readers and create an additional stream of income.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$100-$1,000+/month
Resource to Learn More:
6. Start a Podcast
Podcasts are a powerful tool for the business development of law firms and you can create a healthy source of income by creating a podcast around your area of expertise.
To join the audio revelation, simply sign up on a podcast platform like Spotify or Podbean. You can then start sharing your knowledge with your audience. As your audience grows, you can start implementing podcast monetization strategies.
These platforms provide you with everything you need to create, promote, and monetize your show. You can quickly launch a law firm podcast by following the steps in the resource below.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$800-$2,000/month
Resource to Learn More:
7. Sell Test Prep Resources
Another way to cater to your passion for sharing knowledge without actually taking on students is to create bar exam prep resources to help students pass the bar, and sell them online.
Selling test prep resources for law students is also a superb way to create passive income for yourself. You only have to create the documents once and you can sell them as many times as you want.
As a test prep coach, not only will you make money from your knowledge, but you can also build your brand and boost your career as you sell legal forms.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$400-$800/week
Resource to Learn More:
8. Make Money As a Photographer
As a photographer, you can conduct photo shoots for your clients, or you can make money by selling your photography online. The latter is often the better choice for side hustlers since it doesn’t require a lot of effort on your part.
You probably already take hundreds of photos each month on your smartphone, so all you have to do is start uploading your images to stock photo sites like the ones listed below. You’ll be paid for each photograph you sell, and over time (also, as your skills improve), you will increase your income from this side gig.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$100-$1,000/month
Resource to Learn More:
9. Become a Law School Admissions Consultant
Students applying to law schools often need guidance from an experienced person in the legal profession – from school selections and applications to essays, interviews, and more. You can get paid to help them through the process as a law school admissions counselor.
The better you are at helping pre-law students get into their dream schools, the more you’ll be able to charge. Some consultants charge up to $6,000 for their services.
Build a website and advertise your services on social media to get clients. Use the platforms below to create a website complete with built-in scheduling tools.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$400-$1,000/week
Resource to Learn More:
10. Public Speaking
Public speaking is a great way for you to leverage your legal knowledge and it’s the perfect side hustle for lawyers who don’t suffer from common social fears such as speech anxiety.
To get paid to speak, join your local Toastmasters Club and find networking events in your area to start booking gigs relevant to your legal background. You can also search for work on sites like the ones below.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$800-$1,500/week
Resource to Learn More:
Freelance Side Hustles for Lawyers
Starting an online business may not be for you. Maybe you’d rather work as a freelancer and not have the pressure of being tied to a project for months or years to come.
If that’s you, you’ll love these freelance side gigs.
When it first came about, the gig economy seemed like some weird novelty, but now, years later, it’s clear that this economy wasn’t just a passing fad. According to recent reports, nearly 40% of US adults have a side hustle.
As a legal professional, there are many freelance gigs available to you. You’ll be able to earn income while doing something that you enjoy. Here are some of the best-paying ones for you to consider.
11. Take On Additional Work
Taking on additional work as a freelance lawyer is the most obvious side hustle route you can take as a legal professional. That is, if your law firm doesn’t have a non-compete that prohibits you from operating as a direct competitor.
As long as there are no conflicts with your current work, you can make money from your specific education, skills, and experience by taking on extra work in your field.
Sign up on legal services marketplaces like UpCounsel to connect with clients and provide legal counsel. You’ll be able to choose projects to work on that are aligned with your knowledge and skills.
You can create your own law firm website using a dedicated website builder like Clio, or you might sign-up for a free plan on one of the popular website builders like Wix, or Squarespace.
Important Note: Make sure you’re insured for whatever type of work you take on in your legal practice to avoid incurring legal trouble in the future.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$60-$80/hour
Resource to Learn More:
12. Offer Proofreading Services
Legal proofreaders are in high demand. You’ll get paid to read through legal documents to find spelling, grammar, or factual mistakes.
If this is something that interests you, sign up on platforms like Fiverr and JobsForEditors.com to find work as a freelance proofreader.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$800-$3,000/month
Resource to Learn More:
13. Work As An Adjunct Professor
As an experienced attorney, you can look for opportunities to work as an adjunct professor at your local college or university. Your work will include teaching law courses or offering legal insights to students that they can’t glean from reading books or studying case law.
Lawyers are typically busy professionals, so you must decide in advance if you will be able to commit to this side hustle on an ongoing basis.
You may be required to teach weekly classes over the semester. If you can’t manage that on your schedule, then you might consider looking for jobs that only require you to lead a one-time course.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$1,200-$2,500/month
Resource to Learn More:
14. Become a Freelance Legal Writer
Legal writing and research allow you to put your hard-earned skills to use to bring in some extra income working from the comfort of your home and on your own schedule.
Your role as a freelance writer will be to write legal articles for companies, government institutions, legal publications, and individuals looking for legal content writing.
You need to have strong skills for conducting legal research to ensure your work is accurate and that your legal terminology is free from errors. Sign up on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer to find freelance writing work in the legal field.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$400-$1,200/week
Resource to Learn More:
15. Offer Your Services As a Tax Preparer
A tax preparer is a professional in the finance industry who prepares income tax returns for businesses and individuals.
If you decide to take this up as a side hustle, your job will be to gather information about your clients’ annual income and dependents. You’ll have to give tax advice to your clients and inform them of whatever documents are required by government agencies.
It goes without saying that this side hustle requires that you be familiar with state and federal tax law. If that’s your specialty, use the platforms below to find clients on a freelance basis around tax season.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$25-$75/hour
Resource to Learn More:
16. Become a Legal Transcriptionist
If you have an interest in transcribing audio files and are good at typing fast, you can translate those skills into additional income.
Legal transcription is one of the easiest site hustles in legal that doesn’t require much to start. All you need is a computer and an internet connection, and you’re ready to get started earning money online as a legal transcriptionist.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$100-$400/week
Resource to Learn More:
17. Offer Graphic Design Services
A graphic designer creates graphics for documents, social media, websites, billboards, etc. In order to make money as a graphic design freelancer, you will have to be familiar with artistic software tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, etc.
If you have a skill for creating symbols, combining colors, and creating visually stunning graphics, you’ll be able to bring in a healthy income with this side gig. This is also an excellent side gig for real estate agents who are looking for some extra work.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$20-$25/hour
Resource to Learn More:
18. Become a Social Media Manager
If you love being on social media, then you might consider offering your services as a social media manager.
Your job will be to help businesses create engaging content, connect with followers online, track and analyze user engagement metrics, run social media ads, and so on.
You can either sign up to work for an agency or find your own clients directly through various freelance marketplaces like Freelancer and Fiverr.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$800-2,500/week
Resource to Learn More:
19. Form LLCs for People
Although forming an LLC is not very difficult, the requirements differ from state to state. Likewise, if you’re wondering how long it takes to get an LLC, the approval times vary greatly, ranging from a few weeks to several months, depending on your state.
As a lawyer, you can offer your services to help people complete the process depending on where they are.
If you work in more than one state, you will have to be familiar with the requirements for each area where you practice.
Many lawyers also go a step further to ensure their clients are satisfied by creating a network of other legal professionals required to form an LLC so that they can refer their clients to their connections rather than leaving them to search for a registered agent and other contacts on their own.
Check out Forbes’ list of the best LLC services in the resource below to give you some inspiration for your own business.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$400-$1,200/month
Resource to Learn More:
20. Write Business Plans
Writing business plans for aspiring entrepreneurs is a profitable way for legal practitioners to make money on the side.
Someone starting a new business generally needs guidance on what to include in their business plan, and they often lean on business management experts like you for assistance.
As an accountant, you already have knowledge of how a business or corporation works, in fact, you may have a side hustle that makes you some extra cash teaching others to do so. You can help your clients create research-based strategies to present to lenders and investors in a clear and concise way. You can charge between $250 to well over $1,000 for each business plan you create.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$500-$1,500/month
Resource to Learn More:
Low-Barrier Side Hustles for Lawyers
Side hustles for lawyers don’t always have to be in the legal industry – and, you might be interested in bringing in a bit more money every month without having to start a second legal career.
Below, I’ve listed a few low-effort side hustles that you can do in your spare time. They all have a low barrier to entry and don’t require any specialized training. However, this also means that they pay less than other side hustles like online jobs or freelancing.
21. Take Online Surveys
Taking surveys is a great way to make some extra money without putting in too much effort.
For most people, a side hustle like this one is a welcome distraction from their regular legal work.
You’ll find plenty of online survey websites that collect consumer data to sell to clients. Whatever information you can provide to help them build better products, improve their service, or measure consumer brand awareness will be rewarded with cash or gift cards.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$100-$400/month
Resource to Learn More:
20 Companies That Will Pay You To Take Surveys Online
22. Become a Notary Public
A Notary Public witnesses and authenticates the signatures on important legal documents. As a lawyer, you can apply your knowledge of the legal system to proofread and authenticate such documents for your customers.
You might also be required to perform other duties such as requesting client identification information to prevent fraud.
You may have to attend notary training seminars and maintain license and bond requirements depending on where you live.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$100-$400/week
Resource to Learn More:
23. Make Money Walking Dogs
If you love dogs and would appreciate getting out more, then becoming a dog walker is the perfect side hustle for you. You can sign up on apps like the ones below to get paid to go on walks and play with your furry clients.
You might even consider pet sitting for longer periods, such as overnight or on weekends when pet owners are away.
This is a great way for busy professionals to get in some exercise into their busy schedule. And, you don’t even have to limit yourself to just dogs. You can also look after cats and other pets.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$200-800/week
Resource to Learn More:
24. Deliver Food and Groceries
Dog walking is a great side hustle for you if you love walking. You can make money while you stretch your legs. If you love to ride your bike or drive, this is a better side hustle for you.
You’ll get paid to deliver food to customers in your area. A food delivery side hustle is a simple way to make money in your spare time. You can take jobs whenever you’re free.
All you have to do is sign up on any of the apps below and you can start earning cash right away.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$15-$25/hour
Resource to Learn More:
25. Invest in the Stock Market
Real estate investing is one of the best side jobs for lawyers who want to build up their passive income streams with very little effort on their part.
You can either invest in specific real estate assets that are for sale or rent, or you can use real estate investing apps like Fundrise. I prefer the latter because you can become an investor without the hassle of being a landlord.
This means you can create a source of supplemental income without adding to your workload.
Where to Find Jobs:
How Much Money Can You Make?
$1,500-$4,000/month
Resource to Learn More:
As a lawyer, you have many skills that translate beautifully into extra income. Whether you are adept at persuasive legal writing or offering advice as a consultant, this guide has provided you with ideas for dozens of side hustles for lawyers and attorneys that pay extremely well.
Consider your current type of work, interests, and passions. Use this information to guide your choices so you can choose a lawyer side hustle that works best for your specific situation.
Remember that you can also choose non-lawyer tasks to help you take a break from the pressures of legal work.
Whatever you decide, you now know all the best side hustles for legal experts. Choose the ones that offer you the most lucrative effort/reward combination and get started earning extra cash right away.