This is not exactly a question, but it's something that requires an answer. What would help most for embarking on a non-firm career path would be examples of people who have chosen non-firm paths and have been able to make it work.

One example I have is a friend here whose father became a public defender after law school. He then used his contacts/skills to become a very successful criminal defense lawyer.

-- ShawKaneyasuSpeck - 24 Apr 2008