Can a lawyer act as a consultant?

Asked by: Juliana Grant  |  Last update: September 23, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (53 votes)

Being a lawyer turned consultant provides a distinct advantage. While I'm unable to offer legal advice in this role, the reality is that clients know they are hiring a former, seasoned attorney, with industry experience.

Can a lawyer be a consultant?

There are many of you reading this who are already working professionally as lawyers, and are wondering if you too can make the transition from lawyer to management consultant. Well, you can! It won't be easy, but it certainly is possible.

Can you transition from law to consulting?

You can transfer over from your law degree to a role in a consulting firm - usually as an Engagement Manager. And then you'll roll out from there into industry, often as a P&L Manager. You've often had the benefit of having a lot more work experience, you have managed people, you've seen a lot of different industries.

Who qualifies to be a consultant?

Basic qualifications for success in management consulting include a bachelor's degree, although preferred qualifications include an MBA, at least two years of consulting experience, and well-developed industry expertise specific to the field in which you intend to specialize.

Does McKinsey hire lawyers as consultants?

Our team is comprised of approximately 200 lawyers and legal professionals across nearly 50 countries who come to McKinsey from leading law firms and corporations.

This is When a Consultant Should Hire a Lawyer...

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Do consultants make more money than lawyers?

Key Comparisons. Compensation: 1st-year Associates at top tier law firms earn ~20% more than Associates at top tier Management Consulting firms. However, after 2-3 years, compensation is very similar at top tier firms in both industries.

Who are the Big 4 consulting firms?

How Do the Big 4 Fit into the Consulting Industry? The term “Big 4” refers to the 4 largest professional services firms by revenue: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte), KPMG International (KPMG), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Ernst & Young (EY).

Do consultants make a lot of money?

Strategy consultants typically earn a base salary between $70,000-$100,000 at the entry level. MBA grads earn $150,000 while project leaders in strategy consulting earn $175,000. Information Technology consultants have become important assets for consulting firms.

Who can call themselves a consultant?

Anyone who wishes can call themselves an independent consultant; there's no formal certification or licensing required to adopt the title. However, successfully making a living as an independent consultant typically requires a strong foundation of credibility built on substantial past experience.

How to become a consultant at Deloitte?

Candidates with a good background and experience in working with consulting firms, professional services firms, and industries will be preferred. Apply now: If you are interested, please send your resume to incareer@deloitte.com. Log on to our LinkedIn page for more updates.

Should I go into law or consulting?

If you don't mind the travel and lower starting salary, management consulting might be the right choice. People who would rather stay in one city and work more hours but have generally higher starting pay rates would do better to consider a career in law.

How much do consultants earn?

Consultant salaries in United Kingdom. The estimated total pay for a Consultant is £47,248 per year, with an average salary of £42,505 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

Does Bain hire lawyers?

Bain has roles for people of just about every field of interest and stage of study. It can be a place to start your career, apply your degree, or shift sectors. We hire consultants, marketers, technologists, lawyers, and lots else.

What is the difference between a legal consultant and a lawyer?

The difference between a legal consultant and a lawyer

Specifically, legal consultants primarily serve as legal advisors, but do not represent clients in court or offer litigation services as lawyers would.

What is the best consulting firm?

McKinsey & Company is a company that needs no introduction. The company is consistently ranked as the #1 most valued brand in the consulting industry, making it the most prestigious company on the list.

Does McKinsey pay for law school?

The Firm will subsidize post-BA education to the equivalent of a two year MBA, so a big US law school will mean you'll have to pay for the third year pretty much on your own. You also have to agree to come back after your JD and continue at the Firm (or pay back the school loan).

Who qualifies as a consultant?

A consultant is an person who provides professional or expert advice in a particular field of science or business to either an organisation or individual. As there is no legal protection given to the job title 'consultant', in theory, anyone can on a day wake up and decide to adopt the consultant title.

When can I call myself a consultant?

There's no legal requirements for calling yourself a consultant, making the question of qualifications somewhat unclear. It comes down to what each organization needs from you, and whether or not you are able to deliver on it.

Who becomes a consultant?

Consultants usually hold degrees in business administration, finance or economics. However, degrees in psychology, marketing and computer science are common as well among business consultants. To work in a particular industry, consider a minor in that field in addition to a business degree.

What is the highest paid type of consultant?

High Paying Consulting Jobs
  • Business Transformation Consultant. Salary range: $150,000-$186,500 per year. ...
  • Consulting Practice Director. Salary range: $83,000-$184,000 per year. ...
  • Practice Director. ...
  • Principal Consultant. ...
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor. ...
  • Project Manager Consultant. ...
  • Executive Advisor. ...
  • Business Process Consultant.

Can you become rich as a consultant?

Of course! Many successful entrepreneurs have been able to work as a consultant and grow their business to a million-dollar enterprise. It takes hard work, determination and some help along the way, but it's certainly possible.

Is consulting a stressful job?

Consulting is a rewarding but demanding career that can expose you to high levels of stress. Whether you are dealing with tight deadlines, complex problems, demanding clients, or long hours, you need to find effective ways to manage your stress and avoid burnout.

Who is Deloitte owned by?

Deloitte Consulting is a brand name owned by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd (DTTL), which is a UK limited company. DTTL has a network of member firms (which it doesn't own) that are independent of each other in terms of capital structure and liabilities, and are typically limited liability partnerships.

What does KPMG stand for?

While the origin of the name KPMG is based on the abbreviation of the names of some of the principal founding members; Klynveld, Peat, Marwick, Goerdeler, today the name is simply 'KPMG'. When asked what it means we often simply say "business".

Is BCG better than McKinsey?

McKinsey, known for its structured, data-driven approach, maintains a traditional and highly competitive environment with a clear “up-or-out” policy. In contrast, BCG promotes a more dynamic and innovative atmosphere, emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, and strongly emphasizes work-life balance.