Lawyers are an industrious bunch. As we previously covered, many of them manage to find enough time in between billables to work another another job. That’s what you get in a field that attracts type As. And the lawyer side gigs are manifold — if moonlighting as an Uber driver doesn’t cut it for you, Indeed has a listicle prepared. But not all lawyer-ly side gigs are equally favored by the law. From Legal Profession Prof:
[A]ttorney Laura Marler might have been practicing more than law.
“When the officer approached the vehicle and his natural instinct determined it smelled of marijuana in the car. Discovered drugs and money in the car,” says St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
After the traffic stop detectives went to Marler’s home and she admitted she had additional drugs at her residence. Upon arrival, NEWS15 noticed officers were still on the scene Tuesday afternoon.
First things first, don’t talk to police! Seriously! Enough people are getting locked up without having done anything — you’d think a lawyer would know better to display their gift of gab to a bunch of cops searching for drugs at their house. To make matters worse, Marler’s dad was a district attorney for 4 decades, you’d think she’d have learned a little more cop savvy through osmosis alone.
As it stands, Marler is saddled with a 90k bond and a temporary suspension of the right to practice. This could be a great time to not only review the 5th amendment, but consider some career options. If you want to continue practicing law, fine and dandy. But, if you’re looking for a pivot, there’s probably a great JD advantage gig that would let you finesse your run in with the law as a “hands on experience” that will add a bit of gravitas to the advice you give your clients.
You may have to work outside of Louisiana though. There, weed is pretty much only legal for medical use. But, if you’re looking for a firm that has a cannabis practice, they are out there.
Earlier: Lawyers With Side Hustles Are Becoming More Commonplace In Biglaw
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.