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Is it possible to have two part time careers that generally demand a lot of working hours, such as a model and a lawyer?

I personally have always dreamed of becoming a lawyer until I eventually came to the realization that it would be too stressful for me to work as a lawyer full-time and I have always wanted to try modeling out because I think I would really enjoy it, as I absolutely love fashion but am not talented at creating or designing clothing.

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Michelle’s Answer

The art of living lies in achieving a sense of balance. I, too, have a wide range of interests across various fields. I firmly hold the belief that managing two part-time jobs can be a feasible option. Take the example of numerous professors who split their time equally between teaching and conducting research! I am a staunch advocate of pursuing what brings you joy. If being a full-time lawyer doesn't spark joy in you, then it's essential to seek a balance that does.
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Ashley’s Answer

Hi Ryann!

The most honest answer I can provide you is a mixed answer.

Technically, managing two part-time careers is possible. Your success in each one depends on your ability to manage your time and energy. At the same time, I wouldn't advise you to move forward with two part-time careers if it means sacrificing your happiness and well-being. It can be challenging to juggle life and one career, so it naturally becomes even more difficult to juggle two careers plus life.

I think at this point, you have a couple of options:

1. You can make a plan for how you're going to pursue both career aspirations. This plan should also consider your need for regular periods of rest and other needs you might have.
2. You can prioritize one path and pursue the other at a lower level. For example, if you feel stronger about becoming a lawyer, you could pursue that and focus on modeling as a side project or a hobby.
3. You can pick just one path to follow, and switch over if it turns out you're not enjoying it as much as you thought you would.

Remember, your dreams are completely valid and you deserve to go after them. At the same time, your well-being and happiness is also important, so whatever you chose to do, you should make sure that you're taking care of yourself along the way.

Good luck!
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Kate’s Answer

Good question. With lots of hard work and not very much sleep, you can try and make a setup like this work :) However, practically speaking, in my experience, there are very very few part-time lawyer jobs. And, the few that exist are very competitive because a lot of people would like to work reduced legal schedules. Most lawyers I know work lots of hours, even when part time. If lots of hours seems very stressful to you, lawyering is a tough career path. I can't really speak to what modeling involves. Good luck!

Kate recommends the following next steps:

Try finding a lawyer in your area to talk about what their days and schedules look like. That's the best way to learn about different careers.
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Emma’s Answer

Hey Ryann! I admire your ambition. I have to agree with the advice above, it's absolutely possible. Since COVID has redefined what it means to be a global professional, we see employees certainly dictating the boundaries of what it means to take on work (vs employers). I know several colleagues who manage several professions at once: freelancing & full-time to be the most common. I don't have experience personally doing this, but I am a mom as well as a full time employee. Let me tell you, boundaries and multitasking are the name of the game for me!

I would be lying if I said it didn't test my patience at times. My best advice for pursuing multiple professional endeavors is to be very realistic with yourself about what that could look like. For example, think through some hard questions: Will I be able to travel for one career while still working for the other? Am I okay with spending my weekend/off hours doing my other job? Am I ok with sacrificing a social life in order to complete the duties I have signed up for? How will I carve out time for my physical and mental health? What does my budgeting look like taking on two career paths? (I.e. if you're doing both for the financial gains, at what point do you feel comfortable dropping one and focusing only on the other?)

Hope this helps! Sending you luck!
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Layne’s Answer

It is possible! But you must also build the skill of time-management and schedule management. Creative work by nature is unpredictable and not subject to easy advance planning. Law school requires a high degree of time-management and schedule management but it is not impossible to do both law school and a job. In fact, many law schools offer part time and even virtual options, giving you more schedule flexibility. This would allow you to find a program where you can balance two careers at once. Law school does require a lot of study time outside of the classroom, so factor that into your decision. I worked a full time job and went to law school part time, so can say that it is possible!

Layne recommends the following next steps:

Explore part-time law school programs
Seek out time management and schedule management courses and tools to prepare
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Lynne’s Answer

It is definitely possible! I have worked multiple jobs in the past. However, you will need to prioritize your time and may need to give up certain things. For example, you may have less time to hang out with friends or pursue other hobbies. At the end of the day, you will need to decide what is important to you and prioritize your schedule around the things that matter the most. Also, you should check with your employers to make sure that the schedules don't conflict and you can actually work both jobs at the same time.
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Amalya’s Answer

It is possible, but may not be the best option for you in my opinion. I think it would better for you to reconsider which career option you like more. Since being a lawyer and also having presence in fashion job market are dramatically different occupations, they may have some disadvantages.
Good luck in choosing the right career path.
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Daisy’s Answer

I can certainly understand your curiosity and ambition in wanting to pursue two distinct part-time careers, such as modeling and law. As someone who balances a full-time role as a marketing manager and a side hustle as a social media influencer writing book reviews and giving career advice, I can offer some insights from my experience.

1) Balancing Distinct Careers is Challenging: In my case, managing two distinct roles is hard and time-consuming. The skillsets and demands of my full-time job and my side hustle are different yet complementary. I've found that having two careers that are too distinct from each other can lead to burnout and a struggle to excel in either area.

2) Look for Complementary Roles: If you're passionate about pursuing multiple interests, consider choosing careers that complement each other. For example, my reading and reviewing books on career growth and self-help align with my professional responsibilities, creating synergy between the two roles.

3) Consider Your Long-term Goals: What do you truly want to achieve in your career? If either modeling or law aligns more closely with your long-term goals, it might be best to focus on that path. Trying to excel in two very different fields could spread your efforts thin and hinder your progress in both.

4) Think About Burnout: From my experience, burnout is a real concern. The stress and exhaustion of trying to keep up with two demanding roles can impact both your professional and personal life.
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madhuri latha’s Answer

Believe me, everything you can imagine is achievable, including your career goals. It's crucial to remember to maintain a balance in life to prevent burnout. Life isn't just about work; it's also about enjoyment. Always keep in mind that YOLO - You Only Live Once.

As for managing two careers, understand the expectations of both roles. Know what each job requires and make sure you have a strategy to meet those requirements. This way, you can successfully juggle both careers.
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Ryann !

I would love to give you some advice on this subject, but ultimately you will have to make a career choice. The two fields of work that you've mentioned, Law and Modeling are not part time. They are not even nine to five jobs. They are both above and beyond careers, especially if you're fresh out of college or training. If you believe as you have stated that working as a lawyer full time is stressful, but want to do it part time, something that retired lawyers do way after they spend their life in their career, than working as a lawyer part time will also be stressful, too but almost impossible right out of law school which is about a 6 year course of study, than the bar exam. Trying modeling and being a professional model are also two different things. Yes, step into modeling and see how you like it. You just may want to do it full time.

A modeling career is not guaranteed, though. You will need to be available for however many hours a project takes and be able to travel to locations.
That all being said, let's see what your options are. You can decide to go to law school and become a lawyer. You can decide to pursue modeling and get training for whatever time period you need to get up to professional level. Do one of these or attempt to see how to do both part time.

Another option may be to consider work in fashion retail or training to be a model agent. Maybe you can blend your two interests somehow, but these are two fields of work that do not have much interactive play. Research what careers will allow you to go to an entry level position part time. If you go to college, the college guidance center will be most useful to you in obtaining information and guiding you to possible other options.

Your proactive decisions will make a good career happen for you. Your interests may stay the same or change, but there's always a way to work things out. I hope this was a bit informative and wish you all the best in whatever career you choose !
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