Lawyers are a risk-averse bunch. But being faced with redundancy could mean that now is the perfect time to jump off the traditional career path. Jayne Welsh and Jonathan Macfarlane report

There is no doubt that the UK legal sector is facing significant upheaval with employees being affected at all levels.

Firms are announcing restructurings and redundancies on an almost daily basis, with the total number of redundancies across UK law firms now standing at well over 2,000 – and there is little optimism about the immediate future.

Yet what are the options for lawyers currently facing the spectre of redundancy? Should they join the queue of those seeking jobs at the few firms still recruiting; hang on in a related sector until the economy improves; look at a more radical career move; or opt for some kind of 'gap' period?

For many people with financial commitments and mortgages to pay, getting a paid job will be the priority, but the opportunity to use this 'watershed' moment to look at your skills, interests and motivations with the guidance of an expert in legal careers can be an eye-opening experience. What makes you tick? What are you happiest doing? What are your main strengths?

While it may be tempting just to update that CV, contact recruitment consultants and get on the job merry-go-round again, in the current climate that is unlikely to be enough and taking stock and thinking through what the options are and how best to position yourself to achieve them is much more likely to lead to success.

So what are these options?

The first option is to try and get a similar job in the same practice area in another law firm. There are firms out there who will continue to hire people speculatively if they think they have the right skills or if they are looking to invest for the future.

Looking for a similar job to your previous one requires determination, a lot of patience and a resilient, positive and proactive approach. Using personal networks and seeking out opportunities as well as using agents and advertised positions are all likely to be required.

Another possibility is to look overseas for employment. There are still opportunities in other jurisdictions, particularly in the Middle East and the offshore community, although as with any global recession, they remain limited.

The second option when faced with redundancy is to choose to work in a closely related area – a parallel career. Examples here might include working in an in-house law department, legal journalism, legal marketing, know-how or training, legal HR, or the Government Legal Service department, which employs 1,900 lawyers. At the moment, for example, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Financial Services Authority are recruiting lawyers at various grades.

The third option is to take the plunge and embark on a major career change outside the profession. We have worked with lawyers who have gone into careers as diverse as teaching, property management, digital imaging, the wine trade, alternative therapies, marketing, arts management, commercial flying and publishing.

Such a change requires a thorough analysis of skills and considerable thought as to how these skills can be transferred. A sense of reality is also important about the time it may take to get retrained (teaching normally requires a one-year postgraduate certificate in education and at secondary level a relevant degree, for example). It is also quite likely that remuneration (at least initially) will be considerably lower.

The non-financial rewards, on the other hand, can often be very great. It is important to build up a realistic picture of what all the aspects of a new life might be like, so as to anticipate the challenges as well as the benefits that are likely to be involved.

The fourth option is to roll back those years and embark on a gap period with a purpose – take some time out until the market improves.

There is a lot to be said for this, provided financial and family circumstances allow. However, it is important to have a sense of purpose behind a career gap. Don't see it as simply a 'year out' but as part of a career progression. It's an opportunity to learn and do new things – a practical skill such as a language, for example, some further study such as a master's degree or to take part in voluntary work in the developing world.

It could also include some work shadowing or internship roles to develop new skills and networks or to 'road test' a possible career change. It is also important that you continue to keep in touch with your existing networks – don't disappear off the radar.

While it is easy to say, a redundancy should not be seen as the end of the world. A patient and well-organised approach, where all options are assessed, can often reap long-term dividends. There is a life beyond.

Jayne Welsh and Jonathan Macfarlane are directors of The Professional Career Partnership.