For the past couple of years I’ve been mentioning my “bi-annual tutoring side hustle.” I couldn’t say much more because it would have given away my occupation. As everyone now knows that I’m a lawyer, I can tell you more about one of my favorite (and most lucrative) side hustles.
Oh the dreaded Bar Exam – an exhausting several month rite of passage on your way to becoming an attorney. It takes place twice a year, in February and July. Many states are adopting a universal test, but there are still differences depending on where you are trying to be admitted. Generally speaking, the test takes two to three days and involves multiple choice and essay questions.
I started working as a Bar Exam Tutor three years ago. My work involves grading and providing feedback on practice essay questions. The pay rate changed recently, so the current arrangement is that I receive a certain amount for each essay. I have a feeling that this way of paying us is to encourage tutors to provide helpful feedback, so the students keep completing their practice essays.
The pay ends up being pretty good for the amount of time involved. For better or worse, I only do this side hustle for about four months out of the year. It’s probably a good thing, because it would be a lot to keep up with all year long. However, I do wish it wasn’t during June and July. There are many warm summer evenings when I would much rather be enjoying some fun outside, instead of grading another essay about contracts or corporate law.
This side hustle is ideal for attorneys for several reasons. First, you have to be admitted in the state where your students are taking the test, so you’re not competing with the general public for a position. Second, it is a remote, flexible position. I usually grade essays after the kids go to bed. Another reason this is a great option for lawyers working for a firm?
You don’t have to worry about conflict of interest issues.
People often seem to think I can just “pick up a case” here or there for extra money. They don’t understand that (believe it or not) attorneys have to comply with so many ethical rules. Conflict of interest can be very tricky because we have to worry about every case being handled by our firm. Without going into too much detail, I could be in trouble for representing someone in a business matter if some other lawyer at my firm is representing this person’s spouse in a divorce action – even if I have nothing to do with that other matter. Tutoring, or teaching, provides an opportunity to make money with our degrees and training, but without providing legal counsel (and having to worry about ethical violations).
Finally, I actually like being a tutor. You are assigned a group of students, so you get to see their progression as they prep for the bar exam. I try to be as encouraging as possible, because I remember, all too well, just how stressful it is to study for that test. This side hustle ends up being rewarding, and not just with respect to the financial gain.
One of the things I’ve considered for semi-retirement is going beyond tutoring, and becoming an adjunct professor. But there is no need to decide just yet. In pursuing this path to a point of financial security where we don’t need to work a full-time jobs until old age, we will reach a point where there are so many options. Instead of regrets over not trying things during our life, we will be able to ask, what should we do next? That’s the freedom we’re working towards.
For now though, we keep hustling away our debt. Being a bar exam tutor has been a huge help when it comes to our finances. For a little bit of time at night, four months out of the year, I can bring home approximately $3,000 to $4,000.
Anyone else know of an occupation-specific side hustle?
This post is awesome! I would be interested in hearing your story some more 🙂
Thank you Matthew! I will keep working on new posts to share more about our story 🙂
That’s a good amount of money for an enjoyable side hustle where you’re helping people. Being an adjunct professor could be an interesting choice. I know it doesn’t pay a lot of money but it shouldn’t be a lot of commitment on your part either. And you’d get to share your knowledge more directly as a teacher.
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I think being an adjunct could be pretty enjoyable – depending on the subject of the class. There were a bunch of these really practical classes available at my law school, like one about how to do depositions. I could see that almost fun.
What a great side hustle! The extra cash it brings in must be a huge help.
I have done a little tutoring to help accounting students, but not much. Maybe I should take it a bit more seriously.
It is a huge help! All of the little side hustles have really helped us change our momentum – from slowly crawling out of debt, to having a clear view of the end of the tunnel 🙂
That’s fascinating. I did not know that grading exams could be so lucrative!
Adjuncting could definitely be interesting. Especially if you take on one night class a semester. Then most of your time is free.
It’s amazing what a financial house in order can allow in life.
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Hi ZJ! The pay actually used to be even better when I first started with the company. Yes, it is amazing how much your finances can change in a few short years.
Hey, Harmony. Hope all is well. Love this side-hustle gig. And I think you’d be an excellent adjunct when the time is right. In the meantime, though, I have an oddball question for you. Is there any tv show at there that actually resembles the actual work of lawyers? My father was a cop and he always said the tv showed that best portrayed police work was Barney Miller. Again, sorry for the oddball question. Just curious about your thoughts. Cheers.
Hi Mr. Groovy 🙂 Yes, all is well with us, busy but good.
I wish I could answer your question, but we watch so little television and the last thing I would pick would be a show about lawyers. I don’t think they could make a show focused on my work that would be both accurate and entertaining. I spend the majority of my time reviewing documents, drafting things, and doing research. If anything, Law and Order type shows may be a good representation of things on the criminal side – but I can’t say for sure. Good question though – I may have to poll some other attorneys and I will let you know.
This was a great blog post. I started my own law firm now but I’m looking for a side hustle as well to try to make money
This was a really informative blog post. I am having my own law firm now in Dubai.
This is the post I was looking for! I recently started practicing at a firm and have been looking to pick up a side hustle and thought tutoring is it! Any suggestions on where and how to apply? I’ve been Google searching and I haven’t found any leads yet. I’d love your advice 🙂
Hi Shunya – you should try contacting all of the bar exam prep companies to see if they have any openings. Hope that helps!