Finding Your Side Hustle as a Lawyer: From Newsletters to Tutoring and Freelancing

The legal profession is rapidly transforming. So, too, are the ways attorneys can earn supplemental income and expand their networks. If you’re a lawyer who’s ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a flexible “side gig,” the answer is a resounding yes. My journey with Substack is just one example, and there are more avenues than ever to leverage your legal expertise beyond traditional practice.

Why Side Hustles Are on the Rise for Lawyers

When most attorneys started their careers, marketing meant billboards, print ads, or expensive web consultants. Today, digital tools and the ongoing demand for accessible legal knowledge have upended that model. Lawyers now use side hustles to:

• Build personal branding and credibility
• Diversify income
• Try new markets
• Reach broader audiences

Substack and Digital Content: My First-Hand Experience

As someone with a limited marketing budget, I began by posting short videos about labor law. That led to unexpected growth on social media and, later, the launch of my Substack newsletter. In just a few weeks, my subscriber base exceeded 2,000 people, leading to new client leads, peer discussions, and even paid readership. Substack’s appeal comes from its low barrier to entry, long-form format, and direct email connection with subscribers. But side hustles for lawyers don’t stop there.

Other Popular Side Hustles for Attorneys

Many attorneys are finding success with these flexible, skills-based opportunities:

• Freelance Legal Work: Whether drafting contracts, reviewing agreements, or doing research on platforms like LawClerk, Montage Legal, or Upwork, lawyers can take on project-based work that fits their schedule.
• Legal Writing & Blogging: Beyond Substack, opportunities include freelance articles, niche blogs, eBooks, or ghostwriting for law firms and legal tech companies.
• Online Courses and Tutoring: From bar exam or LSAT tutoring to webinars for business owners or law students, teaching online remains a meaningful (and scalable) side gig. Search for opportunities with bar prep companies or set up your own online courses.
• Contract Review & Compliance: Companies such as LegalZoom and freelance sites regularly hire attorneys to review contracts, especially for startups, real estate, and employment use cases. Niche contract review can bring in steady project work.
• Consulting & Mediation: Advising entrepreneurs, consulting on compliance or IP, or offering mediation services for family, employment, or small business disputes are all in demand, and can often be done remotely.
• Affiliate Marketing & Digital Products: Some lawyers earn passive income marketing legal tech tools, creating and licensing legal templates, or using affiliate programs tied to their blog or website.

How to Get Started And Find What Works for You

What unites these side hustles is their flexibility and the ability to build on your existing strengths. My advice: Start with what you’re passionate about and willing to do consistently. Substack worked for me because I enjoy writing and engaging with my readers directly, but colleagues of mine have found tutoring, contract review, or freelance consulting equally rewarding.

No matter which path you choose, success comes from providing real value and respecting ethical boundaries regarding advertising, referrals, and client confidentiality. And if one experiment doesn’t pan out, there are plenty of other ways to apply your expertise.

A Changing Profession

The “side hustle” isn’t just a trend; it’s a tool for renewal and resilience in a changing profession. Whether you’re launching a newsletter, freelancing, or teaching online, there’s no single right path — only the one that fits your skills and aspirations. If you’re considering starting something new, don’t overthink it. Try a side project, learn as you go, and who knows, it might just change the trajectory of your career.

Ryan Stygar of Centurion Trial Attorneys has more than a million social media followers. Find him on TikTok at @AttorneyRyan aka “The Labor Lawyer” and on SubStack at https://substack.com/@attorneyryan.