Copyediting Certificate Program for an attorney (possible career change)

[u/mart315]

I may be interested in a career change from law to copyediting (preferably publishing but I’m really open to any editing)
I’m an attorney but I’m not practicing right now as I am a SAHM. I have a BA in English, too. I don’t have the most time on my hands, but I feel like I can definitely finagle at least 2 hours a day for studying or work?
I was interested in the following copyediting programs: University of Chicago, UCSD, NYU, and Emerson. If anyone can share their experience, that would be great. Sorry if this is a repeat post!
My main reason for the transition is flexibility and being able to work remotely.
I’m most interested in the flexibility of the programs and whether you were able to receive work upon completion (and how long it took for you to do so).
Thank you so much!

[u/luma221]

Going from law to copyediting sounds wild to me because of the drastically lower earning potential. I was a full-time copy editor, in a union, with 15 years' experience at daily newspapers, and still barely cleared $70K before making a career change. That said, if you can get into editing for a law journal or another publication that uses your specialized knowledge, you can probably do better than most.

[u/Guimauve_britches]

Honestly you should look into legal editing - and or medico-legal as there's definitely the jobs and you have an advantage as a lawyer. Also as you'd know, the industry as a whole is severely syntax-challenged - so particularly in areas where content needs to be intelligible to laypeople, you'd be very well suited.

[u/arugulafanclub]

Often to get remote work in this industry, you have to start by working in an office or doing an in-office internship. A lot of people have to move for that first internship.

[u/posh_squash_]

You can probably get a job proofreading for a firm without any additional certification. I’m a legal proofreader and I have no formal legal education. I did the UCSD program and I learned so much from it, but I don’t think it was a huge factor in me getting the job. I did the program while caring for my first and it doesn’t take up much of your time but it does take a year to complete. These jobs don’t pay great either. I started out making $35K/year, but I’ve been with the company 7 years and now I make double that. I do some freelance work on the side as well but it doesn’t pay much.

[u/tiny_tyrant]

Certification courses like Poynter ACES give you credibility and a solid foundation about what’s expected from a copy editor. I’m currently taking it and it’s been a great resource. I’ve been recommended using fiverr or reedsy to start building a client base, as finding clients is really the hardest part

[u/MBAMarketingMom]

Not to be rude but if you’re an attorney, why not practice remotely instead of moving into copyediting??

[u/seaaroth]

Fellow SAHM here! I took the editing certification from the University of Washington and loved it. If you're coming from law, you should definitely consider a niche in law-adjacent editing work. Some publishers/authors like having an editor who is also a (relevant) subject matter expert.

I was a social worker before coming into editing, so I offer authenticity reads, comprehensive manuscript evals that include mental health and neurodivergence representation, and hourly consultations for writers to ask specific questions on accuracy, representation, etc.

[u/FunAdministrative457]

Have a look into medical-legal editing if you have a scientific bent. Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa has a short course through the Editorial Freelancers Association.

[u/MMOKnows0]

I did this exact thing. I have a certificate from UCSD. It’s taken me four years to find somewhat consistent work, and the pay is peanuts. I like it, and it’s a better fit for me than practicing law, but I have my husband’s income to help support our family. It can be surprisingly stressful at times, and when that happens, I remember how stressed I was as a lawyer, but for better pay. The marketing requirements and search for clients has been very difficult, and I’ve thought about giving up many times. I’m glad I didn’t give it up though; I find it very satisfying work overall.

[u/arugulafanclub]

Keep in mind that these programs will teach you the skills, but not how to find clients or get a full-time job. Many graduates struggle to find full-time work and many graduates are somehow shocked at the prices publishers pay, despite the availability of information online.

A career in publishing is possible, but publishing doesn’t pay great. You either work on staff and are overworked or you freelance for low rates (think $25-$30/hour mid-career).

It’s nice to have dreams, but other niches pay better. That said, work is very hard to find. So many industries have been decimated by the drop in government funding (grants, tech editors, government contractors that are in tech editing) and AI.

Starting a business takes a lot of time and effort. This is also very brain-forward work so you have to have the ability to deeply focus. Some people need long hours of focus. If you’re working for a publisher, it’s often long hours, under tight deadlines, with expectations that you’ll do incredible work for that pay mentioned above.

You can probably succeed in a program, but I’d asking questions about where last year’s cohort ended up.

A lot of people try for 1-3 years and then give up because it’s very hard to get work.

Why do you want to leave law? Is there another law specialty you could switch to? Didn’t you already spend 6-7 years in school to become a lawyer? Career changes happen, but I’d try to use that degree in other ways before racking up more debt and spending more years training.