When it comes to writing, marketing and advertising, lawyers are often unfairly discriminated against because they are not thought of as “creative people”.  In fact, lawyers have an unfortunate image of being serious, dry, and let’s face it, a little boring. However, there are many creative geniuses who graduated with a law degree before re-focusing on their chosen creative fields and in this blog I am introducing seven of them, some of whom will probably surprise you. So without further ado, here is a list of people who have succeeded in creative fields who also studied law at university.

John Cleese

The incredibly funny actor and writer holds a law degree from Cambridge University.

Henri Matisse

The French artist was working as a law clerk when he discovered painting. His Mother brought him some art supplies to help him pass the time while he was recovering from appendicitis.

Andrea Bocelli

The Italian tenor practiced law for a year before deciding to give his life to music.

David Baldacci

The trial lawyer turned novelist whose first novel Absolute Power was made into a film starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman, practiced law for nine years in Washington DC.

Peter Garrett

The lead singer of the Australian band Midnight Oil and environmental activist studied law at the University of New South Wales.

David E. Kelley

Creator of Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope and The Practice was working for a Boston law firm when he wrote his first screenplay.

 John Grisham

The famous novelist came up with the idea of A Time To Kill while sitting in on other lawyers’ trials when he was a junior attorney in Mississippi. So when you are sitting in front of a blank computer screen, trying to conjure up a fantastic article idea or press release, remember law and creativity are not as far apart as some may think.