Archive · 21 Sep 2026
UK Lawyer Leaves Criminal Defence for Lucrative Dog-Walking Career
Liz East used to work as a criminal defence lawyer in the UK.
She found the long hours and stressful work made her unhappy.
She also felt that the lifestyle would be difficult to combine with having a family.
Her husband enjoyed running a dog-walking and boarding business.
Seeing this made East wonder why she did not choose work she enjoyed.
She left law and briefly worked at a pub while starting her own dog-walking service.
Now she walks 20 to 30 dogs across four group walks each day.
She says the business earns her more money while requiring fewer working hours.
Liz East left criminal defence law after four years because she found the work draining and unsustainable.
She began working shifts at a local pub while building a dog-walking client base.
Within a year, East was running four group walks daily for 20 to 30 dogs.
She charges about £14 per hour per dog and reports daily turnover of £300 to £400.
East says she now earns more than in corporate work while working about half as many hours.
- Who
- Liz East, a former criminal defence lawyer who now runs a dog-walking business.
- What
- She left law and built a dog-walking service that looks after 20 to 30 dogs daily.
- When
- After four years in criminal defence; her dog-walking client base became full within a year.
- Where
- The United Kingdom; the article also refers to the pressures of London working life.
- Why
- East said criminal defence was draining, involved long hours, and did not feel sustainable for the life she wanted.
East’s Perspective
Critics’ Perspective
Whether leaving law wasted her education
East’s Perspective
East says her six years of study were valuable and that she still uses what she learned in everyday life.
Critics’ Perspective
Some people judged her decision and said she had wasted six years by moving from law to dog-walking.
Value and status of dog-walking work
East’s Perspective
East says dog-walking is financially successful and that she now earns more than she did in corporate work.
Critics’ Perspective
People often presume dog-walkers are low earners, according to East.
- Former career
- Criminal defence law
- Current work
- Dog-walking and boarding services
- Daily walks
- Four group walks
- Dogs cared for daily
- Approximately 20 to 30
- Rate
- About £14, or roughly ₹1,800, per hour per dog
- Daily turnover
- Approximately £300 to £400, or about ₹38,500 to ₹51,400
- Reported benefit
- East says she earns more than before while working half the hours