Yes, Mahatma Gandhi was trained and experienced as an English Barrister.  Early in his career, he traveled to South Africa and experienced first-hand the legally imposed descriminations against Indian and Muslim people.  The rest is history.  Gandhi's skills as a lawyer were an important part of the tremendous eloquence, discipline and intensity he brought to bear upon unsuspecting government officials.

There are stereotypes about Lawyers that seem to discourage people in the legal profession as well as young people considering a future in law.  For those of us in the field of law, many feel that conformity and peer pressure excuse us from following our destiny to make a difference in the lives of our people.  However, the exceptions, like Gandhi, Lincoln and Clarence Darrow, for example, are of epic proportions.  Gandhi was a barrister and a highly evolved thinker, writer and activist.  Many lawyers work for change (although not all of it is altruistic.)  Lawyers are trained in the theory and practice of both change and non-change; both rigid thinking and openmindedness. 

I believe that the work and role of lawyers derive from the tradition of the shaman, the holder of powerful words, and that there remains great positive power in the role of attorney.  I am currently a healing bodyworker and writer, but my years in legal work were very gratifying and cutting edge.  Rather than perpetuate prejudice against lawyers, let's be open to progress with social justice through stronger focus on the spirit of the law, rather than mechanistic application of laws designed to help the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

In the meantime, let's revel in the diversity and creativity of lawyers whose lives bring other careers and/or spiritual practices into the mix.  Some famous law school graduates who are best known for other endeavors: 

Mahatma Gandhi (Philosopher and Political Reformer)
James Boswell (Biographer of Samuel Johnson)
Francis Bacon (British Philosopher)
Sir Thomas More (Statesman, Saint)
Jeremy Bentham (Social Philosopher)
Rene Descartes (Philosopher)
Cicero (Roman Philosopher)
Alexis de Tocqueville (Social Philosopher)
John Wesley Hardin (Outlaw in the “Old West”)
Marcus L. Urann (Inventor of Cranberry Sauce)
Chester Carlson (Invented xerography)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (Politician, author)
Bella Abzug (Activist and Politician)
Barbara Jordan (Politician and Writer)
Alice Paul (Author of Equal Rights Amendment)
Carol Mosely Braun (Politician)
Ann Coulter (Author, political commentator)
Patrick Henry (American Revolutionary)
Fidel Castro (Cuban Leader)
Noah Webster (Political Writer, Lexicographer)
Sir Walter Scott (Author)
Franz Kafka (Author)
Washington Irving (Author)
Jules Verne (Author)
Studs Terkel (Author)
Erle Stanley Gardner (Author)
John Grisham (Author)
Scott Turow (Author)
Louis Auchincloss (Novelist)
Daniel Boorstin (Historian, Writer)
Robert Louis Stevenson (Author)
Conde Nast (early Publisher of Vanity Fair and Vogue)
Mortimer Zuckerman (Owner of US News & World Report)
Sam Houston (US General and Politician)
A total of 25 US Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln
J. Edgar Hoover (FBI Director)
Ralph Nader (Consumer Advocate and former Presidential Candidate)
Catharine A. MacKinnon (Legal Philosopher -
             areas of Sexual Harrassment and Pornography)
John Cleese (Comedic Actor, Writer, co-founder of Monty Python)
Paul Robeson (Author, Singer/Performer, Civil Rights Activist)
Hoagy Carmichael (American Songwriter, Pianist and Bandleader)
Francis Scott Key (Author, composer of Star Spangled Banner)
Peter I. Tchaikovsky (Composer)
Julio Iglesias (Singer)
Henri Matisse (Artist)
Otto Preminger (Movie Director)
Leonard Cohen (Singer and Poet) (Honorary Law Degree)
Max Ehrmann (Poet, author of “Desiderata”)
Tony La Russa (Baseball Manager)
Steve Young (Pro Football Quarterback)
Pat Haden (Pro Football Quarterback)
Dick Button (Champion Figure Skater and Sports Commentator)
Howard Cosell, (Sports Commentator)
Mel Allen (Sports Announcer)
Star Jones (Television Personality)
Charlie Rose (Television Personality)
Ben Stein (Author, Television Personality)
Geraldo Rivera (Television Reporter/Personality)
Fred Dalton Thompson (Politician, Actor)
Rossano Brazzi (Actor)



Major source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lawyers.
If you are aware of other famous people who are also lawyers, but known for something other than the practice of law, please let me know and I'll add them to this list.  www.divineprimate.zaadz.com