how do i become a maritime lawyer?

Is maritime law difficult?

Maritime law is complex. It involves a variety of civil laws including contract law, personal injury law, employment disputes and even lost treasure. For the attorneys who practice it, maritime law can provide a sound and challenging career.

How do I become a maritime lawyer in the UK?

If you are interested in pursuing a career in Maritime law, you must first obtain a qualifying degree in law or a degree in any other discipline followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Is maritime law lucrative?

Most maritime law jobs in the USA result in lucrative careers, so it's natural that the requirements are steep. This job can get quite stressful, especially during long courtroom sessions, but also while you're still climbing the corporate ladder and gathering experience.

What is it like being a maritime lawyer?

The types of activities that maritime attorneys may conduct include trying cases in court, drafting documents, negotiating agreements and handling complaints about injuries or illnesses caused by various types of marine vessel or sea craft, as well as companies dumping hazardous waste into the sea.

Where can I study maritime law in UK?

London Metropolitan University Guildhall School of Business and LawMaritime Law (Distance Learning) LLM Postgraduate Certificate - PgCert Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip.Maritime Law (Top-up) (Distance Learning) LLM.

Is maritime law a good career?

A successful maritime lawyer will be able to make a big salary, albeit burning the midnight oil. Maritime law refers to many laws of other branches like civil, administrative, criminal, etc. and norms of international public and private law.Mar 30, 2020

What do maritime lawyers earn?

According to Law Crossing, the average salary of Maritime/Shipping Lawyers in the United States of America is $118,500 per year.

What can you do with a maritime degree?

What Can You Do With a Maritime Studies Degree?A Unique Discipline. Most of the degree programs you will find out there involve land-based studies, or things that happen on dry land. ... Professor of Maritime Study. ... Maritime Journalist. ... Harbor/Port Management. ... Marine Resource Management. ... Coast Guard Officer.

What is the highest-paid lawyer?

Medical lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.

Who enforces maritime law?

The Coast GuardThe Coast Guard is the only U.S. federal law enforcement agency or military service with both the capabilities and authorities to enforce fisheries regulations across the vast 3.4 million square miles of the U.S. EEZ, on the high seas, and in the EEZ and territorial seas of partner nations.Dec 9, 2020

Why do we study maritime law?

Today, maritime law is considered as extremely vital for any type of occurrence on open water. Maritime laws are of extreme value and significance for governments, corporations and individuals. They are the laws which ensure the appropriate behaviour of people and organisations.Jul 25, 2019

Who controls maritime law?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) The IMO is held responsible for the security of all international shipping. The IMO also has the responsibility to enforce that ships follow the safety procedures set by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).Jul 19, 2017

What is a maritime lawyer?

Maritime/Shipping lawyers are attorneys who specialize in the branch of law affecting navigable bodies of water. Their primary focus is on laws relating to all activities on the sea. They represent their clients in cases relating to shipping, the seas, oceans, and other open bodies of water.

What degree do I need to become a shipping lawyer?

You need a degree in Law to become a Maritime/Shipping Lawyer. Standard and accredited universities that offer L.L.B programs include: Swansea University in the United Kingdom offers a Law, LLB (Hons).

What is a certificate in maritime law?

Certificate in Maritime Law and Shipping Contracts: This course is structured to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly overview of how the shipping industry is regulated. The carefully structured module addresses the functions, scope, and context of international maritime law, carriage of goods by sea, charter parties, bills of landing and applicable instruments, marine insurance and international contracts of sale, admiralty jurisdiction and enforcement of maritime claims, salvage, general average, towage, ports and pilotage, limitation of liability, dispute resolution, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques. The duration of the program is 12 weeks part-time (a total of 21 hours). The fee for this certificate is £1699.

What do shipping lawyers do?

Maritime/Shipping Lawyers advise their clients on laws and business transactions and claim liability. They advise their clients on whether it is sensible to prosecute or defend lawsuits. They tell their clients about their legal rights and obligations.

What skills do you need to be a shipping lawyer?

Maritime/Shipping Lawyers need to have skills of respect and empathy, as well as the ability to listen. Decision-Making Skills: As a Maritime/Shipping Lawyer, you must know how to make decisions independently when the situation demands it. Problem-Solving Skills: As a Maritime/Shipping lawyer, you are expected to solve complex problems by exploring ...

What is the Law Plus program?

The Law Plus program lets you choose elective subjects in other courses including Politics, History, Psychology, Economics, Maths, and languages.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual Property Law: Intellectual property law grants legal protection to any Intellectual property, that is, original creations from one’s mind. It gives creators opportunities to benefit from their works. Creative works such as literary and artistic works, films, computer programs, designs, and marks, are intellectual properties that can be protected by the law, with the help of an Intellectual property lawyer.

Essential Information

Maritime lawyers are attorneys who specialize in laws pertaining to navigable waters. Like all lawyers, they must earn a law degree and pass the bar exam, but focus on issues pertaining to maritime law, also known as admiralty law. Their duties include handling any legal matters pertaining to ships registered in the United States.

Job Description

Maritime lawyers are licensed attorneys whose primary focus is on law relating to any activity on the sea. They represent clients or businesses in cases relating to the seas, oceans and other open bodies of water.

Job Duties

Maritime lawyers may review or draft contracts, interview witnesses or write insurance agreements. They may protect or defend individuals or companies against personal injury lawsuits. They may work for international corporations or government agencies.

Requirements

To become a lawyer, an individual must earn an undergraduate degree and graduate from an accredited law school. He or she must then pass a bar exam in the state where he or she intends to practice. Only Louisiana and Washington do not require lawyers to pass a state bar exam. No specific undergraduate degree is needed to qualify for law school.

Salary Information and Career Outlook

Positions for lawyers in general are expected to increase by 4% between 2019 and 2029, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additionally, the BLS reported that the median annual salary for lawyers was $126,930 in May 2020.

What degree do you need to become a maritime lawyer?

Most states require attorneys (including maritime attorneys) to graduate from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree, pass state bar association exams and maintain a license to practice law in that state.

How much do maritime lawyers make?

Maritime law jobs pay an average annual salary of $118,596, according to the Law Crossing legal website. Salaries vary by location. For example, Law Crossing reports that maritime attorneys in Los Angeles earn $164,000, while their counterparts in Baltimore earned $98,000.

What is maritime law?

Maritime lawyers specialize in maritime law, also called admiralty law. Maritime attorneys handle legal matters regulated by U.S. and international maritime laws, including commerce at sea and in navigable waterways. Maritime law also applies to legal issues pertaining to docks and marinas.

What do maritime attorneys do?

They typically work as associates in a law firm under the tutelage of more experienced attorneys who have experience in admiralty law.

Why are marine lawyers so stressful?

Marine lawyer jobs can also be stressful because of competing deadlines for filing motions and briefs for multiple clients.

Why are there so few lawyers that specialize in maritime law?

There aren’t many attorneys that specialize in maritime law because there’s a lot to master to practice in the field effectively. Lawyers who specialize in the field tend to gravitate towards the coasts.

Why are maritime lawyers important?

Maritime lawyers make the seas safer. They hold wrongdoers accountable. They help people get the compensation that they deserve when there’s a breach of contract, unpaid wages or a personal injury on the seas. Maritime lawyers also help develop new maritime laws. Maritime law is complex. It involves a variety of civil laws including contract law, personal injury law, employment disputes and even lost treasure. For the attorneys who practice it, maritime law can provide a sound and challenging career.

What laws do Admiralty lawyers have to know?

They must know what laws apply among the myriad of international agreements, federal laws and state laws that exist that might apply to the case. Admiralty lawyers must know how to successfully advocate for their clients using the rules of procedure and the body of law that applies to the case.

What is the area of law?

The area of law governs how people interact and do business on the waters of the world. Also called admiralty law, maritime law primarily governs activities on international waters. However, there are also laws that apply to the waters in and near each country. Generally, each country applies their own laws to inland waters like lakes and rivers.

What are the laws of the maritime industry?

However, maritime law affects everyone who travels on the high seas. Maritime laws regulate a wide variety of activities and possible events including commerce, navigation, lost cargo, leisure travel and the interaction between employers and seamen.

What is the law that applies to a ship?

In U.S. jurisdiction, U.S. laws apply. Beyond the limits of U.S. waters, the law that applies is the law where the ship is registered. Even if a company markets to American passengers, their ships may be registered in another country. Criminal justice is a unique challenge when crimes occur on the high seas.

How far does the Coast Guard have jurisdiction?

The U.S. Coast Guard enforces maritime law within its jurisdiction. The United States has jurisdiction up to 12 miles from its coast. The United States has limited jurisdiction for another 12 miles. The Coast Guard can board vessels and investigate illegal activity in these areas.