what can you do with a juris doctor degree other than be a lawyer?

by Mr. Keshawn Oberbrunner 4 min read

Individuals who earn a law degree in the U.S. usually decide to become lawyers. However, a Juris Doctor degree can sometimes help people pursue careers in other areas, such as becoming a law librarian, working in compliance management or in journalism.

J.D. Preferred Career Options
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) ...
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ...
  • Human Resource Managers. ...
  • Insurance Adjuster. ...
  • Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediator) ...
  • Tax Attorney. ...
  • Business Development Professionals. ...
  • Compliance Careers.

Full Answer

What can I do with a Juris Doctor degree?

Nov 05, 2014 · Your degree can help if you plan on working with a non-governmental organization. After all, a lot of them work in countries where knowledge of the law is crucial to their mandate. Government and Politics This may be obvious but having a JD can help you navigate the often murky waters of the law especially if you find yourself becoming opinionated.

What can you do with a law degree other than law?

There is a lot that you can do with a law degree besides being a lawyer. Careers in consulting, marketing, or journalism are just a few professional tracks to consider. A non-legal career is a great option for J.D. graduates who want to leverage the …

How long does it take to become a Juris Doctor?

Aug 31, 2018 · However, a Juris Doctor degree can sometimes help people pursue careers in other areas, such as becoming a law librarian, working in compliance management or in journalism. Those who do pursue a...

What do you call a lawyer with a doctorate?

In most programs, you'll be able to concentrate your studies on fields that include dispute resolution, criminal law, intellectual property law, tax law or family law. Some universities offer a J.D. as part of a joint degree program that also confers a graduate-level degree in business administration, environmental science or social work.

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What can you do with a law degree outside of law?

Law school graduates may work in bank trust departments, brokerage firms, insurance companies, development offices for preparatory schools, hospitals and universities. Often an undergraduate major in accounting or finance would be helpful as well as tax law classes, in addition to a legal education.

Is a JD worth getting?

The highest 10% of lawyers earned median annual earnings of more than $208,000 in 2019. Some law school graduates forgo serving as a lawyer in order to have more work-life balance. There are many jobs you can do with a law degree and legal-related roles where having a J.D. may be an asset.

What can I do other than be a lawyer?

Keep in mind your career goals, and that this list is not exhaustive, as you read on.
  • Arbitrator. ...
  • Paralegal/Legal Assistant. ...
  • E-Discovery. ...
  • Law Professor. ...
  • Compliance Specialist. ...
  • Human Resources. ...
  • Legal Marketer. ...
  • Jury Consultant.
Jun 27, 2018

What are 3 similar jobs to a lawyer?

Alternative jobs for lawyers
  • Paralegal.
  • Investigator.
  • Investment consultant.
  • Mediator.
  • Fund manager.
  • Financial analyst.
  • Realtor.
  • Labor relations specialist.
Feb 22, 2021

Is juris doctor a good degree?

With a Juris Doctor qualification, you'll have everything you need to step into a wide variety of areas of law including corporate law, property law, human rights law and legal counsel. However, the Juris Doctor is also an excellent postgraduate degree to take your career to the next level.Aug 30, 2021

Is law school worth it if you don't want to be a lawyer?

It's true: you can go to law school even if you don't want to be a lawyer. A JD can turbocharge your career prospects and teach you incredibly versatile and in-demand skills.

How much do paralegals make?

$56,610 per year
According to 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), legal assistants/paralegals earn an average salary of $56,610 per year ($27.22 per hour). Average pay will vary based on the state in which you are employed, the education you've earned and level of experience in the field.

What type of law is least stressful?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:
  • Real estate law.
  • Intellectual property law.
  • High Street family law.
  • Government lawyers.
  • Working In-House.
Jul 9, 2021

Is law a high paying degree?

When you look at a few of the typical legal careers, as well as alternative careers with a law degree, you can see a potential for high pay. Attorneys, for example, have a median salary over $126,000. Judges have a median salary of $124,000, while a skilled legal consultant could earn a salary over $100,000.

What are the 7 types of laws?

CLASSIFICATIONS OF LAW
  • Public and Private Law.
  • Civil Law and Criminal Law.
  • Substantive and Procedural Law.
  • Municipal and International Law.
  • Written and Unwritten Law.
  • Common Law and Equity.
Mar 11, 2016

Which field of law is best?

Highest Paying Fields of Law
  1. Law Firms/Corporate Counsel. Of course, law firms would come to this list. ...
  2. Litigation/Trial Advocates. ...
  3. Judicial Services/Civil Services. ...
  4. Academia/Professor of Law. ...
  5. Specializations- Cyber Law, Banking Law, Intellectual Property Law, etc. ...
  6. Judicial Clerkship.
Jan 7, 2019

Which kind of lawyer makes the most money?

Types of Lawyers That Make the Most Money
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000;
  • Corporate lawyer: $118,000;
  • Employment lawyer: $88,000;
  • Real estate attorney: $87,000;
  • Divorce attorney: $86,000;
  • Immigration attorney: $85,000;
  • Estate attorney: $84,000;
  • Public defender: $66,000.

How much do lawyers make?

A survey of lawyers by PayScale.com showed the following correlation between salary and years on the job: 1 0-5 years: $70,000 2 5-10 years: $98,000 3 10-20 years: $119,000 4 20 years: $139,000

Do lawyers use the abbreviation "esquire"?

Even though the Juris Doctor degree is a professional doctorate, lawyers usually do not use the title of "Dr." before their given names. Instead, American lawyers typically use the abbreviation for "esquire" (Esq.) after their names in correspondence and on business cards.

What is a law librarian?

Law librarianship: Law firms rely on law librarians to perform legal research and to manage a firm's law library. Librarians in the united states generally hold a master's degree in library science from a school accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).

What degree do you need to be a librarian?

Librarians in the united states generally hold a master's degree in library science from a school accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). While having a J.D. is not usually an absolute requirement for working in a law firm library, a law school librarian's situation is a bit different.

How long does it take to become a paralegal?

Paralegals provide assistance and support to attorneys. Educational programs for paralegals vary in length and scope; some may only require a year or two to complete, but they can offer a strong foundation in legal subjects, for a fraction of the cost of law school.

What does a hearing officer do?

Hearing officers or administrative law judges work on behalf of regulatory agencies to hear and decide cases involving regulatory issues and administrative disputes. In most cases, a law degree is required for these positions, though that isn't always the case.

What is a Juris Doctor degree?

In a Juris Doctor degree program, you'll receive a broad education that emphasizes all aspects of the legal system. In most programs, you'll be able to concentrate your studies on fields that include dispute resolution, criminal law, intellectual property law, tax law or family law.

What is a law librarian?

As a law librarian, you'll be responsible for maintaining the collection of relevant legislative documents, court decisions and government regulations used by law schools, legal firms or government organizations. You'll organize and maintain a legal library and provide research assistance to those in need of specific documents or cases.

What is a jury consultant?

Jury Consultant. Lawyers rely on consultants to select a jury for high-stakes cases and to help them evaluate human behavior and predict juror behavior. Jury consultants often have a background in sociology or the like. This job does not require a law degree, but it is helpful.

What is the job of an arbitrator?

If your favorite aspect of learning law was mediating conflict between two parties, this is the path for you. Acting as an informal judge, an arbitrator helps move a case along before it goes to trial. A Juris Doctor degree is not required, but this job is often held by someone with a law degree.

What is a legal marketer?

Responsible for client relations, reputation management, and much more, a legal marketer is the marketing expert in a firm with extensive knowledge about the services they are promoting. Having a JD is not essential, but it helps.

What is compliance specialist?

Charged with ensuring that a company is following all policies and standards, a compliance specialist understands the legal ins and outs of a variety of different departments within a business. A graduate who has earned a bachelor degree in legal studies or a Juris Doctor, and has an eye for detail are both in the right place.

Law Firm Jobs for Non-Lawyers

Law firm jobs for non-lawyers do exist and encompass a wide array of opportunities. Professionals in such roles work on legal issues even though they do not argue in court.

Non-Legal Jobs With a Law Degree

A deep and nuanced understanding of the law can come in handy for professionals across all industries seeking nontraditional legal careers.

What is a Juris Doctor?

In academia. In the United States, the Juris Doctor is the degree that prepares the recipient to enter the law profession (as do the M.D. or D.O. in the medical profession and the D.D.S or D.D.M. in the dental profession).

What does "JD" mean in law?

In the United States, the professional doctorate in law may be conferred in Latin or in English as Juris Doctor (sometimes shown on Latin diplomas in the accusative form Juris Doctorem) and at some law schools Doctor of Law (J.D. or JD), or Doctor of Jurisprudence (also abbreviated JD or J.D.). " Juris Doctor " literally means "teacher of law", while the Latin for "Doctor of Jurisprudence" – Jurisprudentiae Doctor – literally means "teacher of legal knowledge".

What is a JD?

The Juris Doctor degree ( J.D. or JD ), also known as Doctor of Law or Doctor of Jurisprudence ( J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur ), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. In Australia, Canada, the United States, and some other common law countries, the Juris Doctor is earned by completing law school.

What is LL.B. in law?

Originating from the 19th century Harvard movement for the scientific study of law, and first denominated LL.B., it is a degree that in most common law jurisdictions is the primary professional preparation for lawyers.

Does Wisconsin require a bar exam?

The state of Wisconsin, however, permits the graduates of its two law schools to practice law in that state, and in its state courts, without having to take its bar exam – a practice called "diploma privilege" – provided they complete all courses required for the diploma privilege.

What was the first law school in Europe?

The first university in Europe, the University of Bologna, was founded as a school of law by four famous legal scholars in the 11th century who were students of the glossator school in that city. This served as the model for other law schools of the Middle Ages, and other early universities such as the University of Padua. The first academic degrees may have been doctorates in civil law ( doctores legum) followed by canon law ( doctores decretorum ); these were not professional degrees but rather indicated that their holders had been approved to teach at the universities. While Bologna granted only doctorates, preparatory degrees (bachelor's and licences) were introduced in Paris and then in the English universities.

Why did the colonists resist lawyers?

Initially there was much resistance to lawyers in colonial North America because of the role they had played in hierarchical England, but slowly the colonial governments started using the services of professionals trained in the Inns of Court in London, and by the end of the American Revolution there was a functional bar in each state. Due to an initial distrust of a profession open only to the elite in England, as institutions for training developed in what would become the United States they emerged as quite different from those in England.

Do attorneys work for clients?

Most attorneys (and law firms) will work for any client with the money to pay. While some attorneys will certainly draw the line at defending rapists, child molesters, or murderers, they will happily defend corporations, white collar criminals and other evildoers all day.

Why do people become attorneys?

People generally become attorneys because they are motivated, intelligent and have great work ethics.

Is there too much competition for attorneys?

There is so much competition, in fact, that for most attorneys, it often makes a lot of sense to choose an alternative legal or non-legal career.

What is legal editor?

A legal editor has the same basic duties as an editor, but focuses on editing and proofreading mostly for legal publications. If you have a fine sense of detail, and a canny sense of what writing is quality and worth pursuing, consider using your background in law to be a legal editor. 7. Legal Recruiter:

What is a temporary judge?

The private judge, or temporary judge, is an attorney appointed to those involved, with Court consent. He or she has the same responsibility as a courthouse judge, and must know and follow the judicial code of ethics. Such a judge may offer binding input or simply advise, depending on how the appointment is drawn.

What is the job of a law librarian?

Their job is to maintain the library’s collection of legal-related texts and materials, assisting lawyers and law students with their research. The position requires a graduate degree, and none is more fitting than a JD.

Is law school a grind?

Law school is a grind, and surviving it can take every last ounce of your energy. What’s more, upon graduation, even if you still want to be a lawyer, the job market has more JD holders than open positions, thus causing a tooth-and-nail fight for the few positions that are open. The days of a JD ensuring financial security in the legal field are over due to law firms, judges and the government downsizing to adjust to the economic climate. Fortunately, a law degree can bring forth many additional opportunities beyond just becoming a lawyer. If you’re open to a new career path you previously may not have considered, then peruse the list of the following jobs and see if one piques your interest. Note: median salaries (all but one are ranges) are from PayScale and apply to workers with 10-19 years of experience, so this is what you can achieve with a few years under your belt.

What do lobbyists do?

Employed by public interest groups, trade organizations and PR firms, they utilize their contacts with lawmakers to persuade them to push certain policies. Lobbyists must be well-versed on the issues and possess excellent communication skills, neither of which are problems for most aspiring lawyers.

Why are compliance officers important?

With state and federal regulations constantly changing, it can be a difficult task to ensure a business is operating within established standards. That’s why compliance officers are so valuable, especially given the fate of institutions such as Enron. Of course, each new field you enter requires its own unique knowledge and skills, which can be gained by researching the concerns of regulators and enrolling in courses in data processing.

What is the job of an executive recruiter?

The duties of an executive recruiter include composing job descriptions, screening candidates, meeting with them and extending an offer to the one who’s most qualified. The entire process is overseen by the executive recruiter, who has accumulated experience in recruiting prior to landing the position.

What does a procurement manager do?

A procurement manager purchases commodities, goods and services on behalf of the organization for which they work, enabling it to continue to operate efficiently. They must work within the limitations of a budget and determine the best quality and quantity of the objects they wish to purchase.

What is public policy analyst?

Public policy analysts research and find solutions for the political issues about which they’re most passionate. Working for research firms, think tanks and interest groups, their objective is to craft viable policy solutions that’ll facilitate change in their area of interest.

What is a Juris Doctor?

A Juris Doctor degree is a professional graduate-level law degree and one of the most popular options for those who want to practice law. Those who want to pursue a higher-level degree will typically earn a Juris Doctor first.

What are the different types of law degrees?

Depending on your end goal, there are different types of law degrees you can consider, including: 1 Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies (BSLS) 2 Master degree options 3 Juris Doctor (J.D.) 4 Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)

What is a masters in legal studies?

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) An MLS is designed for people who want to work in the legal field in a larger capacity than a bachelor's degree can provide, yet do not want to be a practicing attorney. This degree will provide you with legal knowledge so you can work in compliance, federal regulations or as a consultant.

What is MLS in law?

An MLS is designed for people who want to work in the legal field in a larger capacity than a bachelor's degree can provide, yet do not want to be a practicing attorney. This degree will provide you with legal knowledge so you can work in compliance, federal regulations or as a consultant. This same degree may also be referred to as a Master of Science in Law (MSL).

What is MLS degree?

An MLS is designed for people who want to work in the legal field in a larger capacity than a bachelor's degree can provide, yet do not want to be a practicing attorney . This degree will provide you with legal knowledge so you can work in compliance, federal regulations or as a consultant. This same degree may also be referred to as a Master ...

How much does a probation officer make?

1. Probation officer. National average salary: $48,679 per year . Primary duties: A probation officer works closely with individuals on probation to monitor their progress, make sure they don't commit new crimes and connect them with helpful resources and rehabilitation programs. 2.

What is the job of a probation officer?

Primary duties: A probation officer works closely with individuals on probation to monitor their progress, make sure they don't commit new crimes and connect them with helpful resources and rehabilitation programs.

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