what to do with a law degree besides be a lawyer

What Can I Do With a Law Degree Besides Be a Lawyer?

• Professor or Instructor. Some legal students prepare during law school for teaching careers, while others gain work experience and return to academia later in their careers to teach.
• Journalist or Consultant. Your writing, analysis, and research skills prepare you for a career in writing or consulting. ...
• Conflict Resolution. ...
• Policy and Politics. ...

Full Answer

What careers can you get with a law degree?

Career Guide: Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree

• Computer Programmer. ...
• Finance & Accounting Manager. ...
• Graphic Designer. ...
• Medical Transcriptionist. ...
• Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Working as a physical therapist assistant is a job you can get without a degree. ...
• Project Coordinator. ...
• Quantity Surveyor. ...
• Social Worker. ...
• Social media manager. ...
• Senior Software Engineer. ...

What else you can do with a law degree?

The obvious go-to career choice for anyone who graduates with a law degree is that of a lawyer. Students generally have an idea of what they want to specialise in before they graduate, but there is always the option of working or owning a general practice that permits you to handle a diverse array of cases.

What can you do with a law degree besides law?

What can you do with a Law Degree Besides be a Lawyer. J.D Preferred Career Options. Certified public accountant. Chief financial officer CFO. Human resource managers. Insurance adjuster. Mediator, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Tax attorney. Business development professionals.

What do you need to do to get into law school?

^{How to Get into Law School: Requirements, Timelines, Tips & Everything Else}

1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree. The first step (after getting accepted to a college or university) is to earn your undergraduate degree.
2. Take the LSAT. For fall admission to law school, you need to take the LSAT by December at the latest. ...
3. Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required by most American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools.
4. Submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to CAS. Around August or September, contact your college to request that your transcripts be sent to CAS. ...
5. Apply to law schools. Law school applications are fairly straightforward. However, you will also need to submit a personal statement and sometimes a resume.
6. Wait for a response. Once you’ve ensured that all required documents are submitted to the law schools of your choice, take a well-deserved break.

What can I do other than be a lawyer?

Alternative jobs for lawyersParalegal.Investigator.Investment consultant.Mediator.Fund manager.Financial analyst.Realtor.Labor relations specialist.More items...•

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.

Which occupations pay better than being a lawyer?

Who made more than lawyers? Doctors topped the list and were followed by orthodontists and dentists, chief executive officer, and petroleum engineer.

Is med school harder than law school?

In short, medical school is hands-on and requires a lot of memorization. Law school requires analytical work and critical thinking. Law school requires heavy reading and writing while medical school requires learning about problems through clinical studies and hands-on training.

What is the average law school debt?

approximately $165,000According to the American Bar Association: The average law school graduate owes approximately $165,000 in educational debt upon graduating. More than 95 percent of students take out loans to attend law school.

What can I do with a law degree without passing the bar?

If someone hasn't gone to law school, but has an interest in law, he or she may work as a communications manager or chief marketing officer, or in functional roles for social media, market research or pricing strategy, Roach says. Business school graduates can be especially coveted by law firms for non-attorney roles.

How much do paralegals make?

$56,610 per yearAccording 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 law job makes the most money?

The Highest Paying Legal JobsTrial Lawyers. Trial lawyers are among the highest paid legal professionals in the world. ... Intellectual Property Lawyers. ... Tax Attorneys. ... Real Estate Attorneys. ... Judges. ... Members of Congress. ... Law School Professor. ... Litigation Support Director.More items...•

What are some alternatives to becoming a lawyer?

10 Alternatives to Becoming a Lawyer: The Flexibility of a Legal Education. What does one learn in law school? Yes, law, okay. But the principles of law are only the tip of the legal iceberg. Law school is all about building character and gaining a trove of life skills. Life skills that come in handy for law school graduates seeking alternative ...

What to do if you went to law school and decided not to practice law?

If you went to law school and decided not to practice law, make sure that your potential employer knows you aren’t looking for these jobs just because you can’t find a job as a lawyer.

What is the importance of law school?

Law school is all about building character and gaining a trove of life skills. Life skills that come in handy for law school graduates seeking alternative careers to a becoming a lawyer. The percentage of law students who end up working as lawyers has fluctuated significantly in the past decade. Around forty percent of law graduates do not practice ...

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 are the skills you gained during your legal education?

Writing, negotiating and public speaking are valuable, but it’s not only the skills you gained during your legal education that will help you in both the legal and general workforce — it’s the character traits you built. Committing yourself to your education can be a challenge and if your goal is to earn an advanced degree, especially a Juris Doctor (JD), than the word “challenge” is an understatement. School (especially law school) is a place where one learns resilience and to push past perceived limits. It’s a place where you become you.

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 percentage of law graduates do not practice law?

Around forty percent of law graduates do not practice law. This is partly due to the economy, with firms hiring fewer in-house lawyers, but it is also because more and more students are realizing the value of a law degree in countless other professions — from HR to government to business to teaching.

How many years of law school do I need to become a lawyer?

Law Degree Jobs without Passing the Bar Exam. To qualify as a J.D. holder, you must complete three years of law school. Once you have completed this step, you will be able to sit for the bar exam to become a traditional practicing lawyer.

How much does a law professor make?

Law professors are needed at colleges and professional schools. According to the BLS, professors who teach law classes and are also engaged in research, earned a median annual salary of $113,530 in 2019 .

How much does a legal writer make?

On average, technical writers make around $72,850 a year, according to 2019 BLS data.

What does a tax attorney do?

They represent individuals and use trusts, gifts, and various tax planning structures to reduce the burdens of income taxes and estate taxes. They can also represent clients if problems arise with business ownership and lawsuits involving the IRS.

Why do companies rely on law firms?

Companies rely on law firms and in-house counsel to help them boost their competitiveness. Many legal technology positions require a J.D. holder who understands the current digital legal landscape, can provide legal services and has the ability to establish credibility during product pitches to potential customers.

Do I need a bachelors to become a patent examiner?

You don’t need to be a practicing lawyer to work within the U.S. patent or trademark office. A bachelor’s is the minimum educational requirement. This profession also calls for discipline, focus, and above all, reasoning. A patent examiner reviews legal documents, files paperwork, writes legal office actions and researches invention information. Pay for patent examiners varies widely.

Do employers consider a JD?

So, employers will usually consider an individual who has a J.D. but hasn’t passed the bar exam. A candidate’s knowledge of the law, acquired through a J.D. program, and/or experience in a law-related capacity are what is deemed useful within the available role. Here are some J.D. preferred careers to consider:

What to do if you have been through law school?

Having been through law school and possibly some form of employment, you may have valuable contacts in your network. Use them to your advantage and ask if anyone knows of nonlegal opportunities that may interest you. Even if your connections are in the legal industry, they may introduce you to employers in other fields.

What are the duties of a paralegal?

Primary duties: Paralegals use their knowledge of the law to perform various legal tasks for lawyers. Employed by lawyers, corporations or other entities, paralegals draft legal documents, do legal research and attend client interviews. They also conduct investigations, though they don't represent clients in court as a lawyer does.

What is the job of a realtor?

Primary duties: A realtor is a licensed real estate salesperson who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors guide their clients through the transaction process of buying real estate. They also answer client questions, serve as a point of communication between buyers and sellers and keep the transaction process moving along.

What are the primary duties of an investigator?

Primary duties: An investigator or detective collects evidence and information regarding a crime. They have many responsibilities, including speaking to witnesses, searching databases and arresting criminals. They have strong attention to detail and use their analytical skills to help them solve a variety of cases. 3.

Why do lawyers rely on jury consultants?

Lawyers rely on jury consultants to gain a winning edge in high-stakes jury trials. These consultants provide insight into juror behavior, and they help attorneys craft arguments and trial themes designed to persuade jurors.

How much does a paralegal charge?

Paralegal services are typically billed at 25% to 50% of an attorney's hourly rate. Many paralegals perform the same services an attorney does, but paralegals are prohibited from giving legal advice or negotiating fees for services when they don't have law degrees.

Why do people use mediators?

More individuals and corporations are turning to mediators, also known as arbitrators or conciliators, to settle their legal disputes outside the courtroom. Mediators are growing in number and popularity as litigation costs skyrocket and the field of alternative dispute resolution expands.

What is LSP in law?

The increased automation of legal processes has also spawned another occupation in the field of law: the litigation support professional (LSP). This cutting-edge profession combines the legal knowledge of paralegals with the technical skills of information technology professionals.