what to do with a law degree besides being a lawyer

by Flavio Price 9 min read

  • 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. Use your legal knowledge and your communication and negotiation skills, honed in law school and legal practice, for a career in advocacy or conflict resolution.
  • Policy and Politics. Your legal knowledge makes you a valuable asset for a think tank or policy watch organization. ...

Full Answer

What careers can you get with a law degree?

A law degree, or Juris Doctor (JD), is extremely versatile. For those who choose to get a law degree but do not want to take the bar exam and become a lawyer, there are endless career paths available. If you want to work in the legal field you could become a law professor, a legal writer, or a mediator. Surprisingly, magistrate judges in most jurisdictions do not need to be lawyers; a …

What can you teach with a law degree?

Mar 23, 2018 · Many law graduates go on to pursue a career in politics, either as an elected official or as a member of their support team. This can involve policy development, speech writing, PR and a range of other activities.

What else you can do with a law degree?

Feb 22, 2021 · 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. Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) An S.J.D. degree is one of the most advanced degrees you can get in the legal field.

What can you do with a law degree besides law?

I'm paying for law school anyway and if you really hate it, you can go and teach. You'll be given better teaching jobs if you have a law degree. You just have to take up law, you don't have to take the bar or work as a lawyer, just take up law. I took a qualifying examination at the French Embassy in Manila.

What can you do instead of being 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.More items...•Jun 27, 2018

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.

Is being a lawyer worth it anymore?

According to a Gallup poll of over 4,000 adults who obtained a law degree between 2000 and 2015, only 23% said obtaining a law degree was worth the cost. 1 With the average law school debt coming in around $145,500, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Can you go to law school without a lawyer?

Only four states—California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington—allow potential law students to skip law school entirely. Three others—Maine, New York, and Wyoming—require some law school experience, but they allow an apprenticeship to substitute for one or two years of law school.Dec 2, 2019

How to become a lawyer in the US?

1. Earn your bachelor's degree. You will need to earn your bachelor's degree before being able to earn a law degree. Choose a college or university that offers a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies or a comparable program, make sure it's accredited and earn competitive grades in your courses. Consider completing internships ...

How do I get into law school?

Once your LSAT scores have posted, you'll want to get accepted into law school . This includes researching and finding the best law school for you based on factors such as program availability and rankings, cost of attendance and ABA accreditation. Before applying, check the admission requirements to make sure you qualify. To prepare for a career in the legal field, study for exams and join networking groups.

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.

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 a JD?

Juris Doctor (J.D.) 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.

How much does a law enforcement officer make?

Law enforcement officer. National average salary: $51,876 per year. Primary duties: A law enforcement officer keeps a community and its citizens safe from crime. They may do this by patrolling certain public areas, issuing tickets and warnings to those who are breaking the law and responding to emergency calls.

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 primary job of an investigator?

Primary duties: An investigator or det ective 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.

What is investment consultant?

Primary duties: Investment consultants are investment professionals who help companies and individuals with their financial goals. Using their financial skills, they also develop investment strategies. Investment consultants work in a variety of workplaces such as banks, investment firms or simply on their own.

What are the primary duties of a mediator?

Primary duties: Mediators help two parties agree on a conflicting matter. They aim for civil communication and a timely and cost-effective agreement. Mediators also inform both parties of the mediation process, interview both parties, facilitate communication and answer questions.

What is the job of a fund manager?

Primary duties: Fund managers oversee the management of a company's funds. They also manage analysts, perform research and make various strategic financial decisions such as those regarding stocks, bonds and other fund securities.

What are the duties of a financial analyst?

Primary duties: Financial analysts perform various duties related to the analysis of a company or organization's finances. They identify financial trends, offer advice to the management team, reconcile transactions and maintain a company's database.

Who graduated from law school?

Cynthia McFadden, currently the senior legal and investigative correspondent for NBC news, graduated from Columbia Law School. Jeff Greenfield, TV journalist (CBS-2007-11) and current political analyst on NBC, graduated from Yale Law School. These are just two examples where law graduates have utilized their learned skills to synthesize ideas, information, and communicate it clearly to an audience. Just as an attorney would in a court room.

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

The same qualities required to be great lawyer must be mastered to excel in broadcast journalism: 1 Judgment: draw reasonable, logical conclusions or assumptions from limited information 2 Analytical skills: distill large piece of information into something manageable 3 Research skills: able to research quickly and effectively 4 People skills: be personable, persuasive and able to read others

What is a legal consultant?

A legal consultant is someone who provides expert and professional legal advice on a contractual basis to businesses and/or individuals. Legal consultants can provide advice on a number of important matters depending on what their consulting focus is, and common subject matters include corporate law, real estate law, employment law, and medical law. This profession provides individuals with opportunities to utilize their legal skills in ways not traditionally associated with firm practice. This kind of lawyer may also advise their clients on non-legal matters. However, the basis of their advice is always the law or precedent case law which helps the client to make a better deal or run their business better.

Where did Grisham go to law school?

Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. He practiced criminal law for about a decade and served in the House of Representatives in Mississippi from January 1984 to September 1990.

What is estate law?

Estate law classes include topics like asset management, estate planning, family law, taxation, real estate law, and trusts. In order to be most effective, estate law attorneys must have a thorough grasp of state and federal tax laws, trusts, wills, property and real estate.

Who is Marjorie Liu?

It requires not only creativity to produce a novel but also good fortune to be published. Marjorie Liu, graduate of Wisconsin Law School in 2003, who practiced law provides the following advice: “I loved law school. Did not like being a lawyer.”. She has since penned 21 issues of Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men comics.

What is the job of a real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers serve two primary functions in the real estate world. They either act as litigators or handle the legal aspects of real estate transactions. Real estate lawyers deal in real property and mediate real estate transactions gone sour. A real estate lawyer must obtain a juris doctor (JD) degree from a school accredited by the American Bar Association along with an attorney’s license through passing the bar exam. Some law schools may provide the option of specializing one’s studies around real estate law. After graduation, continuing education may be required yearly or every three years as it is so in forty-five states.

What skills do lawyers need to succeed?

A lawyer's ability to deliver an impassioned argument will help in debates and speeches on the campaign trail, while an understanding of the law and the way government is structured, as well as skills like negotiation and analytic ability, will help lawyers succeed once elected.

What are the advantages of being a lawyer?

Advantages include being your own boss and a schedule that's entirely dictated by you. Must possess a resilient, can-do attitude and long-term vision.

What is an arbitrator?

Arbitrators act as a third party to help two parties settle disputes out of court. Every state has different rules for becoming an arbitrator, but as a lawyer-adjacent career, you should be able to become an arbitrator with relative ease.

What is investment banking?

A: Investment banks typically send multi-disciplined teams to work with clients on investment projects. These teams are a good place for an attorney with finance or business experience. As you become acquainted with all aspects of the project financing process, you can take more responsibility within the group.

What is management consulting?

A: Management consultants advise businesses how to run their companies. There are a wide range of management consulting firms specializing in helping clients with certain problems and situations. Sometimes a consultants work involves very short-term tactical tasks like helping to launch a new product.

What do paralegals need to know?

Since paralegals take on much of the legwork, they require substantive knowledge of the law and legal procedures, which is attained through education and training. Put simply, you still have a career in law, but you don’t have the pressures that a typical lawyer faces. 3. Legal Secretary.

What are the two types of legal writers?

First, there are two types of legal writers: the news writer and the brief writer . The former will report or analyse on any current event issues that deal with the law, from a murder trial to a political scandal to legal troubles for a multinational corporation.

What is a paralegal?

Being a paralegal is a rewarding and critical position in any law office, corporation or governmental agency. This position performs legal work that the lawyer is responsible for to prepare him or her for their case. Since paralegals take on much of the legwork, they require substantive knowledge of the law and legal procedures, which is attained through education and training.

What is a fixed term lecturer?

In the UK, a fixed-term lecturer is someone who teaches academic and vocational subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students, teaching the theories, requirements and criteria of the curriculum. The equivalent in the US is that of a professor or assistant professor without tenure – many universities will also refer to graduate students in law departments as sessional lecturers.

What is a law library?

A law library is a treasure trove of books, documents and other facets of legal history to better inform you of the law. With this house of law, you can properly research past cases, precedents established by judges and important historical accounts of the justice system and its evolution.

Why is it important to have a management consultant?

It is an important service for any private firm that has fallen on hard times from inefficient and inept management, whether because of changing economic landscapes or a team unable to balance the books.

What does a legal editor do?

Second, legal editors can complete a variety of tasks, such as copyediting, content editing, proofreading and fact-checking. These duties can be performed for news writing and brief writing. 9.