Career Paths for Law Graduates
In addition, the list of jobs for a person with a JD degree includes the practice of law in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard as a military lawyer in the JAG Corps. Alternatively, you can build your career in international real estate law and work as a patent attorney, agent, employee, designer or examiner. Note, however, that you will need special permission from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for this role. Large companies face constant litigation and regulatory action. In these cases, a company often has to submit millions of documents to the counterparty. Before these documents are handed over to the other party, companies hire lawyers or law graduates to review the documents to determine their relevance and protect sensitive information. In general, this process is called electronic recognition (or e-discovery for short). While some document review cases cost as little as $25 an hour, many pay much more, especially for the examination of specialized documents that require foreign language experience or technical training for patent cases. Given the interdisciplinary nature of law, the skills students develop and the knowledge they gain by completing a JD program can help them attract employers working in a variety of industries and sectors. Some of the areas where law graduates can share their knowledge and skills are: Although you have many more job opportunities to choose from once you have enough experience, there is still a good selection of beginner roles to choose from. In addition to the level of experience they require, junior positions may also vary depending on the level of involvement in the legal proceedings they involve.
You can begin a lawyer`s career path as a clerk, court messenger, judicial law consultant, case writer, document programmer, legislative assistant, legal transcriber, post office clerk, trainee lawyer or with a role as a paralegal. If you`re considering earning a law degree or are about to get your law degree, it can be reassuring to know that there are many different careers you can pursue with a law degree that will help you get the most out of your education. As a CEO, you will have the opportunity to use your knowledge, drive and understanding of the legal profession to improve a business. Compensation is highly dependent on performance, but the richest 10% earn more than $208,000 a year, making it one of the highest-paid alternative careers with a law degree. These are good jobs for former lawyers because they allow you to use your knowledge, skills and ambition in a competitive environment. Clerks are a subset of government lawyers, but deserve a separate mention. Depending on the structure of a state`s justice system, judicial internships are available at the federal and state levels. Clerks conduct research and draft memoranda and expert opinions for judges. Often, these intellectually challenging and prestigious positions are short-term. Young law graduates often spend a year or two on a legal internship before starting their legal career. Most law professors are hired after an exceptional legal career.
However, there are many educational opportunities for graduates of law schools that do not require a long legal career. Many community colleges hire law graduates to teach paralegal courses. Law graduates with a strong background in writing can also find teaching assignments for legal writing and research – often in law schools that use teachers for these courses. There are also teaching assignments for LSAT preparation courses or bar review courses. Finally, online legal education is gaining popularity and could offer another teaching opportunity for the law school graduate. Each year, approximately 40,000 students graduate from accredited law schools and enter the job market with a Juris Doctor. Most – nearly 90% – will pass a bar exam and look for a job as a lawyer within two years of graduation. But as competition for legal jobs intensifies, many law school graduates are turning to alternative careers that don`t require a lawyer`s license, but benefit from the valuable training of law school. Law school can also go well with your bachelor`s major for excellent job opportunities. Here are 10 examples: In this article, we`ve done our best to answer the somewhat complicated question „What can you do with a law degree?” and give an overview of the typical careers that law graduates are eligible for. In addition, we have made sure to give an overview of alternative legal careers and non-traditional law-related jobs that we suggest you explore. One of the most notable perks is the beautiful paycheck that accompanies the majority of legal careers.
Are you looking for a legal job without passing the bar? There are a few options on this list that also get a great paycheck. If you look at some of the typical legal careers as well as alternative careers with a law degree, you can see high compensation potential. Lawyers, for example, have a median salary of more than $126,000. Judges have a median salary of $124,000, while an experienced legal advisor could earn a salary of more than $100,000. Graduates of the Faculty of Law can work in banking trust departments, brokerage companies, insurance companies, development offices for preparatory schools, hospitals and universities. Often, a bachelor`s major in accounting or finance would be useful, as would tax law courses, in addition to legal training. To help you narrow down your options, here are 20 of the best careers you can pursue with a law degree. Paying for experienced and qualified paralegals can be great, as the richest 10% earn more than $85,000 a year. Their salary is significantly lower than that of a lawyer, but this profession is often seen as an entry point into other legal careers.
A quarter of law graduates work as lawyers (21%) or associate professionals (5%). Companies employ many lawyers. They also use law graduates for all kinds of work that touches on legal issues. Enterprise contracts are complex and crucial for any business. Reviewing contracts requires a thorough understanding of business law, but also a strong understanding of reading and analytical skills – two skills that most law students possess. Contract administrators also work hand in hand with lawyers, so sharing the same vocabulary is also critical to success. Contract managers are also reasonably well paid with an average salary of over $70,000. Considering that legal issues are integrated into almost every aspect of modern life, it`s no surprise that a law degree provides a solid foundation for a variety of careers, in addition to simply becoming a lawyer. Legal careers come in many forms. Yes, there are the „typical” careers, including work as a paralegal, lawyer or judge. But there are also alternative careers with a law degree.
These jobs bring a new level of commitment to your career, and they could be the right choice for your future. Whether you`ve already earned a law degree or are simply considering this training, you need to understand alternative careers with a law degree so you can make the best choice for your future. Roles that benefit from the skills and knowledge gained during law school can be defined as alternative law-related jobs. If you want to build your legal career but don`t necessarily show up in a courtroom, here are some options we`ll offer. Magistrate judges are the first line of justice in most state judicial systems. For most jurisdictions, there are no specific requirements to be a judge, as most are appointed by court administrators. However, law school graduates are excellent judges because they often have a solid understanding of the criminal process and feel comfortable after court proceedings. Judges` salaries vary considerably by jurisdiction and generally increase – sometimes significantly – the longer a judge sits on the bench. Given that the law is an integral part of almost every aspect of our lives, it`s no surprise that there are many types of legal careers you can pursue.
From roles directly related to law, such as careers in courts and law firms, to alternative and non-legal careers that include teaching, law enforcement, business, politics, diplomacy, marketing, or even finance, there are countless options to choose from. Arbitration as a career is based on judicial qualities such as impartiality, a deep understanding of the law and an awareness of the pressure to have the last word in sometimes delicate situations. Paralegals perform many of the important tasks that lawyers simply do not have time to do. They investigate cases, organize documents, write summaries, and perform various other tasks to assist lawyers. These legal careers do not require a full legal degree, but paralegal training is required.