If you have a passion for justice that spills into the courtroom, a desire to research and analyze from behind a desk in your office, or just want to help people manage their personal relationships with other people and their environment, then you should pursue law as a career. With a law degree you can represent clients, for fees by working for a law firm or as employees in government. You can also choose to start your own solo practice, accept appointments from judges or governments, or work in an administrative role where you advise and create policy..
The skills you learn in law school can be applied to a wide range of careers. You’ll have the analytical skills needed for much of the business world, as well as the ability to write clearly and persuasively, which is a must for any job that involves communication with others. Some common jobs for law graduates include:
-Legal assistants
-Paralegals
-Government attorneys
-Judges
What jobs can you do with a law degree
Introduction
Law school is expensive, and the job market for lawyers has taken a hit in recent years. It’s enough to make you wonder if a J.D. really is worth it. But before you give up on your dreams of law school, or decide against any career path that requires one, know this: There are plenty of opportunities for lawyers who don’t want to be lawyers! Here are some examples:
Did you know that there are more jobs open to lawyers than just being a lawyer?
Did you know that there are more jobs open to lawyers than just being a lawyer? Lawyers have been trained to research, write, and argue. They’re also trained to work in teams, think critically, analyze data sets, and be creative. These skills can be applied in many other careers as well!
For instance:
- Lawyer turned journalist: Write articles for newspapers or magazines (or start your own blog). This is a great way to use your research skills as well as build an audience. You can also use these writing skills when applying for jobs at law firms or corporations who may want legal advice from outside counsel (e.g., contract negotiations) or who need someone who understands how the legal system works in order to avoid getting into legal trouble with their company policies or products/services offered by their company which could potentially lead up fines due outstanding taxes owed back taxes penalties etc..
- Lawyer turned financial advisor: Use your analytical ability along with knowledge about how investments work (such as stocks mutual funds bonds insurance annuities retirement plans 401k IRA CDs etc…) so that clients make good decisions about their savings goals investment plan portfolio based on their risk tolerance needs goals timeframe timelines etc…
Are there any downsides to getting a law degree?
Before you make the decision to go to law school, it’s important to consider whether or not a career as an attorney is really for you. Law school can be expensive and time consuming, and as stated earlier, there are few jobs available. If your goal isn’t to become a practicing attorney but instead just wants the background knowledge that comes with earning a J.D., there are other options for getting those skills without having to spend three years in school.
Here’s what else you should know about the downsides of going through law school:
- It’s expensive: According to US News & World Report, annual tuition at private law schools ranges from $59,000-$75,000 (and that doesn’t include living expenses). Public colleges charge less—about half as much—but still cost more than $30K annually (and again: no living expenses). This doesn’t even account for bar exam fees or other costs associated with becoming licensed after graduation. Law school is expensive!
What kind of training do you need for these career paths?
You’ll need to complete a bachelor’s degree program before you can enroll in these careers.
Attorneys must be licensed by the state bar association and pass a written test. Many firms will train attorneys on-the-job, but additional training is required for those looking to become partners at top firms or join influential government agencies like the FBI or CIA.
What kind of salaries and opportunities can you expect?
So what kind of salaries can you expect to make if you decide to become a lawyer? A 2016 study by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) found that entry-level lawyers made an average salary of $64,488 per year. That’s not bad at all, but it’s also down from $67,633 in 2014 and $70,481 in 2009 (when adjusted for inflation).
Another way to look at this is that lawyers are among the highest earners in America; this means there will always be demand for their services. But even though the job market is strong and salaries are rising overall—and even though some cities pay more than others—lawyers’ wages aren’t always higher than other careers’. In fact, some people choose not to go into law because they think they’ll earn less than their peers who graduate with similar degrees from other fields of study!
There are many factors that affect how much an attorney makes: location matters; experience matters; firm size matters too. It all adds up so that your salary will vary quite significantly depending on where you live and work.”
There are plenty of opportunities for lawyers who don’t want to be lawyers.
If you don’t want to be a lawyer, there are plenty of great jobs available. Here are just a few:
- Paralegal. A paralegal is an attorney who assists the lawyers with their cases, but doesn’t have the same degree or training as one. They might do things like research for them and prepare documents for court filings.
- Legal secretary/administrator/analyst/corporate paralegal. If you’re interested in helping with legal work but aren’t sure it’s right for you, then these roles might be a good option! You can work on tasks such as making copies or filing documents while gaining valuable experience that could help lead to other opportunities down the road (such as becoming a full-fledged attorney).
Conclusion
It’s clear that there are plenty of opportunities for lawyers who don’t want to be lawyers. After all, a JD is often accompanied by hard-earned skills in critical thinking, research, and writing—skills that translate well outside the courtroom. So why not look at your options? And even if you do go the traditional route, remember that it never hurts to keep your eyes open for new opportunities.
