Kara Sears
Law degrees are typically pursued by students who want to practice law, but they can also be useful for those interested in exploring alternative career paths. The multidisciplinary nature of law and the transferable skills gained during a law degree, such as critical thinking and effective communication, make law graduates attractive candidates for employers across various industries and sectors. This means that law graduates can find employment in fields beyond the traditional legal sphere, including business, finance, journalism, and consulting. However, it is important to note that practicing law in certain jurisdictions, such as the United States, usually requires a degree from an accredited institution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Career options in a law firm | Plaintiff attorneys, corporate lawyers, contract negotiators, claims examiners, title examiners, university attorneys |
| Roles in large law firms | Finance, business, marketing, administration, secretarial, research, publishing, editing, law recruitment, library, IT |
| Alternative careers | Financial advisor, legal writer, business consultant, legal journalist, project management |
| Transferable skills | Critical thinking, communication, negotiation, mediation, arbitration |
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What You'll Learn
Roles in finance, business, marketing, administration, research, publishing, law recruitment, etc
An unaccredited law degree can still be useful in various roles across different sectors, including finance, business, marketing, administration, research, publishing, and law recruitment.
In the finance industry, a law degree can be beneficial for roles such as financial attorney, investment banking analyst, chief financial officer (CFO), financial adviser, investment consultant, and certified public accountant (CPA). These roles often involve advising clients on financial matters, analyzing data, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Business roles that may value a law degree include business development, contract management, and compliance or regulatory affairs. A law degree can also be advantageous in marketing, particularly in legal marketing or marketing for law firms, as well as in administrative roles within legal or corporate settings.
Research roles, such as legal research or policy research, can be well-suited to those with a law degree, as they often require strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Publishing, particularly in the legal field, may also be an option, as is a career in law recruitment, where a law degree can provide valuable insights into the qualifications and skills sought by law firms and legal departments.
While an unaccredited law degree may limit your ability to practice law in certain jurisdictions, it can still provide a solid foundation for various career paths. It is important to note that some states, such as California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, allow graduates from unaccredited law schools to obtain a law license, while others may require a combination of law school attendance and apprenticeship.
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Alternative legal careers, like financial advisor, legal writer, or legal journalist
An unaccredited law degree can limit career opportunities and confine where you can practice law. However, it is still possible to pursue alternative legal careers with this qualification. Here are some options:
Financial Advisor
Financial advisors guide their clients in managing their money effectively to achieve their financial goals. This role involves a range of transferable skills, including knowledge of financial products, investment strategies, and tax laws. Financial advisors often work with clients to create financial plans, offer investment advice, and help with wealth management. Similar roles include financial planner, investment advisor, and wealth management advisor, which involve overlapping skill sets.
Legal Writer
Legal writers create content related to law and the legal profession. This could include writing articles, blog posts, or books that offer legal advice, explain complex legal concepts in simple terms, or provide updates on new legislation and regulations. Legal writers may also develop training materials, create content for legal websites, or draft legal documents. This role leverages strong writing skills combined with legal knowledge.
Legal Journalist
Legal journalists report on news and developments in the field of law. They may work for print publications, online media outlets, or both. Legal journalists could write for general audiences or specialize in industry-specific publications like legal magazines and journals. This career path involves staying abreast of legal trends, conducting interviews, and crafting engaging content for the target audience. Legal journalism can also involve editing the work of others and commissioning pieces from other writers.
These alternative legal careers offer opportunities to utilize your unaccredited law degree in non-traditional ways. They allow you to apply your legal knowledge and skills in creative and flexible ways outside the typical law career path.
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Project management
With an unaccredited law degree, you can still pursue a career in project management, especially within the legal sector. Legal project managers are responsible for creating consistency and predictability for lawyers and clients. They help law firms run more efficiently and cost-effectively, allowing lawyers to focus on client-facing tasks.
To become a legal project manager, you can leverage your law degree to develop a strong understanding of legal processes and regulations. While not a strict requirement, relevant qualifications at the GCSE and A-level can help build a foundation for project management, especially with subjects like Maths, English, Business Studies, and IT.
Experience in project management is highly valuable, even if you didn't have a project management title in your previous roles. For example, you could have worked on "projects" in court administration or other legal roles, which can be a stepping stone to a project management career.
Additionally, consider gaining specialised qualifications or achieving a degree in project management, which is a standard requirement for many law firms hiring project managers. You can also refer to resources like the PM Transition Roadmap, which outlines steps to land a project management job and common certifications.
Remember, your "lawyer skills" can be extremely transferable to project management. These include time management, communication, attention to detail, negotiation, and client service skills. Your understanding of legal contracts and documents can also be invaluable in interpreting project management plans (PMPs) and guiding clients.
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Business consultant
A law degree is a versatile qualification that can open doors to various career paths, including business consulting. While a law degree is not strictly necessary to become a business consultant, it can be a valuable asset and provide a strong foundation for a successful career in this field. Here are some key considerations and steps to help you pursue a career in business consulting with an unaccredited law degree:
Transferable Skills:
The multidisciplinary nature of law equips graduates with a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued in business consulting. These skills include critical thinking, analysis, and research, as well as communication, negotiation, and persuasion. Emphasize these skills when applying for business consulting roles and demonstrate how they can be applied in a consulting context.
Industry Knowledge:
Your law degree has likely provided you with a solid understanding of business law, regulatory compliance, and the broader business environment. This knowledge can be directly applied in business consulting roles, especially when advising clients on legal and regulatory matters, ensuring compliance, and helping them make informed strategic decisions.
Build Business Acumen:
While your law degree provides a strong foundation, it's important to develop specific business skills and knowledge. Consider pursuing additional education or internships in business administration, economics, or management. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a highly regarded degree that can complement your law qualification and enhance your business consulting credentials.
Network and Gain Experience:
Networking is crucial in the consulting industry. Attend industry events, join relevant professional organizations, and leverage your law school connections to meet potential employers and peers. Consider internships or entry-level consulting positions to gain practical experience and build your consulting skillset.
Understand the Consulting Landscape:
Familiarize yourself with the consulting industry, including the different types of consulting firms, their services, and their clients. Research and identify firms that align with your interests and values. Reach out to consultants working in the industry and seek their advice and insights.
Develop Consulting Skills:
While your law degree provides a strong foundation, consulting requires a unique set of skills. Focus on developing your Excel skills, data analysis capabilities, and project management techniques. These skills are highly valued in consulting and will set you apart from other candidates.
In conclusion, while an unaccredited law degree may not be sufficient on its own to secure a business consulting role, it can be a powerful tool when combined with additional education, practical experience, and a strong understanding of the consulting industry. Your legal knowledge and transferable skills can make you a valuable asset in the business consulting world, so focus on highlighting these strengths as you transition into this new career path.
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Transfer to a new industry
Transferable skills gained during a law degree, such as critical thinking and communication skills, can be applied to a wide range of industries and sectors. Here are some alternative careers for law school graduates:
Finance
A background in law can be beneficial for financial advisors and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). A CPA with a legal degree can leverage their knowledge of state laws and regulations in their daily work.
Business
Law graduates with business training are attractive to businesses and government agencies due to their knowledge and marketable skills. As a business consultant, you can advise companies on various law-related issues, including commercial contracts, government regulations, industry compliance, and intellectual property.
Human Resources
A Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) degree can help you build negotiation, mediation, and arbitration skills applicable to human resources roles.
Journalism
Legal journalists require specialized insight on legal topics and political issues. A law degree provides effective communication skills and critical thinking abilities that are valuable for reporting on specific laws, cases, and the legal system.
Project Management
The skills developed in law school and practice, such as client relationship management, can be easily transferred to project management roles.
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Frequently asked questions
An unaccredited law degree is a degree from a law school that has not been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA has strict standards for curriculum, faculty, and services.
Unaccredited law schools tend to have cheaper tuition, more flexible scheduling, and less rigid admissions processes.
Graduates from unaccredited law schools may face limited career prospects, as they are often ineligible to sit for the bar exam in many states.
It depends on the state. Some states, like California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, allow graduates from unaccredited law schools to obtain a law license, but it may require additional steps, such as a period of apprenticeship.
