Keith Mack
A law degree is a gateway to a wide range of careers, both within and outside the legal profession. While many law graduates go on to become lawyers, solicitors, or barristers, others pursue alternative career paths. Law degrees are valued by employers due to the development of analytical, communication, and management skills that they foster. Understanding the various career options available can help law graduates find a suitable and fulfilling career path.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Career Options | Solicitor, barrister, lawyer, judge, law professor, police prosecutor, police officer, private investigator, special agent, court reporter, legal process server, legal secretary, law librarian, social worker, compliance officer, real estate agent, human resources, wealth manager, legal recruiter, politician, articled clerk, judicial clerk, associate, paralegal, legislative assistant, outside counsel, in-house counsel, prosecutor, plaintiff attorney, defense attorney, staff attorney, litigator, calendaring clerk, court clerk, court legal advisor, document coder, file clerk, junior barrister’s clerk, legal transcriptionist, mailroom clerk, hybrid paralegal, broadcast captioner, CART provider |
| Skills | Analytical, communication, management, critical thinking, problem-solving, research, teamwork, advocacy, argumentation, interpretation of legal documents, ethics, understanding of the legal system, understanding of government regulations, understanding of employment laws, understanding of banking laws and loopholes |
| Salary | $39,687-$102,142 per year |
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What You'll Learn
Legal career paths
A law degree is a great gateway to a career as a solicitor or barrister, but it offers many other career paths too. Here are some of the legal career paths you can pursue with a law degree:
Solicitor
A solicitor is a qualified lawyer who provides expert legal advice and support to clients. They can work in various legal practices, including high street solicitors' practices, typically offering a wide range of caseloads covering criminal, family, probate, and business law.
Barrister
A barrister is a specialist lawyer who provides legal advice and represents clients in court. They often work in specific areas of law, such as criminal, civil, or family law. Becoming a barrister usually involves completing a pupillage or internship in a set of chambers.
Judge
A judge oversees courtroom proceedings and acts as an impartial decision-maker. They ensure that all presented evidence is legal, maintain order during trials, and determine sentences. Judges also educate juries about the law and its application to the case at hand.
Legal Secretary
Legal secretaries provide administrative support to lawyers and solicitors. They assist with legal work, such as preparing documents, scheduling appointments, and maintaining case files. Legal secretaries need a good understanding of legal terminology and procedures.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers work within organisations to ensure they comply with government regulations, laws, and internal rules. They help organisations understand and follow relevant laws and lead them toward compliance. A strong understanding of the legal system is essential for this role.
Legal Recruiter
Legal recruiters help place legal professionals in suitable firms or organisations. Their knowledge of the legal industry and network of contacts are valuable assets in this role. Legal recruiters often have law degrees themselves, which helps them understand the specific skills and qualifications sought by legal employers.
These are just a few examples of the diverse legal career paths you can pursue with a law degree. Whether you aspire to become a practicing attorney, a legal advisor, or a legal support professional, a law degree provides a solid foundation for a rewarding career in the legal field.
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Jobs outside the legal profession
A law degree can open doors to a variety of career paths outside the traditional legal profession. Here are some options to consider:
- Law Professor: Law professors educate and mentor students pursuing legal studies. They teach complex laws, interpret legal documents, and guide students on ethical representation. Professors also conduct research, write scholarly articles, and offer seminars on legal topics. They can further serve as consultants to lawyers, providing legal advice and shaping the future of the legal profession.
- Mediator or Arbitrator: Mediators are neutral third-party professionals who help parties resolve disputes outside of court. They facilitate negotiations and help conflicting parties understand their issues, often requiring specific industry knowledge. While some mediators are retired lawyers or judges, others are volunteers with relevant training.
- Law Librarian: Law librarians provide research, reference, and instructional services to legal professionals, students, and the public. They assist in locating information resources, understanding legal terminology, and accessing primary and secondary sources. Law librarians are crucial to law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies, ensuring these entities have access to the latest legal information.
- Policy Analyst: Policy analysts address social and political issues by researching, developing, and evaluating policies. They study communities to identify prevalent problems such as poverty, overpopulation, or lack of healthcare, and propose policy solutions.
- Contract Manager: Contract managers ensure that all parties involved understand the provisions of a contract. They negotiate any revision requests and settle disputes arising from suspected violations of the contract's terms. Legal experience is beneficial in this role, as it aids in drafting formal agreements.
- Journalist: Journalists inform the public about current events through research and writing. With a law degree, journalists can leverage their legal expertise to report on crimes and political events accurately and insightfully.
These are just a few examples of the diverse career paths that can be pursued with a law degree outside of the traditional legal profession. The skills gained through legal studies, such as critical thinking, analysis, and research, are highly transferable and valued across industries.
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Junior roles
A law degree is a great way to enter the legal profession, with many junior roles available as a first step on the career ladder. Junior roles are a great way to gain experience and decide on your future path.
- Calendaring clerk
- Court clerk
- Court messenger
- Document coder
- File clerk
- Paralegal
- Trainee lawyer
- Articled clerk
- Judicial clerk
- Junior barrister's clerk
- Legislative assistant
In addition, there are many roles that are not entirely outside the legal profession but offer a different perspective on legal research, such as a judge's associate. This role is well-paid and allows you to develop your legal research skills.
Another option is to pursue a Master's in Law (LLM) to study a particular area of law in more depth.
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Alternative careers
A law degree is a great gateway to a career as a solicitor or barrister, but it can also lead to many other career paths. Here are some alternative careers that you can pursue with a law degree:
Legal Recruitment
Legal recruitment is a popular alternative career choice for lawyers due to their knowledge of the legal industry and their network of contacts. Recruiters need to have a deep understanding of the legal field to successfully place candidates in the right firms. Law graduates are highly valued in this field as they can recognise what a candidate or firm is looking for.
Human Resources (HR)
A move into HR is a natural progression for many lawyers as it requires the ability to apply employment laws and manage risks related to employee health and safety. A law degree provides a strong foundation for understanding and interpreting employment legislation, making graduates well-suited for roles in this field.
Banking and Finance
Law graduates are often sought after by the banking and financial sector. Their legal knowledge can be advantageous for wealth management, helping investors navigate banking laws and loopholes. Additionally, lawyers who have worked in large firms often understand the intricacies of the corporate world, including time management and billing.
Policy Analyst
Policy analysts address social and political issues by researching, developing, and evaluating policies. They study communities to identify prevalent problems such as poverty, overpopulation, or lack of healthcare. Law graduates are well-equipped for this role as they possess strong research and analytical skills. They can also use their legal knowledge to ensure that policies are aligned with relevant laws and regulations.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers ensure that organisations comply with government regulations, laws, and internal rules. A law degree is beneficial for this role as it provides a strong understanding of the legal system and how to interpret and apply laws within an organisational context. Compliance officers play a crucial role in guiding organisations toward compliance and mitigating legal risks.
Law Professor
Law professors educate students on legal concepts and prepare them for their future legal careers. They teach students how to interpret complex laws, apply legal ethics, and analyse legal documents. Law graduates are well-suited for this role as they can draw on their own legal education and experience to effectively instruct the next generation of lawyers.
In addition to these options, law graduates can explore various other paths, including property development, social work, real estate, and media and communications. The skills gained from a law degree, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, are highly transferable and valued across many industries.
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Postgraduate qualifications
If you're thinking of continuing your legal studies at the postgraduate level, you'll find that there are a variety of options available to you. Many universities offer postgraduate law courses and degrees that are designed and taught by experienced lawyers, with a strong emphasis on practical skills that employers look for. These courses can help you qualify as a solicitor or barrister and allow you to specialise in a particular area of law.
To be accepted onto a postgraduate law course, you'll typically need an undergraduate degree in law or a related discipline, with a minimum grade of a 2:1 or 2:2, depending on the university. Some universities may also require you to have relevant work experience or to pass an interview. English language proficiency is also a requirement, with an IELTS score of 6.5-7.5 or equivalent often needed for entry.
Postgraduate law courses can provide a great foundation for a career in law or a related field. They can help you develop the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for and can open doors to a variety of career paths. For example, you could work in legal practice, property development, the banking and financial sector, or HR.
Some specific jobs that you may be able to pursue with a postgraduate law qualification include:
- Compliance officer: Ensuring organisations comply with government regulations, laws, and professional standards.
- Court reporter: Providing real-time documentation of courtroom proceedings, requiring an understanding of legal terminology.
- Legal process server: Delivering important legal documents such as subpoenas and summons, needing a strong understanding of the legal system.
- Law librarian: Assisting patrons in law libraries with locating legal texts and information.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional legal careers that you can pursue with a law degree include becoming a lawyer, solicitor, barrister, attorney, paralegal, or judge.
While a law degree is a common path to becoming a lawyer, it is not the only way. In some countries, such as the US, law graduates will need to complete further procedures, such as gaining admittance to the bar, to become practicing attorneys or lawyers.
Law graduates can explore various alternative careers outside the legal profession. These include roles in human resources, banking and finance, policy analysis, compliance, and legal recruitment.
A law degree helps you develop valuable transferable skills such as analytical and critical thinking, communication, research, problem-solving, and teamwork. These skills are applicable and highly valued in many non-legal careers.
Entry-level or junior legal jobs vary in their involvement with legal proceedings and include roles such as court clerk, legal advisor, paralegal, and trainee lawyer.
