What Jobs Can You Get if You Study Law? What are the top law degree jobs? Top Careers with a Law degree
Law is the glue that holds society together. Law protects the public interest, and rules are based on laws to maintain an orderly society.
However, law without implementation, interpretation and enforcement remains merely on paper. Police and legal agencies are the enforcers and interpreters of the law. Individuals with legal education are not merely lawyers. The scope of legal jobs is vast, and each area of law is addressed under them, whether it be criminal law, construction law or litigation. A variety of industries and sectors require legal representation,; they also hire lawyers on contract them on permanent basis. Lawyers, by their vast knowledge of law, have the ability to apply themselves across all fields.
If you're interested in pursuing law but are hesitant that a degree in law might cut you off from branching into other venues, then your fears are unfounded. There are different types of law, and each area of law holds different opportunities for specialisation and career furthering. Most of the skills you learn as a lawyer are transferable skills, meaning that even as you work under accredited and respected lawyers, you will be learning as you go along.
A law degree is a prerequisite for a career as a solicitor or barrister, but it's not your only option. You have a wide range of choices besides working as a lawyer. Whether you're into formal litigation or want to practice law more creatively, there is no shortage of options. You can be self-employed as a lawyer, or if you are interested in charity work, you can take pro-bono cases for deserving clients.
The following jobs are directly related to your degree:
With a degree in law, many options are open to you. You can apply for recruitment in government legal service, practice public interest advocacy, represent legal matters in law and politics; the list is endless. A law degree may open the following jobs for you if you want to pursue a serious career in law.
- Arbitrator
- Barrister
- Barrister's clerk
- Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
- Company Secretary
- Costs lawyer
- Detective
- Licensed conveyancer
- Paralegal
- Solicitor
- Solicitor, Scotland
Jobs that would benefit from your degree include:
- Advice worker
- Border Force officer
- Chartered accountant
- Civil Service administrator
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- External auditor
- Forensic computer analyst
- Human resources officer
- Mediator
- Patent attorney
- Political risk analyst
- Stockbroker
- Trading standards officer
What to do with a law degree? What are the top opportunities for a legal career with a law degree? How can one join a law school?
Although law degrees are difficult to get into, graduating with one can give you in-demand skills and a wide range of post-graduate career options. Employers hold legal degrees in high regard. You will learn many useful skills in the course, such as critical thinking, research, presentation, and organisational skills, whether you decide to use them in practice as a solicitor or barrister or in other careers where law degrees are welcomed. Although a law degree has many advantages, the workload for students can be challenging. You are required to provide legal counsel to people who need your help, and education is just part of it; you need to have stellar judgement in addition to being licensed to practice law. Before taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which will eventually replace the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC), you must have earned a qualifying law degree (LLB). However, transitional arrangements are in place for those already enrolled in these programmes. A law conversion course and/or a SQE preparation course may be beneficial for those who studied an unrelated subject at the undergraduate level before taking the exams. Becoming a barrister is no mean feat, it requires a lot of study and effort. Legal work does not get easy as you progress, rather it becomes more complex. Cultivating a single-minded focus is a prerequisite to achieving your goal.What salaries can law school graduates earn when they start to practice Law? What are typical starting salaries for law careers at top law firms?
Some of the highest starting salaries in the nation go to lawyers. While financial gain shouldn't be your primary driving force, it's comforting to know that all the effort and long hours you've put into becoming a solicitor or barrister will be rewarded. Although there isn't a set minimum salary for legal trainees, The Law Society recommends a minimum of £22,794 for trainees in London and £20,217 for those in other parts of the nation. In reality, trainee lawyer salaries differ across the UK, and one of the biggest determinants of your pay is where you live. In London, companies frequently pay trainees more than the minimum wage. For instance, the five most prestigious law firms in London, collectively known as the Magic Circle, including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May, currently pay first-year trainees between £47,0500 and £50,000. When trainees enter their second year, their salaries increase to $53,000 to $55,000.Difference between barrister, solicitor and a paralegal
A solicitor can represent clients in court, but they typically work in a law office where they draft contracts and file paperwork. A barrister presents cases for clients and represents them in court. The level of education and licencing required increases along with the legal title from solicitor to barrister. If the Council of Licensed Conveyancers issues a licence the paralegal may engage in activities like conveyancing. They can help with wills and the legal issues surrounding them, but unlike solicitors, they cannot sign on behalf of a client. Despite not appearing in court, paralegals help with significant case-related tasks but do not have nearly as much responsibility as barristers. New lawyers work mostly as paralegals and do legal research for the firms that hire them. Tt gives the intern in-house experience that can help them in their future career as a practicing attorney. There is not only legal scut work available for fresh law graduates at private law firms; they can apply as legislative assistants in government bureaus and multi-national companies.What Law degrees can you study?
Degrees in law that prepare you for a career in the field as well as those that focus on the broader topics of legal principles, law enforcement, and criminal behaviour are both available as undergraduate degrees:
- Accounting and Law BA
- Business Management with Law BSc
- Crime and Investigation BSc
- Criminology with Law BSc
- Law LLB/BA
- Policing and Criminal Justice BSc
A foundation year or programme may be available with certain degrees. A complete undergraduate degree in law, also called as LLB, may not be enough to take you where you need to be if you are ambitious. In that case, an internship at a law firm along with an LLM, which is a postgraduate degree in law, also considered as a masters.
Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)
SJD (also JSD) is the abbreviation for the Latin Scientiae Juridicae Doctor, which is the highest legal degree (Juridicae Scientiae Doctor). This is equivalent to “Doctor of the Science of Law” or "Doctor of the Juridical Science.” The SJD is equivalent to a PhD in law in the US, where it is most popular. A student or legal professional typically completes their SJD after completing their Bachelor of Law (LLB) and/or Master of Law degrees (LLM). SJD programmes of study are prestigious and demanding. The majority of SJDs are finished in three years. Successful SJD candidates can anticipate careers as academics or law professors, as well as leadership roles in politics or the government.Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
For people who are not lawyers, there is the MLS degree. To improve their legal knowledge and advance their careers, people from a variety of career fields typically earn MLS degrees. Most MLS students do not intend to practise law or pursue a career as an attorney. The M.L.S. degree programme improves professionals' capacity to interact with lawyers and deal with legal issues, to learn more about a specific legal field, and to comprehend laws and regulations.Take the LSAT exam or LNAT?
Popular international exams like the LNAT and LSAT are necessary for applying to law schools abroad, and even international graduates may need to pass them to secure admission.
LSAT, or the Law School Admission Test, is essential for getting into law school. An LSAT is designed to evaluate a student's readiness for success in the first year of law school. This test is intended to help candidates gain admission to Juris Doctor (JD) programmes at law schools in the US, Canada, and Australia.
The LSAT is a four-section exam that is given via LSAC LawHub and remotely proctored in real time by ProctorU. You can take the LSAT at home or in another private, quiet area with adequate lighting.
LNAT
Eight universities in the UK that offer law programmes adopted the LNAT, or Law National Aptitude Test, in 2004. The LNAT enables students to determine whether or not a legal career is the best fit for them. No prior legal knowledge is necessary because it is a general aptitude test. It enables law schools and universities to determine whether a student is capable of succeeding in a legal course.
Key areas of employment for fresh law graduates - spotlight organisations
According to graduate outcomes statistics provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in 2020, these are the top five professions chosen by 2019/2020 law graduates about fifteen months after graduation. Education Human health and social work Public administration and defence Wholesale and retail trade Professional, scientific and technical Military ( Judge Advocate General's post is the highest post for a judicial officer in the military)But what alternative non-legal jobs can you do with a law degree?
Whether or not you become a solicitor, a law degree can help you pursue a successful career in a range of fields. You must use your understanding and the skills developed through studying for a law degree to land the following roles. However, further qualifications or training would be required:
- advice worker
- Civil Service administrator
- consultant
- consumer rights adviser
- customs officer
- employment advice worker
- lecturer in higher education
- insurance claims inspector
- insurance underwriter
- investment banker in corporate finance
- investment fund manger
- legal executive
- probation officer
- tax inspector
- town and country planner
- trading standards officer
- Personal injury lawyer
- Law tutor
- resources manager
- Compliance officer
Management consulting
Also called as legal management consulting, management consulting entails doing legal work and providing legal advice to law-related matters, mostly to private firms. For example, an industry or a construction firm might need legal advice drafting health and safety regulations for their workers. Attorneys are hired by law offices as legal consultants to help with a specific case or legal issue. They frequently are authorities in a particular area of law, like business, real estate, or health care. As a result, they are qualified to serve as consultants for businesses that may lack extensive experience in a particular area of law. Patent and trademark offices are also a form of management consulting for industries that rely on creators and inventors. Large firms may also need general counsel on how to best approach a sensitive issue or maintain their stance on one. Management consulting also plays a major role in maintaining consumer product safety standards.
Wealth management / investment banking
Many attorney's offices deal with wealth management at a private leve for wealthy individuals. But what is wealth management? Customers who have entered into a contract with a business to have their money or investments managed are offered wealth management as a financial service. Either a discretionary or advisory approach is taken in doing this.- A discretionary service is one in which the company manages your financial portfolio in accordance with your instructions. This implies that the company will manage your portfolio and make changes without consulting you.
- In an advising service, the company will make suggestions based on your risk tolerance and personal situation, but you must consent to any modifications before they are implemented in your portfolio.
- In both situations, the business has a continuing duty to ensure that your investment portfolio continues to be appropriate for you. This includes your risk-taking philosophy and financial goals.
Famous people with law degrees
John Cleese
John Cleese is best known for his roles in the "Monty Python" movie series and the well-known British sitcom "Fawlty Towers."
At the University of Cambridge, John Cleese was given a spot to study law.
Nelson Mandela
He first attended the University of Witwatersrand to study law, but because he spent a lot of time working for South African civil rights during his studies, he repeatedly failed his final year and was ultimately denied a degree. Mandela eventually earned his degree while incarcerated in 1989, allowing him to open his own practise with Oliver Tambo and form Johannesburg's first black law partnership. Nelson Mandela was freed in 1990 as a result of an international campaign, and he was elected as South Africa's first black president in 1994.
Michelle Obama
Barack Obama's wife is a Harvard Law School graduate who has worked for American law firms like the enormous Sidley Austin LLP, where she first met her future husband and future president of the United States.
Henri Matisse,
Mattise the influential 20th century artist, studied law in Paris in 1887 - mainly to appease his father - and returned to his hometown of Saint-Quentin years later to work as a clerk in a law office.
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi is regarded as one of the most influential political activists and freedom fighters of the 20th century. Gandhi moved to London in 1888 to attend University College London to study law. He passed the bar exam in 1891.
Top UK universities for courses for Law students
According to the Guardian University Guide 2022, these are the top universities in the UK for studying law and getting into the legal profession.- University of Oxford
- University College London
- University of Cambridge
- London School of Economics
- University of Glasgow
- King’s College London
- Durham University
- Queen Mary, University of London
- University of Leeds
- University of Cumbria
Top US universities for Law courses
Top UK universities for courses for Law students have consistently maintained high academic standards. These are the top 10 law schools in the United States if you want to study law there.- Harvard University
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- The University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- Columbia University
- New York University (NYU)
- University of Chicago
- Georgetown University
- The University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA)
- University of Michigan
Want to Know More About a Career in Law? Get essential advice and get inspired with some online tutoring with cherry picked law tutors that can give you the best advice on careers for law
Law is a vast and diverse field, and choosing your specialisation, even a course that seems good to you, can be challenging. For this, you need quality advice, some counselling and a one on one with an expert in the field. University teachers and law professors often do not have enough time to answer your queries in detail, so we do that for you.
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Applying to university and showing off your skills gained at A-level with the support of an online university admissions tutor
Worried about how to make an impression on your application? Is the paperwork getting confusing, or the personal statement seems a mess? Well, you do not need to go through this alone. Online admissions tutors are available to guide you every step of the way. What online admissions tutors do is direct, advice and personally oversee your application process, polishing every aspect of your personal statement to make it stand out amongst the deluge of applications that universities get every single day.
Our application tutors are highly qualified, extremely experienced, and have flawless records. Our online application coaches have interviewed and helped candidates at prestigious universities in the UK, Europe, the US, and other countries, so they are skilled at assisting you in differentiating yourself from other applicants. Our online applications instructors specialise in providing personal statement aid, which will enable you to create a compelling narrative that also meets all the necessary criteria. Tutors can offer reading suggestions, talk about your talents and weaknesses, and help you develop and rewrite your personal statement until it is as strong as it can be. Our application tutors can support you in achieving your goals by guiding you through each step of the university application process, from selecting the appropriate course to getting ready for the examinations.
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International students
Studying law in the UK is all about developing a thorough understanding of the fundamental legal concepts and principles that will enable me to become a respected attorney. Additionally, your law degree in the UK strives to provide you with a broad range of abilities and information from several fields where legal-related challenges are present. Whether you want to study for a PhD, or are a prospective undergraduate law student, nothing can beat a UK college or university for getting your law certification. the best thing is, many employers all over the world favour UK law graduates for recruiting. The two most popular types of legal degrees sought by international students are the undergraduate degree in law (LLB, as it is known in the UK), and the postgraduate degree in law (LLM). But institutions in the UK also provide their pupils with other legal credentials. The following law degrees are available from UK universities:- Bachelor of Laws, or LLB.
- Graduate LLB: This LLB is a fast road to a postgraduate degree in law.
- Master of Law (LLM)
- a graduate diploma in law, or GDL.
- Law Practice Course, or LPC.
- Bar Professional Training Course, or BPTC.
- A qualified lawyer transfer scheme is known as QLTS.
Requirements for international students:
- 34 points are needed to meet IB criteria.
- AAB is required for A-levels.
- Requirements for the State Board or National Board: 65% or higher
- IELTS criteria for studying law in the UK are 6.5 overall with no component scoring lower than 6.0.
- Many UK universities accept applicants with a 55% or better if you have a score that is lower than the aforementioned minimum. Otherwise, students might pursue a foundation degree in the UK before transferring to the same university to pursue a Bachelor of Law degree.
- an undergraduate degree in law
- Transcripts Language Proficiency CV Experience Verification (two to three years)
- SOP (Statement of Purpose)
Please take note that entry requirements may be reviewed and updated from year to year, so make sure to check them every time before submitting an application for your desired course.
university law tutors
For students who are considering a career in Law, working with online law tutors can make the world of difference. You are much more likely to secure the grades you need, and even excel in areas you currently struggle with, if you seek professional support on your journey into the legal world. A law tutor can help you structure your time and focus on work.
Students seeking help because they are struggling, or those who wish to really excel in their career would do well to contact online university law tutors and get the support they need sooner rather than later. Feedback suggests law students are very happy with the grade increases they achieve as the result of working with a private law tutor online.