While a law degree is required for anyone wishing to practice law, law school can lead to a variety of career paths other than private practice. So, what can you do with a law degree? Broadly speaking, the practice of law can lead to a career working in a law firm, a company or non-profit and even a judicial office. However, not every legal industry job will require you to be a licensed attorney, or to have a law degree.
In this article, we discuss career options for individuals with law degrees.
What Types of Law Degrees Are There?
Below we explore several types of degrees that relate to the legal sector. Many are geared toward prospective attorneys and legal academics with very specific areas of interest.
These degrees often need to be obtained in a particular sequence and are sought by those with a clear career path in mind. However, a growing number of law schools are offering degree programs that allow those who do not wish to practice law to gain a sophisticated legal education that can be used in a variety of career paths.
Juris Doctor
A juris doctor is a legal degree that is required in order for you to sit for the bar exam in your state. There are some slight exceptions to this (e.g. California and in certain cases, foreign qualified lawyers) so be alert to what your state’s requirements are. However, the exceptions to this path are rare.
It usually takes three years of full-time study to earn a JD, but some schools offer accelerated programs that involve taking classes during the summers. The downside of an accelerated program is that students often miss out on the chance to work full time during the summers. These summer opportunities not only provide students with real-world experience, but they often lead to post law school job opportunities. Some universities offer part-time options, which take four to five years. Joint degrees, such as a JD/MBA, can also take four to five years to complete.
You must have a bachelor’s degree to enroll in a JD program, but law schools do not require a specific major. In fact, applicants are regularly admitted from a wide variety of majors, ranging from the STEM fields to the humanities and arts. Other admission requirements vary among schools but often include essays, letters of recommendation, LSAT or GRE scores and personal statements.
Typical coursework for a JD degree includes:
•Contracts
•Torts
•Legal research and writing
•constitutional law
•Property
•Wills & estates
•Criminal law
•Civil procedure
•Immigration law
Master of Laws
A Master of Laws degree is also referred to as an LLM, which stands for the Latin term, “Latin legum magister.” This term translates to “master of laws.” An LLM helps lawyers who have already earned their law degree specialize in a specific area of law, such as human rights law, tax law, international law or intellectual property. For this reason, it is a degree that is best pursued after a lawyer has gained some practical experience and has developed a level of speciality in a particular practice area.
Expect to spend one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study earning your LLM degree. At some universities, you may spend up to three years in a program. An LLM can also serve as a means for lawyers from other common law countries to qualify to take the bar exam in certain states.
You must already have a JD to begin a Master of Laws degree program. Universities may also require personal statements, interviews or letters of recommendation.
Typical coursework for a Master of Laws includes:
•Tax law
•Commercial law
•International law
•Human rights law
•Environmental law
•Copyright law
•American law (aimed at foreign lawyers seeking an American legal qualification)
Doctor of Juridical Science
If you’re seeking a career as a law school professor, a doctorate of judicial science might be of interest, but is rarely a necessity. This degree will normally require an applicant to have earned at least a J.D. and LLM from an ABA accredited law school. Candidates from common law countries may at times be admitted, but there is a strong preference towards candidates with American legal training.
The SJD is the highest level of law degree, and it typically appeals to those who plan to become professors or scholars of law. For that reason, admission is extremely competitive, and applicants normally have to build impressive resumes prior to being admitted to an SJD program. However, obtaining your SJD is not required to practice law, or to build a successful legal career. It is also not a requirement for a career as a legal academic, although it can be advantageous for more competitive tenured positions.
If you are admitted to an SJD program, you should expect to commit to two years of full-time study. You may also need additional time to complete your dissertation. Program length varies among schools and programs, so check with your university to learn more.
You must have already earned a JD degree and need to be at least enrolled in an LLM program to apply to an SJD program. Individual universities may set other requirements, such as a personal statement, letters of recommendation or a research proposal. Prestigious programs such as Harvard rarely admit applicants who have not already been admitted to the universities own LLM program. While this is not universally the case, it does speak to the planning that needs to go into building a path to an SJD program and understanding how and why it fits into your career goals.
Because SJD students have already earned JD and LLM degrees, they already have a detailed and sophisticated base of technical knowledge of the law. However, because the SJD revolves around research and is analogous to a Ph.D., there is no standard curriculum for this degree. Coursework for an SJD degree may include a combination of one-on-one study, seminars and legal research, followed by exams and a dissertation defense.
Master of Dispute Resolution
A master of dispute resolution is an excellent option if you want to work in negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution. This degree is perhaps best suited for individuals who have experience within a field, such as an engineer, who want to then work as a mediator within their field, such as construction disputes. Individuals with this degree work in fields like business management, labor relations, human resources and social work. Some universities offer this degree as part of a joint JD program.
It typically takes two years to complete a master of dispute resolution, but some universities offer longer, part-time programs or accelerated options. Check with your prospective university for more information on its programs.
A bachelor’s degree is required to pursue a master of dispute resolution. Universities may have other requirements as well, such as letters of recommendation, personal statements or interviews.
Typical coursework for a master of dispute resolution includes:
•Mediation theory
•Arbitration practice
•Negotiation
•Conflict management
Master of Legal Studies
A Master of Legal Studies serves professionals who don’t plan to practice law but need knowledge of the law to do their jobs effectively. People who earn this degree may hold a variety of positions such as human resources manager, management analyst, compliance officer, health services manager and labor relations specialist.
The time it takes to earn a Master of Legal Studies degree typically ranges from two to four years. Some universities offer programs that take one year or less to complete. Others offer programs that are up to five years long. It is important to note that credits from this degree rarely transfer to a J.D. program.
A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite to earning a Master of Legal Studies degree but students do not need an LSAT score. Most universities also require letters of recommendation, personal essays and interviews.
Typical coursework for a Master of Legal Studies includes:
•U.S. law and the legal system
•Legal writing and research
•Legal procedures
•Ethics
•Law of information and records
•Law and strategy
•Law and organizational management
Careers in Law
Arbitrator, Mediator or Conciliator
Median Annual Salary: $49,410
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +6%
Job Description: Arbitrators, mediators and conciliators help settle disputes among parties. Their job duties typically include the following.
•Helping parties resolve disputes by facilitating communication
•Evaluating legal records, documents and other evidence
•Interviewing involved parties
•Applying laws and regulations
•Working in the interests of all parties
•Negotiating to reach mutual agreements
•Preparing settlements
Lawyer
Median Starting Salary: $127,990
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +10%
Job Description: Lawyers provide legal advice and representation to people, businesses, organizations and government agencies. Note that the NALP reported that the average median salary for first year lawyers in the class of 2020 was $75,000. Lawyers day-to-day responsibilities may include the following.
•Representing clients in court and on legal matters
•Researching and analyzing information
•Interpreting laws and regulations
•Arguing on behalf of clients in court
•Preparing and filing legal documents
Non-Legal Careers for Law Degree-Holders
Postsecondary Law Teacher
Median Annual Salary: $123,470
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +12%
Job Description: Professors teach college students in subjects they need to know so they can earn their degrees. Note that the salary reflected may represent a tenured track position. A professor might perform the following tasks in their daily work.
•Creating a syllabus for their courses
•Developing lesson plans
•Teaching courses
•Assessing student work
•Collaborating with colleagues on curriculum development
•Serving on academic or administrative committees
Political Scientist
Median Annual Salary: $122,510
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +6%
Job Description: Political scientists study and analyze the origin of political systems, governments, political trends and policies. Note that a law degree is not necessary for this career path. Responsibilities may include:
•Researching political subjects, systems and theories
•Gathering and analyzing data on public opinions
•Evaluating laws and policies
•Monitoring policy decisions and current events
•Providing economic or political forecasts
•Presenting results derived from research
Compliance Analyst
Average Base Salary: Around $61,000
Job Description: A compliance analyst works with organizations to ensure they meet the regulations of federal, state or local governments. This role is applicable in many industries, including finance and banking, healthcare, education and data protection and privacy. This role is considered a “JD Advantage” which means that a JD is not necessary for the role, but individuals with a JD are considered to be at an advantage.
Their job duties typically include the following.
•Work to manage any compliance requests
•Review internal operations to ensure compliance
•Help form policies to avoid compliance issues
•Work to resolve issues with clients or auditors
•Maintain relationships with government agencies, if necessary
‍
More fromÂ
Law
 category
