What To Do With A Law Degree
There are many exciting opportunities out there for a law school graduate. Take some time to research all the possibilities and you will find your career path. Here are just a few ways you can utilize your law degree.
Join a law firm. Many graduates join a law firm right after graduation. When starting at a law firm, you are an associate. This is entry-level lawyering.
Being an associate is not unlike completing a residency for a doctor. You will work long hours every week and complete most of the grunt work. You will produce legal documents, write briefs, research for hours and other tedious tasks all in the hopes of climbing the ladder to one day become partner.
Becoming partner is the pinnacle of law firm statuses. As one of the partners, you have a say in what cases your firm takes on and other big decisions. Partners also share the profits of the law firm. Once all expenses have been paid out such as associates’ salaries, the income that is left will be distributed between the partners. The respect of being partner and the high earning potential attracts many law school graduates.
Law graduates who prefer not to deal with the social hierarchy of a law firm may opt to find work in a corporation. This position is called in-house counsel. You are employed by the company and work in the legal department. As in-house counsel you will typically work less hours than at a law firm and your salary will be fixed.
Another career option for lawyers is to work for the government. There are many positions to be found in the government and non-profit sector. You can work as a public defender where you will defend criminal cases. This is higher paid than you might think. You will deal with many interesting cases in this capacity and you will also face much court time.
Another path in government is becoming an assistant district attorney. In this position you will be the prosecutor in criminal cases.
So how do you go about obtaining these positions? The time to start looking for a job as lawyer is in law school. In law school you will intern in different firms. Most firms hire a great percentage of associates from the summer internship pool.
If you’re looking into working for the government, do your homework. There are many different government agencies out there that employ lawyers. Search online at government web sites and find a contact method.
A great way to find job openings is by keeping in touch with your classmates. An old law school friend may be able to recommend you to a law firm or know other lawyers that can direct you to different employers. It’s always good to network.
There are many opportunities out there for someone with a law degree. Don’t ever feel stuck. If you decide that you don’t want to practice law, your degree still qualifies you for many jobs in business management or in the non-profit sector.
Catherine Zandueta is a frequent contributor to CareersandEducation.com. Catherine Zandueta is a feature writer that covers topics relating to MBA Programs and online colleges.
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Written by info on November 28th, 2007 with
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