What Else Can You Do With a Law Degree?
While the traditional wisdom -- that a law degree opens countless doors and represents a fertile open field of possibilities -- undoubtedly is not accurate (you might be surprised to find out how limiting that J.D. can be in some fields), it is true that you have more options open to you than strictly "being a lawyer" upon graduation from law school:
- Business: Besides helping students to discover critical thinking skills and valuable legal knowledge that helps businesses stay in compliance with complex regulatory schemes, law school can aid would-be business moguls in a more direct way. Many law schools offer joint degree programs that combine the J.D. with a Masters degree in Business Administration or other related fields. These joint degrees typically add a year to the traditional three-year full time program. Through the use of internships and externships, these programs can give students a host of excellent contacts, networking skills, and special experience that corporate employers value.
- Law Enforcement: From the FBI to the CIA to your local and state agencies, law enforcement officials appreciate a law degree in an otherwise well-rounded and qualified applicant. Opportunities include working with investigations, victim advocacy, regulatory inspection services, and enforcement actions.
- Academia: If you want to be a law school professor, it won't come as a great shock to you that you need a law degree first. But you can also utilize a J.D. to break into academic programs in other fields. Bear in mind, however, this is a highly competitive field requiring the best grades at top schools.
- Mediation and Arbitration: The alternative dispute resolution field is an excellent one for J.D.-holding candidates. As costs of litigation go up, more and more businesses as well as governmental entities are turning to mediation and arbitration as methods of keeping those costs down. In addition, many courts are now developing mandatory ADR programs to divert cases away from crowded dockets. This makes ADR an attractive field for those with the right mindset and training.
- Financial Services: Due to the highly regulated nature of the financial services and securities industries, many employers count a law degree as a distinct bonus on a candidate's resume. If you get a kick out of money -- counting it, managing it, investing it -- you might want to give some thought to jobs in these areas.
- National Security and Intelligence: These fields are growing in importance since the war on terror began in earnest in 2001, and represent a growing, if somewhat ephemeral, market for those with legal educations and a keen interest in international affairs and security issues. Opportunities exist with many agencies in the intelligence community, as well as with private industry, think tanks, and consulting companies who advise corporations on overseas transactions and enterprises.
- Other Federal Employment Opportunities: From Civil Rights to the Internal Revenue Services, there are countless other agencies in the federal government who employ law school graduates in various fields. (A good place to look for these positions is the USA Jobs site from the Office of Personnel Management. There, you can search open jobs by agency, position, or pay grade; in the full descriptions behind available positions you'll find a list of qualifications for each position that's open. This will tell you whether a law degree will help you in applying for that position.)