One of the many myths about studying law is that ‘you should only study law if you want to become a lawyer.’ Fortunately, this is entirely false – a degree in law opens you up to many different and diverse career opportunities! A law degree equips you with various useful skills: such as critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills. But the question still remains: what are the different career opportunities if you study law?
Let’s find out!
1. Become a lawyer
Becoming a solicitor is a challenging and high rewarding career. In order to be admitted as a legal practitioner, you will need to study a law degree and complete practical legal training. Once you are admitted, there are various career paths you can choose from:
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You can work in private practice, where you will work at a law firm. You can specialise in various areas, such as corporate law, criminal law, administrative law and more. If you are thinking about learning about corporate or commercial law, why not get to know more about Ashurst?
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You can also work as in-house counsel. This is where carry out work for your employer, as opposed to a law firm. This means that you will be employed by company or other organisations to be part of their legal team. The benefit of working as an in-house counsel is that you can be exposed to a range of legal work from various areas of law!
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Want to help people in need? You can work for a community legal centre, which are independent non-government organisations that provide free legal help for people in need. You can work for a generalist community legal centre, or a specialist community legal centre that provides services on specific issues or specific groups.
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Dreaming about being in court? You can become a barrister, who are specialist advocates who are trained to present oral arguments before courts. In order to become a barrister, you must be admitted as a lawyer, sit and pass the Bar exam and complete a reading program.
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Graduates can also work as a solicitor in the public sector, whether that be working as a lawyer at a government solicitor’s office, or even work for a government agency or department.
However, becoming a lawyer is absolutely not the only career path that students can take if they study law. Here are some non-legal careers that students may be interested in.
2. Banking and Finance
Law can open many doors for students looking for a career, which includes a career in the banking and financial services sector. It can land you in a variety of roles, such as becoming an analyst in retail banking, investment and/or in financial services.
3. Journalism
For law graduate who want to report on pressing issues and utilise their writing skills, journalism is a perfect career choice. Some graduates have made the jump from being legal practitioners to starting a role as a broadcast or legal journalists.
4. Academia
If you love researching or have passion for teaching, consider choosing a career in academia. Becoming an academic means you can get paid for following your interest in a particular area of law, or even how the law impacts on various communities.
5. Policy
A career in policy is very important, whether that be in the public or private sector. Policy officers identify issues, undertake research and consult with a range of stakeholders to develop and implement policy. Graduates can work for government to help create new strategic plans and policies.
6. Management Consulting
The skills needed to be an exceptional management consultant coincides very well with skills that are developed from studying a law degree. Management consulting is a practice of helping businesses improve their performance and grow by solving problems and help businesses achieve their goals. This career opportunity are for graduates who are ready to utilise their analytical and problem-solving skills!
7. … and more!
The most amazing thing about a law degree is that it is very flexible in getting you to any area of interest or industry you like, whether that be in a legal or non-legal role. Pathways are always emerging as industries evolve. However, there is one thing for certain: there is always a need for law graduates. Consider studying a law degree now!
