Law Degree

A law degree is needed to successfully launch a career in law today, but it is not easy to attain. First, students must complete a bachelor’s degree, earning grades and test scores high enough to win a coveted spot in a law school. This also entails completing a rigorous three-year program to acquire a juris doctor (JD) degree.

Once admitted, law school students must maintain good grades and impress their teachers to obtain recommendations for prestigious summer internships. These internships are not typical summer jobs but are essential to the success of students because of the training and networking opportunities. Many first jobs after law school arise from summer internships.

A Juris Doctor degree requires taking general and specialized courses in, for instance, constitutional law, contracts, etc. Taking these classes helps law school student to decide which area of the law they would like to specialize in later. Perhaps they want a career in corporate law or see themselves as a litigator in the courtroom; still others may want to be their own boss and go into private practice. In addition, a law degree may be the first step toward working for the government at the federal, state or local level; becoming a judge or prosecutor; or running for elected office. Many politicians get their start as lawyers. Law students need to work hard to stay at the top of their class to ensure a lucrative career. Earning a top salary is especially important since law school can be quite expensive, requiring students to accumulate debt before they even start practicing. Still, a law degree will open many doors on this particular career path.

Law Degree Hurdles and Milestones

The first step in becoming a lawyer is to obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, also known as a law degree. However, before entering law school there are a few academic hurdles to overcome.

The first educational milestone is to complete a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university. The American Bar Association is the organization that grants accreditation to law schools.

Undergraduate studies do not have to be in any particular specialization to gain acceptance at most law schools; however, political science, criminal justice, and philosophy backgrounds tend to be most helpful.

In addition to undergraduate academic accomplishments, law school admissions staff considers a student’s scores on the standardized Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Schools will also review references and personal statements to determine which students to admit.

A law degree can generally be accomplished in three years. Unlike many other programs, most law schools set a cap on how long they will allow students to complete their law degree. Generally speaking, law schools discourage students from dragging out their law degree; they want people committed to reaching their academic goals in a timely manner.

Once a law degree is obtained from an accredited law school, a student can sit for the bar examination in the state in which he wishes to practice law.

Law Careers and Legal Jobs

When most people think about law careers their mind immediately goes to traditional legal jobs. Traditional law careers include attorneys working in a private practice, a government department, a business, or working pro bono publico (for the public good).

A law career in private practice entails providing legal representation to individuals and businesses. The government employs lawyers to represent government interests. Examples of a law career in government are a district attorney or a judge. There are many law careers in business for lawyers to represent the interests of private companies. Major corporations often have tax attorneys, intellectual property attorneys, litigators, and compliance officers on staff. A public interest law career involves representing the interests of the community at large, or a segment of the community. An example of an organization that hires public interest lawyers is a public advocacy organization, such as an urban housing development organization.

According to the American Bar Association, approximately 11 percent of law school graduates pursue non-traditional law careers. Non-traditional law careers include job titles such as: law librarian, legal educator, insurance and risk manager, environmental enforcement officer, estate planner, mediator, and corporate investigator. A non-traditional law career is also possible with many law enforcement agencies, environmental organizations, government agencies, and corporations.