and you don't want to be an attorney. What are your range of options? What other opportunities are uniquely available for someone who has studied law?
2006-09-25 20:12:16 · 8 answers · asked by zouninorusarusan 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
There are three main areas of legal practice, which require being an attorney. We'll cover those first, then discuss other options.
When most people think of attorneys, they think of litigators and those who serve in the courts. But many lawyers do transactional work, such as wills and estates, land sales, insurance, contracts, corporate policies, corporate formation, securities laws, etc. Anything that involves legal paperwork can require an attorney.
The third set of options, which also generally requires passing the bar, is to do legal research, including legislative histories, or teaching, or semi-legal areas such as early neutral evaluation for dispute resolution. Because these often involve some interpretation of the law, most states require the individual to be licensed, even if they are not actively practicing as an attorney.
Not all states require a license for teachers, especially at the high school or junior college level. So, that's another option. As is legal publishing, or editing, where legal knowledge is necessary but you are not giving any specific legal advice. Or doing research solely for other attorneys, which can be done without passing the bar. Essentially, you can treat the law degree as an upper-level paralegal degree, and do anything a paralegal can do, without being licensed.
Other options include: lobbying, or politics itself; mediation; or other licensed professions (accounting, real estate, stock broker, etc.) where legal knowledge would be a help. Most of these are not uniquely available to JDs, but are other avenues to pursue.
You may want to consider taking the bar, even if you don't plan to practice actively, and just go inactive. That way, if you ever decide you want to practice in the future, all you have to do is change your status to active, and take some continuing legal ed, rather than trying to pass the bar exam 5-10 years out of school.
Good luck, feel free to drop a line if you want to chat further about any of these options.
2006-09-26 07:16:43 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recently graduated from law school - I was a part time student, worked full time to support myself. I knew that the only kinds of jobs I could get based on the fact that I had no experience, had gone to school part-time, was in a small or solo practice, lots of hours, little benefits. So I decided to forego taking the bar exam and stayed at my current job working at a huge law firm as a legal secretary - I make more money than I possibly could as a lawyer starting out. I get a nice salary, fantastic benefits, and lots and lots of vacation and sick time for doing very little work. I know a lot of legal assistants who are putting off even going to law school, because being a legal assistant pays a lot more than going to law school, passing the bar, and taking a crappy associate position at a crappy law firm. Unfortunately, I think the market is a bit flooded b/c everyone is going to law school. But there is a really high demand for support staff in the law field.
2006-09-26 15:45:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many ways of practicing law or using your law degree without being a litigator or working in a traditional law practice. You should talk to the career services professionals at the law school you are attending. They will be able to direct you to many other options.
Good luck to you.
2006-09-26 04:23:12 · answer #3 · answered by Vicki D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was an English teacher in Korea and then I became a lifeguard. I never got into training lifeguards for reasons of my own, but I think that could be a lot more profitable than practicing law. Nobody's going to pay you to do what you want to do.
2006-09-26 03:25:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Government, diplomacy, business. Most law graduates do not, or do not continue to, practice law.
In countries other than the USA, most law graduates cannot pass the judicial exams or cannot get apprenticeship places required to become licensed.
2006-09-26 03:18:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many options, consultant, diplomatic field, judge, business, lecturer and professor.
I think all of them are belong to Law otherwise you can do your own business in commercial or administration field.. Its what you like to do and what you like be.
Good luck..
2006-09-26 03:25:37 · answer #6 · answered by Sousy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all CONGRADULATIONS! That is an amazing accomplishment, and second Where is coragryph? Anybody seen him? This is a good question for him.
2006-09-26 03:21:18 · answer #7 · answered by frogspeaceflower 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
**CONGRATS**...And Best wishes with all future endevors...=)
~PEACE~
2006-09-26 05:08:16 · answer #8 · answered by no_doubt! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋