Job Options for Graduates with Law Degrees
Careers in law are almost endless in today’s world economy. Whether you’ve completed your bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in in the field, opportunities are there for you to explore. Some of the many fields are well worth your consideration.
1. Military: The reality of the political and social situation in today’s world make a military career more attractive than it has ever been before. A bachelor’s degree law will make you eligible for a commission in one of the Armed Services, assuring you of immediate immersion into your profession.A business or civilian government position for the newly-graduated lawyer requires a year or more of junior status at low pay. A military lawyer starts off immediately with the prestige and income of a professional.The starting pay can range from $35,000 upward, depending on the law degree. Housing and other benefits make it equivalent to a civilian pay of $50,000. Retirement eligibility begins after 20 years, and depending on rank at that time, the annual pension for life can be upwards from $75,000.2. Government: Graduates with law degrees are recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, state and city police departments and other agencies. As with the Armed Services, a 20-year career creates eligibility for retirement and substantial pensions and benefits.3. Teaching positions: Colleges and universities with schools of law offer many opportunities for graduates to choose a career in education. One advantage is that faculty members are usually offered free tuition to complete courses for advanced degrees, encouraged to publish their work and qualify for other professional accomplishments.4. Large law firms: While private firms usually require two or three years of working as assistants at relatively low pay, they may be followed by partnership offers. They give the qualified young attorney the opportunity to participate in the firm’s financial growth and prestige.5. Non-profits: For the new law graduate with the intent to use the education to help others, non-profits such as the ACLU and community public service groups, offer attractive opportunities. While the pay isn’t as high as it is in private practice, government or the military, there’s the satisfaction of knowing their education and skills are being used for the most common good.Job options for graduates with a legal background are almost limitless, and the field is wide open to those with the ambition to put their education to the best advantage.
