A law degree is a great option for those wanting a career that offers immense opportunities in many industries. With a law degree, you can enjoy fantastic job security and flexibility in where and how you work.
For example, some jobs allow you to work remotely most of the time. While it’s true that some lawyers spend a lot of time in the courtroom, the vast majority do not.
Here are a few career paths you can take after gaining your law degree.
Immigration lawyer
With so many people choosing to immigrate from all over the world, there is a strong demand for lawyers who want to help people from diverse backgrounds navigate the immigration process. In this position, you will assist immigrants in obtaining a green card and getting started on citizenship.
Detailed knowledge of immigration laws and the proper procedure for obtaining work visas and other important documents is essential. Immigration law is a great choice for those who enjoy meeting and working with people from different backgrounds. Knowing at least one foreign language can make the job a lot easier. Taking foreign language classes is strongly advised for those who wish to practice immigration law.
Attorney-at-law
You may decide that you want to offer a variety of law services or work at a firm that serves many different clients. An attorney-at-law may provide services such as overseeing custody issues, divorce, real estate law, personal injury and disability claims, or even minor legal issues.
Plenty of attorneys spend some time as a general practice attorney before deciding on a specialty, while others decide after specializing for years that they would like to practice as an attorney-at-law independently or with a partner.
Corporate lawyer
A corporate lawyer helps companies make sure they are meeting any legal obligations throughout all areas of their business enterprises. A corporate lawyer assists with any necessary paperwork to meet state and federal regulations, taxes, etc. If a company needs legal representation in the courtroom, a corporate lawyer will provide it.
One of the highest-paying jobs available to someone with a law degree is practicing as a corporate lawyer. Of course, there is a wide salary range depending on the average complexity of the cases you work on and how high-profile your clients are. The higher salary comes with a heavier workload than some other law jobs, but if you are a hard worker who doesn’t mind going the extra mile for clients, this can be a very exciting and rewarding branch of law.
Admiralty and maritime lawyer
As a maritime lawyer, your specialty involves anything regarding sea-going vessels, including boats, container ships and more. There is a lot of cargo that travels via ship, so you may handle issues related to shipping contracts and port commerce.
Admiralty and maritime lawyers are often involved with environmental issues and regulations related to the offshore drilling of oil and renewable energy installations such as offshore wind farms. Maritime lawyers are consulted when there are accidents such as oil spills or other ship-related disasters.
Bankruptcy lawyer
There is a strong demand for attorneys who can assist private individuals and businesses with declaring bankruptcy when their debt obligation becomes too much for them to handle through standard means. The goal of a bankruptcy attorney is to negotiate with creditors on behalf of the client and come to a mutual agreement and settlement that benefits both parties.
This can mean negotiating debt payments down to an amount that the debtor can reasonably pay or even getting some debts forgiven if the debtor has been making payments for a significant period of time. Bankruptcy lawyers help debtors preserve some assets such as their main home or car.
Criminal attorney
If spending a lot of time interacting with others in a courtroom setting appeals to you, you might want to consider being a criminal attorney. In this role, you will be responsible for defending people accused of criminal acts, from basic misdemeanor offenses to the most serious crimes. Being a criminal attorney can be stressful and requires you to be comfortable defending people who have been charged with serious offenses.
Criminal attorneys need excellent communication skills and the ability to stay calm under harsh criticism and stressful situations.
How do I get a law degree?
In the past, law degrees had to be obtained by attending classes in a traditional setting. This often meant relocating to an area where a law school is located. Now there are numerous online options. Almost all law programs that prepare you to pass the bar exam and become a licensed attorney require a bachelor’s degree for admission. An online Juris Doctor program is a great option for those who dream of becoming a licensed attorney but need an option they can complete while continuing to work or care for their family.
The University of Ohio offers an excellent online Juris Doctor program that allows you to complete your law degree in as little as three years and three months as a part-time student. This advanced program offers students classes on specialized cybersecurity, space law, business law and more.
You will need to pass the bar exam in each state that you wish to be licensed to take cases in. While most lawyers just practice in one state, if you live near the border of a state, you may want to be authorized to take cases in your neighboring state as well.
Conclusion
A degree in law opens a lot of doors and ensures that you will have good job security in the future, allowing for opportunities in many different industries and sectors.
With more educational options available than before, a career in law is something that more people can pursue regardless of their other obligations.
