Working in the field of law is a prestigious career path that requires a great deal of dedication and education in order to be successful.
For motivated students that have a passion for justice, earning a Law degree can give you the opportunity to make a difference on the local, state, or federal level. Whether you are working as an attorney or presiding over cases as a judge, a Law degree is an essential component for entry into these challenging, fast-paced careers.
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There are several types of Law degrees available, and in the table below we have highlighted 40 different career ideas related to the field of Law. By looking through this information, we hope you will gain a better understanding of the different career paths that may be available to you after graduating from a Law degree program:
| Careers | Average Annual Salary |
| Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney | $154,431 |
| Managing Partner, Law Firm | $154,364 |
| Senior Counsel | $151,638 |
| Patent Attorney | $149,984 |
| Law Firm Partner | $148,426 |
| Deputy General Counsel | $146,669 |
| Judge, Trial Court | $144,000 |
| Senior Corporate Counsel | $143,152 |
| General Counsel | $137,942 |
| Associate General Counsel | $135,782 |
| Assistant General Counsel | $134,162 |
| Corporate Counsel | $126,185 |
| Legal Counsel | $124,800 |
| Attorney (Corporate, in-house) | $121,181 |
| Litigation Attorney | $101,437 |
| Associate Attorney (Law Firm) | $97,934 |
| Attorney / Lawyer | $96,302 |
| Criminal Defense Lawyer | $89,958 |
| Family Law Attorney | $83,576 |
| Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, or Hearing Officer | $81,665 |
| Immigration Attorney | $81,206 |
| District Attorney | $76,746 |
| Staff Attorney | $75,308 |
| Compliance Officer | $73,389 |
| Bankruptcy Attorney | $72,570 |
| Professor, Postsecondary | $69,576 |
| Corporate Paralegal | $67,790 |
| Contract Specialist | $67,664 |
| Prosecutor | $66,707 |
| Senior Paralegal | $65,749 |
| Assistant District Attorney | $64,968 |
| Magistrate Judge | $59,543 |
| Law Librarian | $59,003 |
| Entry-Level Attorney | $55,481 |
| Litigation Paralegal | $54,859 |
| Paralegal | $50,769 |
| Legal Administrative Assistant | $49,658 |
| Mediator | $49,418 |
| Legal Secretary | $48,986 |
| Court Reporter | $44,652 |
*Data sourced through Payscale.com
What Can You Do With a Law Degree?
As you can see, working in the field of law can lead to lucrative employment opportunities that involve a number of different industries. Whether you start out as a legal secretary or work in high-level corporate law positions, a Law degree can open the door to a number of exciting career paths.
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The table above shows the median annual salaries across a variety of different law occupations, and all of the careers shown are above the national average across all occupations. Those who have earned a J.D. degree and have ample experience in the field are typically the top earners in the world of law, and the average salaries for these jobs can easily exceed six-figures per year!
What Is a Law Degree?
Those interested in Law typically can earn one of three degree types – a Juris Doctor (J.D.), a Master of Laws, and a Doctor of Judicial Science. When most people consider working in the field of law, they are typically thinking of enrolling in a J.D. program. This graduate degree will provide you with the skills needed to work as an attorney and prepare you to sit for your state’s required Bar Examination to obtain licensure.
A Juris Doctor degree can be pursued after successfully completing a bachelor’s degree program, and it typically takes three full years to complete. In the later years of your J.D. program, you may have the opportunity to specialize within a degree concentration to learn advanced skills in your field of interest.
A few of the topics that you can expect to cover during the course of your J.D. degree program include:
- Criminal law
- Civil procedure
- International law
- Legal research
- Business law
- Family law
For those who want to work directly with clients in the courtroom setting, working towards your J.D. Law degree is an excellent starting point to begin building your professional career!
Are there Law Degrees Available Online?
The vast majority of states require that students graduate from an ABA-accredited school of law in order to sit for the mandatory Bar Examination before working as an attorney. However, if you are interested in practicing within the state of California, there are additional educational options.
California offers a select number of non-ABA accredited online Law degree programs that are recognized by the state’s Bar Association. After graduation from one of these online law schools, you will be eligible to sit for the Bar and obtain licensure to practice within the limits of the state of California.
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It is important to note, however, that if you have any intention of relocating or practicing outside of California, your education will likely not be recognized in a new state.
Law Career Outlook
Those who are skilled professionals in the field of law are always in high demand across a variety of industries. Whether you plan on working as an attorney or as a legal assistant, the occupational outlook for those working in law continues to show an upward trend.
To find out the specific career outlook and average salary for various law occupations, we suggest taking a look at the website of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to data provided by the BLS, lawyers are expected to see occupational growth of 4% by the year 2029 – about as fast as the national average across all occupations.
Additionally, paralegals and legal assistants will see a 10% growth in the same timeframe. These steady growth numbers are good news for those interested in earning a Law degree and will result in the consistent addition of new jobs within the industry.
For those interested in a fast-paced career with lucrative annual wages, a Law degree can open the door to a number of highly-respected job paths. From legal researchers to attorneys and high-level judges, there are a number of ways you can turn your Law degree into a fulfilling, life-long career!
You can also view our journalism careers and liberal arts careers guides for more options.
