Aside from the practice of law, what else is in store for a freshly proclaimed attorney or even the long-time lawyer who wants a career change?
Policy-making
Short of becoming a politician (though it is also a path to undertake eventually), policy-making and other duties related to it can be performed by a law graduate. From speech writers to lobbyists, law graduates can find their niche in a host of job opportunities in policy-making and governance.
Crime and law enforcement
A law degree is a good foundation for a career in law enforcement. Though physical qualifications may also have to be met, a law degree holder can flourish in a career that also has its roots on the law.
Corporate setting
Management and consultancy firms also tend to look for individuals who possess higher degrees of learning. People who have law degrees are certainly not exempt from taking on jobs in the corporate world. Skills honed during law school can be of use in the fields of finance, accountancy, and even taxation where a knowledge of local and revenue laws are needed. The human resources department of a company can also be a good avenue for law degree holders.
Research and analysis
The field of research is also a good place for law degree holders to build their careers in. The analysis and management of information is a task that a law graduate can perform well given the training that one has received in law school. Law libraries and legal resources can benefit greatly from law graduates as well as publishing companies of legal references (journals and textbooks) and even management consultancy firms.
The academe
The academe can also be a welcoming place for law graduates. Recent graduates and bar passers can apply for grants and instructor positions, while seasoned law practitioners can go for instructor or even professor positions. Law graduates can teach not only in law school, but also in graduate schools of a different interest, in community colleges, and even in special programs related to the legal practice such as legal transcription positions and law enforcement seminars.
Though a law degree or having years of experience in the practice of law are sufficient for some of these alternative careers, an extra specialization closer to these fields won’t hurt.
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