The best careers for law graduates that don’t want to practice law

2024 hasn’t been an easy year for law students. On top of being an extremely competitive industry, law is also an expensive degree to pursue — it costs around US$220,335 to attend law school, with the average total cost of tuition going up to US$146,484 a year. 

It’s not easy to graduate, either, let alone find a job after that.

The recent blockbuster admissions cycle has resulted in 17 law schools in the US welcoming first-year classes a quarter or larger than last year, reports Reuters. Despite positive enrolment rates, it’s not clear if the legal job market has room for more fresh lawyers. 

If that wasn’t enough, jobs for law graduates now face another threat.

Artificial intelligence can reportedly do many of the tasks of junior lawyers and other legal staff at less than 1% of the cost of their wages, recent research claims.

With all this negativity surrounding the law industry, it’s no surprise that many are wary of entering the field. This comment on a Reddit post says, “Do you want to practice law, or do you want a job that is in demand and makes money? If you want to practice law, go to law school. If you want the other stuff, then you do not need a law degree and should save the money.”

Some already in the field choose to drop out midway. Law school has high dropout rates – it’s over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13% according to Business Insider.

So why exactly do so many people want to become lawyers?

Why do students choose to pursue law?

Not only do you have to pour time and money into it, but you also have to pass the notoriously difficult bar examinations or go through an apprenticeship before qualifying to do so.

So why do so many still choose such a challenging programme? 

Intellectually challenging

There is no doubt that those who study law are smart. Some may say that if you like to argue — and be insufferable — then law is the perfect career for you.

Jokes aside, law is the ideal degree for people who enjoy solving difficult challenges and questioning grey areas. It’s more than just who’s wrong and who’s right — the field requires you to consider and deal with complex ethical, philosophical, and moral problems.

It’s a great way to understand the world and the people in it.

As a bonus, it also provides a great sense of fulfilment and meaning that’s born out of helping others, fighting injustice, and defending the innocent. Nothing feels more rewarding than that.

Prestige

There is a sense of prestige attached to the law industry. As long as you mention that you are pursuing a career in law, the general responses revolve around awe, envy, and admiration. 

Asian families, in particular, are fans of law. Many Asian children are encouraged to study and pursue a law career, and if it’s not for the high-income ceiling, it’s for the status. After all, parents love telling everyone that their child is a lawyer.

Jobs for law graduates pay extremely well

It’s no secret that jobs for law graduates usually pay very well. In the US, a lawyer can earn an average of US$93,303 a year, with the pay threshold reaching as high as US$170,661. 

If successful, a law degree offers financial stability and good job security. While demanding, it is still one of the most in-demand careers out there, and the rewards are well worth it. In the US, for example, the job outlook for lawyers is positive, with an expected increase of 6% between 2018 and 2028.

Diverse, future-proof skills

A law degree comes with many transferable skills that are useful for anyone’s professional career or even day-to-day activities. Good communication, problem-solving and critical thinking are all essential skills for someone to have.

There are also roles where legal knowledge, as opposed to skills, is particularly useful – such as human resource or tax advisory work.

Of course, this extends to other careers as well. 

Being a lawyer is not always the end-game 

Pursuing law doesn’t mean you’ll end up as a solicitor or barrister. For some, they don’t even have to step into a courtroom at all. 

This Quora user says, “First and foremost, I have to completely disagree with anyone and everyone who says that law school and/or a law degree is only for people who intend to become lawyers.”

The same user then goes on to say that a significant number of law graduates go on to become successful corporate executives, federal agents, stock brokers, and politicians. To them, the two most practical skills that students will get out of a law degree are legal research and writing, along with oral advocacy. 

With those skills, any other related career should be a walk in the park.

The finance and healthcare industries, for example, are always looking for compliance officers. A solid foundation in employment law and regulatory compliance can be a huge asset in HR-related roles. If you have a passion for writing, use your legal expertise to write articles, blogs or social media posts about legal topics or pursue legal journalism. 

There are even those who quit law completely to pursue other careers.

For example, Ivor Lim Xian Z from Malaysia is an international student who graduated with a law degree from the UK – today, she’s the owner of her own sustainable beauty and skincare brand HYGR, on top of being a content creator and influencer. Undoubtedly, her legal expertise came in handy to ensure compliance, manage risks and handle contractual aspects.

Indeed, the possibilities are endless.

So if you’re feeling disheartened about your law degree, don’t be – here are some of the best-paying jobs for law graduates out there that won’t have you sweating in a courtroom. 

GenZ lawyers :

“ your honour, tbh, ngl, idgaf ”

— Jigar (@Jigar_042) July 23, 2024

The best-paying jobs for law graduates 

Salary ranges for these positions are taken from Glassdoor and Indeed, but may vary in countries. 

Family lawyer

Salary range: US$66,931 – US$135,666 a year

As the name suggests, family lawyers manage legal problems between members of the same family, ranging from divorce, adoption, emancipation, guardianship and more. Sometimes you will be required to sit in a monitor family mediation sessions as well. 

There are also matters of family estates and inheritances, which can sometimes be a messy affair – but if family drama is right up your alley, this is the job for you.

Legal publishing

Salary range: US$60,000 – US$96,000 a year

Specialist legal publications often employ those with a background in law. Law graduates naturally have good attention to detail, strong research skills, and the ability to think critically and write succinctly, making them natural choices for the editorial and publishing industries.

If you have a flair for writing, consider pursuing legal journalism or writing content about legal topics. 

Compliance officer

Salary range: US$43,846 – $128,487 a year

Many industries, such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, branding, and more, need capable compliance officers to ensure operations adhere to legal and regulatory standards. 

Compliance officers frequently work with management and staff to identify and manage regulatory risks. They must have a thorough knowledge of the company and an awareness of where possible regulatory breaches may occur. Some compliance officers will also organise regular training sessions to communicate the latest regulatory updates.

Employment lawyer

Salary: US$67,356 – US$289,391 a year

Are you passionate about employee rights? This is the perfect job for law graduates like you.

Employment lawyers represent the employer, ensuring the latter remains compliant with various employment laws. This includes compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws, drafting policies, and handling employee complaints and lawsuits. 

Employment lawyers also assist employees with filing compensation claims, class action lawsuits, or union issues, so the work is not strictly employer-based. They can also represent their clients in third-party lawsuits and make court appearances on their behalf. 

 

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Content creator

Salary range: undefined 

If social media is your passion, you can make a living off creating content as well. Just look at our earlier example of Ivor Xian. 

There are also legal influencers who have hundreds of thousands of followers, such as Mike Mandell on Instagram or Erika Kullberg on TikTok. They provide their followers with helpful tips and facts, educating them to ask the right questions and look out for legal loopholes in brands, vehicles, and airlines. 

Loss adjusters 

Salary: US$48,000 – US$73,000 a year

You’ll be working mostly with insurance companies as a loss adjuster to verify customer claims. While graduates from other degrees can still become loss adjusters, insurance companies favour those from a law background.

It’s a good job for law graduates who have excellent negotiation skills, an analytical mind, and who are generally good with people from all walks of life. 

Assistant law professor

Salary: US$113,000 – US$189,000 a year

If the courtrooms aren’t suited to your taste, how does a lecture hall sound? 

As an assistant, you’ll assist the head law professor in teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducting and supervising research, and planning lessons and coursework with faculty members. And perhaps, after some time, you’ll end up as a law professor yourself!

Education is a good field to explore regardless – some teaching jobs for law graduates include private tutoring, becoming middle or high school teachers, or even selling personal law courses to students and working professionals. 

Government servant

Salary: US$97,000 – US$152,000 a year

There are a few areas in the federal government that may provide great jobs for law graduates. 

The first would be law creation. Government lawyers can assist in creating new laws for the city, state, or country. They work alongside policymakers to help them understand the law drafting process, modify existing laws, and enforce city ordinances. 

Government lawyers can also become public defenders, employed to defend someone who can’t afford or doesn’t want a private lawyer. They can work on various defences, most commonly in criminal cases. Some public defenders may also represent the government when it is the defendant in a suit, such as in a class action suit or civil complaint.

The salary range for this role will vary according to your country’s federal government, so make sure to look it up.