“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” —Albert Einstein

Law is not an easy degree to acquire, it requires commitment and hard work. However hard work always pays off so eventually, it is worth it. Throughout law school, I have been very curious about what path I would take when I will be done with my law degree. 

Researching and learning about the different types of law will help figure out which practice area they are most interested in. Whether one would I practice law in courts or work in a company or take a different path. What I have learned from other people way ahead of me in their journeys is to always keep an open mind to different opportunities. 

Where can I work with a law degree? 

So here is an insight on where you could work with a law degree: 

Ultimately, the first thought that pops into our minds when we hear about someone studying law is a direct assumption that they would work as a lawyer. In order to become a lawyer, you will first need to obtain the right qualifications in the country that you are planning to practice in. As a lawyer, there are also many different branches of the law that you could specialize in: 

  • Advertising Lawyer: advising companies about how to make persuasive sales pitches that obey consumer protection laws and regulations.
  • Administrative Lawyer: administrative lawyers often work as government regulators which involves creating regulations and ensuring people obey regulations.
  • Maritime Lawyer: these lawyers address legal disputes such as boats, ships and other water vessels, and other litigation relating offshore drilling. cases that are handled involve disasters, crashes, or environmental contamination. 
  • Arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution attorney: This area of law is to avoid long and expensive trials in cases where the parties can make amends in other ways.
  • Banking Lawyer: such attorneys who specialize in banking law can work as government regulators who enforce the consumer protection rules and other laws that banks must follow, or they can give legal advice and representation to banks themselves.
  • Corporate Lawyer: lawyers can either work in law firms with commercial clients, these lawyers give legal advice on the formation of companies, shareholder’s rights, mergers, and acquisitions.
  • Environmental Lawyer: lawyers represent clients in legal issues such as clean technology, water law, climate change law. Environment lawyers can work in government agencies, environment nonprofit agencies, and companies affected by environmental laws.
  • Family Lawyer: lawyers who deal with issues such as divorce, child custody disputes, and surrogacy. 
  • Human rights Lawyer: lawyers represent clients whose rights have been violated by employers or organizations. 
  • International Lawyer: attorneys provide clients with guidance on the rules and jurisdictions of various intergovernmental organizations such as the United nations. 
  • In house Lawyer: This means that lawyers don’t work in a law firm, they work in a company “in-house”. These lawyers are hired in companies that do legal work for the company instead of delegating the work through a law firm or an agency. 
  • LegalTech Lawyers, Bioethics Lawyers, … There are many more, you will have to research the field that you are passionate about in order to find the right specialisation. 

A misconception about law degrees

Many people think that by having a law degree you are limiting yourself to only practice law and become a lawyer. This is not true! There are many alternative law careers you can pursue. The type of skill set you learn throughout your degree opens many doors to future job opportunities such as: 

  • Diplomat;
  • Law professor;
  • Politician;
  • Entrepreneur;
  • Human Resources Manager;
  • Journalist;
  • Policy Analyst;
  • Lobbyists; and
  • Many more. 

It is advised to law students to experience interning at different law firms or anywhere compatible so they get a hint of what may interest them and to carry on with the direction that comforts them. Interning is great because you apply the law and get a taste of what work would be like in the practical world. Keep an open mind and seize every opportunity!