A law degree is something that all lawyers are required to have to practice their trade. After receiving a bachelors degree in pre-law, political science or another similar discipline prospective lawyers will then enter law school in preparation to pass the bar exam and receive a law degree. In the United States this is called a Juris Doctor Degree also know as a J.D.
It is the first step any lawyer should take before attempting the bar exam and is required to practice law. Obtaining a law degree opens up many doors for a new attorney and can be a vital corner stone to a new career in the law. Once an attorney has attended law school and received all applicable certifications and degrees which are required in their state of practice they have a multitude of options in how they will practice the law. Many lawyers will choose to go work for an already established firm which may specialize in a certain area of the law.
These can vary widely anywhere from maritime law to personal injury. Some common areas of the law are; criminal defense, tax law, securities, real estate, labor law, medical malpractice just to name a few. A new attorney can either choose to try to join a firm in an area of law where they have an interest or there is availability or they may choose to start their own practice. This can be a difficult endeavor though to start one’s own law firm.
Getting Law Degree Furthers Your Resume
Not only must you be a proficient in the law, you must also know how to run your own small business. While law school is very good at training lawyers to practice the law little is taught on how to run a business. A law degree is not the same thing as a business degree. Experienced lawyers have offered a few pieces of advice; specialize in one area of the law (don’t try to be a jack of all trades), sign up for court appointed and juvenile cases (they don’t pay a lot but provide great experience) and network with other attorney’s (meet with one each day they can give you cases and you can refer some to them).
Starting your own firm is only one option of what to do what a law degree, for many these is not ideal and they would rather focus on practicing law rather than running a small business. If this is your focus then you should try to join an already established firm. Depending on where you received your law degree and the strength of your resume will determine your options when trying to join a law firm. While obtaining your law degree or while an undergraduate you should look into an internship program offered by your university or area law firms.
This can be a great way to get your foot in the door and for the law firm to get some free labor while you earn college credit. These are just a few options that you will have if you choose to enter the world of law. Many lawyers go on to make laws on the hill in congress or work in other areas of politics. With a law degree your possibilities of what you can do with your career are limitless.
