7 Things You Can Do with a Law Degree

(UPDATED 2022) Studying law opens up a variety of incredible opportunities and career prospects, from becoming a lawyer to working in legal publishing. But what can you do with a law degree, and what are some jobs for law graduates? 

Whether you’re interested in human rights, corporate law, or forensic investigation, you can find something suited to your interests in the legal profession. If you’re wondering what to do after a law degree and want to know what kind of legal entry-level jobs are out there, check out our top 10 things you can do with a law degree below and find your passion today.

One of the key careers people think of when it comes to studying law is becoming a lawyer. The term ‘lawyer’ is a general term that is used to describe anyone who is a licensed legal professional, such as a barrister and a solicitor. Lawyers advise and support clients, either preparing their cases for court or advocating for them in court or at tribunals. Of course, there are many roles within the legal system you may wish to explore, but becoming a lawyer is certainly one of the most popular choices. 

In order to qualify as a lawyer, you will need to obtain a degree in law (LLB) which can be taken either through online law courses or in-class at university. You can find out everything you need to know about taking on a law degree through online resources. 

Following this, you will likely need to study at postgraduate level, depending on what your specific career aspirations are. Solicitors must complete a vocational Legal Practice Course (LPC) before embarking on a training course with a law firm. Becoming a barrister also requires postgraduate training, which is often the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and then a work-based learning element.

An undergraduate law degree is a fantastic baseline if you want to explore a specific career path and look for law degree jobs that are suited to you. Following your degree, you may want to take a professional postgraduate course such as those mentioned above. 

However, there are also a number of other postgraduate education options if you simply want to expand your knowledge or further explore your area of interest. 

You can study for a Master of Law degree (LLM) to either deepen your understanding of the academic side of the law or learn more about your area of interest through optional modules. You can also choose a variety of other postgraduate study options, such as a PGCE if you want to go into education or an MA in Management if you want to become, for example, the manager of a law firm.

If you’re wondering what to do with a law degree and you are more interested in becoming part of the police force, then working as a detective could be for you. Your education in law will hugely help your progress. Combined with specialist training, it can set you up with a fantastic career. Before the programme, however, you will need to obtain a 2:2 in your degree and have two years of experience in the industry (which you may have been able to complete during a placement in your studies).

Careers with a law degree you can obtain can be highly varied, and if you’re wondering what to do after a law degree course is finished, you can also go into roles that are not directly related to the legal system. 

Becoming a corporate social responsibility (CSR) manager means that you will be responsible for ensuring that companies maintain ethical standards when it comes to the environment and sustainability. 

Within this role, you can help companies reduce their waste and help introduce strategies that minimise harmful practices whilst maximising profit. If you are interested in marketing and business and want to make a difference for the environment and wider society, then this could be a great career option for you.

If you love animals and want to utilise your law degree to help animals in need, then a career as an RSPCA inspector is ideal. You can use your legal knowledge to assist in the legal aspect of abused or neglected animals and fight for animal rights in ongoing investigations. Although this role doesn’t typically come to mind when thinking about jobs to do with law, it is an interesting route for those who want to work with animals but use some of their legal knowledge in their career. 

In order to be an inspector, you will need some customer-facing experience as well as experience with animals and a degree of physical fitness. If you’re looking for a law-related role like this, taking on an animal care course could give you the extra knowledge you need to step into this role.

One of the most popular long-term careers for law graduates is working as a judge. This highly prestigious role comes with a lot of responsibility, as you will be making rulings and passing sentences in court. However, with a good salary and the ability to positively impact lives, it is no wonder that this career path is a popular one. 

Whether you want to work in the magistrates’ court or the supreme court, you will need to get postgraduate qualifications similar to those required by other legal professionals. 

After you have completed your undergraduate degree, you should gain at least a postgraduate diploma in law (GDL), followed by passing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). 

You then need to work as a legal professional for five to seven years to obtain the experience needed to be appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission.

For those who are more interested in the forensic science aspect of the law, becoming a coroner could be a very fulfilling role. As a coroner, you will decide the cause of death through close analysis of the evidence, hold an inquest into the cause of death if needed and write reports in order to prevent future deaths. 

To become a coroner, you will need to become a qualified solicitor or barrister first or be a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with at least five years’ experience in the field. Qualifications in forensic science and criminology can also be helpful in this area. 

This role can often be emotionally hard to handle, as you will likely deal with mourning relatives as well as the deceased. However, it can also be very rewarding to play a large part in ensuring justice is carried out and using your scientific and legal expertise to help solve a case.