Five Roles That Can Be Pivoted Into A Law Career

Looking for a new career? If you’ve got an inquisitive mind, a knack for remembering facts, and a solid ethical compass, you might relish a law-related role.

It’s never too late to decide to switch things up and follow a new pathway. Within this guide, we will take a look at five roles that can be pivoted into a law career.

Working in the fast-paced world of finance gives you an excellent foundation of knowledge. If you’ve been working in accountancy for a number of years, chances are you already have a good grasp on figures and would be well suited to career pivot towards a number of roles. 

You can already keep financial documents, interpret data, and manage people’s finances. It doesn’t end there. You may already have a baseline understanding of finance law, especially as it applies directly to your field. 

With that in mind, shifting gears and moving into the wonderful world of finance law may be the way to go. Since you have been working in this field, learning the terminology, laws that are in place, and gaining a more in-depth knowledge for your legal career should be a cinch. What’s more, you can use the experience that you have to put theoretical frameworks into real terms.

Is protecting vulnerable people your passion? If you’re working part-time or full-time in a charity or non-profit environment, such as volunteering to help refugees, you will already understand how the law pertains to them. 

For example, you may have done some research on how to advocate for people’s rights and help them navigate the tricky area of immigration law. For that reason, pivoting into a full-blown career in the realms of law may be easier than you first imagine. 

If that sounds like a solid move to you, it could be worth doing some research in the area. Finding out what aspects of the law interest you could make a big difference. While you may have already read up on various parts of this subject matter, the more research you do, the easier it will be to decide whether this fulfilling career path is right for you.

When studying to become a journalist, you will have dipped your toes into the law-related waters. It’s more than likely that you will have learned about defamation law, contempt law, and law reporting. Essentially, you’ve covered all the parts of the law that could trip you up when you’re out in the field reporting. If you enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the law, you might want to take things further and study this riveting subject matter in-depth. 

Needless to say, plenty of the traits that make up a great journalist will also make a great lawyer. You may be great at analysing challenging situations, problem solving, communicating with a wide variety of people, and deciphering complicated documents. 

All of the above will help you excel in the field of law. When you get tired of writing and fancy a new challenge, it may be worth looking into this area of study and seeing whether it suits your unique character.

The primary role of a police officer is to enforce the law. That means that you have to have a comprehensive understanding of it and how to apply it in the field of crime. You may already work with lawyers when it comes to dealing with long cases and the like. 

So, have you ever thought about making the move to become a lawyer yourself? Should you want to try something completely new, taking this step on the career ladder is a great move.

You may want to speak to your manager about switching into the field of law. Looking at law conversion degrees or a similar avenue is a smart place to start. The more you learn about the process ahead of you, the easier it will become to decide whether it works for you. Additionally, it could help to speak to an established lawyer about their career or speak to a career coach who can give you case studies on other people who have embarked on a similar career transition.

Becoming a psychologist takes years of training and education. However, when you’ve reached the highest of heights, you may be looking for a new mountain to climb. If that’s the case, why not take a look at the field of criminal psychology? 

You may have the opportunity to apply your already diverse skill set to a whole new sector. Needless to say, there are plenty of ways that you can combine your existing knowledge and expertise with elements of the law. Take the time to look into your options and see what works for you.

When you’re ready to make a career change, the good news is that there are plenty of online law courses. Deciding which one suits your career goals is the first starting point. 

Should you want to become a lawyer, the most common type of qualification you will need to take is a law degree (LLB). If you already have a degree in a related field, you may find that you can take a conversion course. These types of qualifications tend to be shorter than typical degrees. Think of them like a fast-track to gaining the degree you will need. 

If you want to become a barrister after that, you will need to pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) and join one of the four inns of court. 

On the other hand, if you want to become a solicitor, you will need to gain an undergraduate degree in the field and pass two stages of the SQE. When you’ve done that, you also need to undertake two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) to gain new skills which can take place in a law firm, in-house legal team, legal practice, private practice through an internship. 

Of course, that’s by no means the only way to get into the field of law. The truth of the matter is that there are plenty of law and justice qualifications you can undertake. For instance, you might want to look into criminology or forensic science instead.