The UK is home to some of the world’s biggest and most prestigious law firms and has a leading legal system. This means that studying law is respected worldwide and has created endless opportunities for career paths in the legal sector.
But what can you do with a law degree? In this post, we’ll outline potential career paths in law you can take and how getting a law degree online could benefit you in both legal and non-legal careers.
What jobs can you get with a law degree?
Getting a law degree can set you on the path to becoming a lawyer or provide a great background for many other careers.
From courtrooms to parliament, the possibilities in law are almost endless. Some of the career paths you could choose include:
• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Paralegal
• Judge
• Chartered Legal Executive
• Member of Parliament (MP)
• Human Resources (HR)
• Civil Service
• Police Force
• Journalism
Depending on what areas interest you the most, a law degree can provide many options. Many law graduates enter political careers, so if you have a passion for politics, a career as an MP could be right for you.
Alternatively, if your passion is writing and current affairs, journalism can be an exciting career choice. For journalists, a law degree can help support their research, writing style and background knowledge for covering many legal cases and stories.
What skills does studying law teach you?
From becoming a lawyer to gaining transferrable skills applicable to almost every industry, a law degree can help you access a variety of careers.
As well as providing extensive legal knowledge, a law degree can help you develop many professional skills, such as:
• Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Research
• Reasoning
• Negotiation
• Critical Thinking
This means that you aren’t limited to a career directly in the legal system, as law is a widely respected degree that can open doors in many professions globally.
Do you need a law degree to become a lawyer?
Some careers in law, such as a judge, barrister, or solicitor, require an undergraduate law degree or a law conversion postgraduate degree. This is because, to qualify, you’ll need to complete either the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to become a solicitor or the Bar Training Course and pupillage to become a barrister, depending on your chosen career path. Qualified lawyers often see high salaries and have a higher earning potential, with top barristers and solicitors in leading UK law firms earning salaries over £100,000 a year.
Can I get a job in law without a law degree?
It is possible to get into some areas of law without a law degree, such as becoming a paralegal, where you can complete a paralegal qualification or work your way up in a law practice. However, a law degree can be useful, as it can be a competitive field.
A law degree is also not a necessity to enter related areas to law, such as the police force, civil service, and HR. However, it can be particularly useful to provide you with the relevant skills and legal knowledge needed, set you apart in the hiring process and help to accelerate your career.
For university graduates, the Civil Service also has a Fast Stream programme, which provides a competitive starting salary, permanent employment contracts and accelerated career progression into various areas of the Civil Service.
Can I do a law degree online?
For many, completing a law degree may feel out of reach for financial reasons or due to work and family commitments. However, with a Law Online Degree Pathway, you can study 100% online, around your schedule.
You can also save on tuition fees and avoid the costs associated with on-campus study, as online degree pathways cost a fraction of the price of traditional university degrees. You also don’t need to put your life on hold, as you can learn from anywhere, at any time that suits you.
Law Online Degree Pathway
Our Law Online Degree Pathway is a flexible, online alternative to the first two years of university. It can also be a much faster route to completing your career goals, as it can be completed at your pace and as soon as you're ready. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you are also guaranteed admission to one of our prestigious partner universities to complete the third and final year of your law degree.
If you’re ready to explore the opportunities a career in law can offer, click here to get started.
Alternatively, if you want to learn more about our Online Degree Pathways, click below to download your free brochure!
