Law

Law
The legal system is the backbone of our society, and without legal professionals we’d have a lot of trouble maintaining and interpreting it in an appropriate manner. The work of a law professional can be grueling, characterized by hours spent researching, conducting interviews and preparing for trials. Law professionals are articulate, quick on their feet and authoritative. The specifics of what a law professional does, depends entirely upon his/her department; lawyers, consultants and attorneys, for instance, can specialize in a wide variety of areas, including, but not limited to, probate, international or environmental law. Regardless of the field they work within, legal professionals always have been and always will be, the sponsors and consultants of society.

Law Degree

In order to practice law, scholars generally need to commit seven years to study, with a four-year college degree and three years of law school. After an in-class or online law degree program has been completed, the aspiring lawyer must also pass a written bar examination. Those interested in an online law degree do not need to have studied law prior to applying to selected law degree programs. However, prospective students should feel confident in their abilities to write persuasively, think analytically and speak in public settings. Typical applicants to law degree programs have undergraduate experience in fields such as history, political science, English, economics, philosophy or government. All law degree programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) require that applicants first take the Law School Administration Test (LSAT). Upon the completion of a law degree program and the achievement of adequate scores on the LSAT, the student will receive his/her professional Juris Doctor (J.D.). Students that decide to embark on an in-class or online law degree program will initially study subjects such as legal writing, constitutional law and civil procedure. Certain degrees will also require that students gain experience in real-life settings, working at a law firm, agency or department under the supervision of a law professional.

Law Careers

Obtaining an in-class or online law degree can open up the door to a number of career choices. Graduates of law degree programs typically work as lawyers, public defenders, judges, district attorneys and legal consultants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyers held roughly 759,200 jobs in 2008. While the majority of lawyers work in law firms and private practices, many others hold government positions or work as counselors for banks, businesses, insurance companies and real-estate firms. While the rate of employment for lawyers is expected to rise over the next ten years, fewer lawyers are working as attorneys and more are using their legal skills to assist other companies and corporations. To cut on costs, more firms are hiring lower tier, less expensive paralegals and clerks rather than lawyers. Ultimately, the more experience you have, the better, and a readiness to relocate will also make a big difference.