Are you thinking of pursuing a career in law? Well, you have chosen a field that involves lifelong learning. From fighting a civil case to unraveling the mystery of a crime, a lawyer takes a stand for himself and the justice system.
Primarily, all legal areas are divided into three main types: public, private, and criminal. It includes Engaging legal counsel to manage an upcoming intellectual property dispute or attorneys for corporations, family disputes, environment, and more.
But which domain provides better financial stability and growth? And, if the selected job will suit you or not? We will explore all these questions in this article by informing you about the top 6 careers in law.
Criminal Lawyer
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s overview of federal criminal cases in 2021, there were 57,377 federal criminal cases in which the offender was sentenced. Most crimes involved immigration, theft, fraud, drugs, and embezzlement cases.
This is just one overview of the work of a criminal lawyer. It is a tough job to represent clients on either side, with all cases under direct public scrutiny. They have hearings in the local, supreme, or high court depending on the case until the final judgment is announced.
Skills Required: Strong investigative mind, in-depth research capability, oration skills, legal analysis, attention to detail, and building interpersonal connections.
FUN FACT
The highest-paid lawyer in the world is Richard Scruggs, with a net worth of $1.7 billion.
Corporate Lawyer
With the rise of startups in recent years, becoming a corporate lawyer is one of the best career options. Every big company in every sector has a legal team to create official regulations, counsel about taxes, assist in investment decisions, etc.
Take the example of Virgin Atlantic and Richard Bransons endeavors to build a big business. He is a decisive man with many professional connections with international brands. He knows whom and where to invest, as his team of lawyers expertly creates corporate agreements to run a successful business.
As a corporate lawyer, you will take care of all the business legal processes, claiming liability, business transactions, managing legal documents, contracts, enterprise partnerships, and more.
Skills Required: Familiarity with all types of corporate laws, including government tax regulations, banking, and financial laws, preventing any legal actions on the company, analytical thinking, devising business strategies, etc.
Civil Lawyer
The most coveted job, involving a lot of multitasking and understanding of diverse subjects, is of a civil lawyer. They handle all the documentation and client negotiation deals in non-criminal litigation.
Though world leaders like Bill Gates famously vaunts laziness as an attribute, civil lawyers don’t have this privilege or time. It’s because they manage diverse specializations such as taxation, family disputes, excise law, etc.
Skills Required: strong communication skills, ability to understand the queries of different clients, filing motions, hiring expert witnesses, devising winning strategies, and knowledge of the legal rights of the client.
DO YOU KNOW?
All lawyers need to pass an ethics test to work as attorneys in their specialized fields. It ensures that the lawyers understand the sense of responsibility, security, and confidentiality towards their clients.
Family Law Paralegal
There are different types of family laws in every country and state. It is a complex job involving the personal and private matters of a client, which needs strong moral and ethical understanding.
A family law paralegal presents the case in a family court with all evidence in paperwork and arguments of the involved parties. A lot of documentation, background checks, and interpersonal skills are required. This is one career where learning grows with experience, as each case may become complex as the proceedings become longer.
Skills Required: legal research, drafting legal documents, strong communication skills, arranging legal arguments, handling confidential information of the client, investigating family income and lifestyles.
Real Estate Attorney
Though the economy may be volatile, property matters always become complicated for private and governmental sectors. The reason could vary from illegal construction to usurping family land.
It is a specialization that requires a detailed documentation process that covers all the legal rights of the owner, deed transfers among nominees, after-death legalities, price negotiations, and more.
Skills Required: extensive knowledge of real estate transactions, review of all signed documents, buyer’s and seller’s interests, and abiding by local and state regulations.
STATISTICS
The graph is an overview of the basic salary and bonus expectations in a law career as per the number of experience in a specialized legal field.
Environment and Natural Resources Lawyer
A fairly new but promising career can be becoming an environmental advocate and natural resource lawyer. They work with private firms, government bodies, and academic institutions to devise a plan that prevents any damage to the climate.
Primarily, they manage issues such as hazardous waste, species protection, biodiversity, pest control, and green initiatives. They are also responsible for creating sustainable strategies, involved with research organizations working on alternative energy sources.
Skills Required: research the impact of climate change, awareness of local and global environmental issues, interpersonal skills, social sensitivity, and problem-solving skills.
Conclusion
A career in law is both challenging and complex. It is also one of the elite professions that guarantees growth as learning continues. After completing your law degree, specialization in a particular legal field can create a solid foundation to become an expert attorney.
With experience and building connections through strong interpersonal skills, one can explore the diverse domains of law. As you navigate the public and private sectors, becoming a lawyer will truly prove to be a rewarding career choice.
