What Can I Do With a Juris Doctorate Degree?
A juris doctorate degree, also known as a law degree, takes three years of full-time study to complete. Before beginning law school, students must complete a four-year degree in any discipline and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Within the juris doctorate program, students learn about the structure of the U.S. court systems, legal analysis, writing and research.
Attorney Careers
Most law school graduates go on to work as an attorney. To do so, you must take your state's bar examination, submit to a criminal and civil background check and show that you are of good moral character. After you are become licensed, you may work as an attorney in many types of settings-as a prosecutor, public defender, private lawyer, judge or corporate counsel. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), persons with a juris doctorate who worked as lawyers made a median yearly salary of $102,470 in 2008.
Persons with a juris doctorate who do not wish to take the bar exam may work as paralegals or legal consultants, but may not offer legal advice or represent clients in an official capacity.
Academics and Publishing
With a juris doctorate degree, you may work in the publishing field writing, editing and reviewing documents for legal journals, textbook publishers, newspapers, magazines and trade publications. You may review articles analyzing and synthesizing legal developments and report on news related to the law.
Many legal writers and editors are also affiliated with law schools and colleges and teach classes such as legal writing, procedure and analysis to undergraduate, paralegal or juris doctorate students. The BLS reports that those who worked in academics brought in a median salary of $45,000 per year in 2008.
Consulting
Private corporations often employ persons with juris doctorates to provide consulting services. Legal consultants may prepare contracts, develop workplace policies and update company administrators on developments in the law as they relate to the company's goals. According to CBSalary, the average national salary for a private legal consultant in 2008 was $144,366 per year.
Other Careers
Persons established in their careers may earn a juris doctorate to further their knowledge of the law as it relates to their professional discipline. Workers who must use the law in their day-to-day operations, including accountants, patent agents, social workers and risk managers, may benefit from a juris doctorate, integrating their normal job functions with the research and analytical skills that they develop in law school.
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