Whilst a law degree is the perfect course for a legal career there are also many other professional sectors and job roles you could consider with the qualification. Whether you’ve already graduated, are looking for a career change, or are studying law and undecided on your future, we cover some of the potential careers for law graduates below.
By Grant Longstaff. Published 7 August 2024. Updated by Cara Fielder 14 October 2024
Introduction to non-traditional legal careers
For many people, a law degree is seen as the first step to becoming a barrister or solicitor. However, there are many more roles – both within the legal profession and beyond – where a law degree could be extremely useful.
Consider the skills you gain throughout your degree. You’ll develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills, become a great communicator, and have excellent research skills and attention to detail. These aren’t attributes exclusive to a lawyer. There are many businesses, industries and organisations which could benefit from such skills, meaning there is no end to alternative careers for law students.
Benefits of pursuing alternative careers
There are several benefits to pursuing an alternative career. You’ll find more diversity in the job market. You could also find a job which aligns with your personal interests or where your advanced skillset can make a difference. Working for a cause you support or an industry you admire could lead to more job satisfaction. You’ll also build on your skills, develop new ones and showcase your adaptability. All of these are desirable assets to employers.
Alternative careers for law students
You’ll find some alternative careers are more closely linked to the legal field than others. For some law graduates an alternative career could simply mean avoiding the courtroom or huge legal firms, for others it might mean looking further afield.
Consultancy
A consultant is a specialist in a particular field or area, offering their expertise and knowledge to clients. With your legal knowledge you could support a range of businesses and organisations who may need legal advice from time to time but can’t justify an in-house legal team. Moreover, consultancy isn’t limited to legal work. You’ll find consultants in business, IT, finance, HR, marketing, recruitment and many more.
You could find roles with consultancy firms or work independently. You’ll also find some consultancy firms offer graduate schemes. For more information you can take a look at our blog on the benefits of consultancy work.
Accountancy
If you’ve got a keen eye and like to pay attention to detail then working as an accountant could be perfect for you. There are many roles within accounting across a range of industries, from supporting organisations and businesses to investigating fraud and financial misconduct, so further research is needed if this is something you’re interested in. You’ll potentially need further qualifications accredited by a professional body too, however there are many opportunities for recent graduates and work based learning schemes.
Policing and law enforcement
If your degree has left you with a passion for helping people and upholding the law, a career in policing or law enforcement could be perfect for you.
Policing and law are an obvious fit as the legal knowledge you gained during your degree will allow you to hit the ground running when it comes to a policing career. Your degree will allow you to assess the legalities of situations quickly and potentially aid in calming situations with this knowledge.
There are numerous careers available within policing and you can see specific role requirements on the Joining the Police website.
Journalism
A popular career outside law for law students is Journalism. Your degree will provide you with the critical thinking and analytical skills essential for investigative reporting. You’ll already be familiar with the legal world – for example, how legislation is made and how the court system works – so you’re in the unique position of being able to write about legal proceedings effectively. Your legal background can also add weight and integrity to your words, a valuable asset, especially in the online landscape of misinformation and fake news.
Politics
Another popular choice for law graduates is to move into government or politics. You’ll find many roles in government, on both a local and national level. There are even graduate schemes offered by The Houses of Parliament, which will see you work within either the House of Commons or House of Lords, and the Civil Service Fast Stream, where you’ll work with a government department. Whilst these schemes are highly competitive, there are many other graduate schemes and job opportunities available.
Business
Business is a broad term and offers a huge variety of roles, and graduating with the legal skills you’ll gain throughout your degree does mean you’ll likely find employment within this huge sector. If you’re looking to stay closer to your legal roots you could look for work as an in-house lawyer, supporting a business with the legalities of business operation. Even in-house work offers an opportunity to practice in a number of legal areas, from commercial and corporate law to employment law and intellectual property. With business, the opportunities are endless.
Criminology
If you would rather study the causes of crimes and assess the criminal justice system than represent people within it, you could consider a career in criminology.
Instead of working for the justice system, you will more likely be working to improve it. Because of this, you will need to be happy handling data, reporting writing and research.
A background in law and criminology will leave you in a strong position to work in several sectors, including public services, legal services and education.
Education
A law degree can also be a good base for a career in education. You could go on to become a teacher or lecturer or choose to work within the administration or management of an education provider. Our MA in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership is designed for those looking to move into such a role. As a law graduate you could also look to work within educational policy, or work with organisations who specialise in legal education and reform.
And more...
No list of alternative careers for law students can be all encompassing. As well as the areas we’ve highlighted law graduates also go on to work in banking and finance, start their own businesses, work within legal tech, recruitment, marketing and beyond. If you’re looking for more inspiration you can explore the varied stories of our alumni; we’ve got politicians, university deans, business leaders, entrepreneurs and more.
No matter what you’re hoping to do, a law degree is futureproof and will equip you with some of the most essential and desirable skills employers are looking for.
If you’re looking to expand your future career opportunities with a law degree take a look at our range of undergraduate options now.
