What Types of Careers Are in the Field of Law?
by Forest Time
Approximately 728,200 Americans worked as lawyers in 2010.
1 Majors to Become Paralegals
2 What Can I Do With a Juris Doctor Degree?
3 How Much Does a Paralegal Make Annually?
4 Legal Staffing Jobs
Although careers in the legal industry usually require at least a couple of years of postsecondary education, the earnings potential for careers in law make up for this sacrifice -- and this is particularly true of those careers that require many years of schooling. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level positions in the law industry, such as court reporters and paralegals, are currently experiencing positive job growth as of 2010.
Paralegals assist lawyers by researching cases and laws. They organize this information into written reports, and may also be called upon to draft legal documents. In most cases, paralegals have either an associate or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies before they are hired. Sometimes people without formal legal training may be hired because they have experience in a relevant field, such as insurance or health care. Paralegals reported a median salary of $46,680 per year to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, in 2010.
Court reporters create written transcripts and sound recordings of legal proceedings. They are responsible for ensuring that these documents are free from error, and that copies are made available to all parties involved in a trial or other court proceeding. Court reporters use different types of equipment, such as digital recorders, steno masks and stenotype machines. The postsecondary education required to be a court reporter varies from six months to four years. As of 2010, the median annual salary for court reporters was $47,700.
Lawyers represent clients during trials. Some, called public defenders, argue the cases of individuals being prosecuted by local, state, and federal government forces who cannot afford private lawyers. Criminal prosecutors are also employed by the government. Many lawyers work out of private legal offices or firms, representing clients who can afford them. A career as a lawyer usually requires a minimum of seven years of postsecondary education: four years of pre-law, and three years of law school. In addition, prospective lawyers must pass a written examination before they can practice. This hard work pays off in the end; the BLS reports that lawyers earned a median income of $112,760 a year as of 2010.
Judges oversee criminal and civil trials, ensuring that proper court procedures are followed. In many cases, judges decide the outcome of a trial and pass sentence. Judges work in local, state and federal courts. Some, called administrative law judges or hearing officers, work for government agencies. In addition to a law degree, judges usually have several years of experience working as a lawyer before they become a judge. As of 2010, administrative law judges earned a median salary of $85,500 per year, while court judges reported a median income of $119,270.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Court Reporters
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lawyers
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Judges
Time, Forest. "What Types of Careers Are in the Field of Law?" Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/types-careers-field-law-15265.html. Accessed 19 July 2019.
Time, Forest. (n.d.). What Types of Careers Are in the Field of Law? Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/types-careers-field-law-15265.html
Time, Forest. "What Types of Careers Are in the Field of Law?" accessed July 19, 2019. http://work.chron.com/types-careers-field-law-15265.html
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