Completing your law degree and graduation is only the tip of the iceberg compared to all the opportunities waiting for you in the job market. You have to choose the right career path so that you can start growing on it. Litigation is no longer the only path to take after law school. Check out the following career options that are open to you.
Take an Internship
Getting an internship at a local legal firm is a good idea, especially if you want to know the legal market’s ropes. You will learn more about every legal aspect so you can decide what specific legal field you would like to pursue. As a legal intern, you will work beside experienced lawyers, go to court, and probably even sit in settlement meetings. These lawyers usually are busy with real-time cases, and as such, you may find yourself tasked with the paperwork. That often entails reviewing essential documents, going over interviews, and also analyzing court proceedings. Internship, contrary to what most people presume, is a very taxing job. You need to complete your assignments with accuracy and efficiency to impress your superiors. Building a good reputation for yourself is very important in this line of work.
Take the Bar Exam
If you have decided that you want to practice law after graduation, this is the way to go. You have to pass the bar exam to become a certified lawyer or legal agent. Studying for the bar is not a walk in the park. We are sure you have heard numerous cases of people who sat for the exam multiple times. It is a complex process that demands your hard work, dedication, and 100% focus. If you take your studies for granted or try to study alongside a part-time job, your bar results are bound to suffer. You must take precautions to make sure that you pass your bar exam the first time around. If you fail, however, keep trying until you get it right.
Start Your Own Law Firm
Now that you’re out of school, consider starting your own law firm. Starting any new business, especially a law firm, can be very expensive so make sure you are ready. Find an office space, and create a business plan to figure out all of your business expenses including overhead. You will also want to decide what services will be best to outsource in order to save you time and stress. For example, consider outsourcing from a company that offers transcription for lawyers. Converting interview files and court recordings into accurate text documents can be very complicated, especially if you have loads of files to work on at a time. Hire experienced professional legal transcriptionists to help you out. They offer extensive transcription services to include testimonies, court hearings, depositions, legal briefs, and client letters. All you need to do is submit those video and audio recordings, and you will get superbly written documents as soon as you need them.
Take Up Legal Journalism
Legal journalism is an exciting career to venture into, and if you are passionate, you will find it vastly rewarding. It involves analyzing and reviewing laws, legal proceedings, and cases. You can apply for a job at a legal magazine, your local newspaper, or even start your enterprise. Do not be shy about starting a blog, a YouTube channel, or even a podcast. Your hard work will determine your success in this career path. Many law graduates who walked this path are renowned political analysts and legal panelists on TV and Radio. If you ever change your mind or decide to take up legal representation, you can use your content as part of your portfolio. Your future employers will undoubtedly be wowed by your commitment, vast legal knowledge, and entrepreneurship skills.
Conclusion
You do not have to feel stranded after graduating from law school anymore. Jobs do not come as quickly as we may expect them to, but that is not the end of the road. Consider these options and choose one that best suits your interest. Above everything else, make sure that you do something you genuinely love.