A career in law can lead to many interesting and rewarding experiences. There is a wide variety of legal jobs available to those with the right skills and degree. A career in law can take many forms, from that of an administrative assistant to that of a judge. All of these jobs have varying educational requirements, so it’s possible to start off at the bottom and work your way up if you like what you do.
Legal Caseworker
Clerks in the legal field often start off at the entry level. Typically, a high school graduation is sufficient for these roles. The primary function of a legal file clerk is the organization and maintenance of all relevant papers, whether stored digitally or on paper. Legal file clerks might be found working for government agencies, insurance corporations, or legal firms. Positions like these allow ambitious individuals to get their feet wet in the legal industry and acquire useful experience without having to go back to school. They also provide prospective law school students a taste of what it’s like to work in the business.
• The Houston Chronicle explains what a file clerk does and how they might develop in their career.
• Among legal file clerks, Erin Brockovich is among the most well-known.
Legal assistant
Schedules, deadline tracking, call screening, and document preparation are just a few of the many administrative duties that fall within the purview of legal secretaries. A high school graduation and secretarial training are often required qualifications for legal secretarial roles, and they usually work for a single or multiple attorneys. Nonetheless, some schools and organizations provide programs leading to certificates, diplomas, and degrees that could be suitable for the job.
• A legal secretary needs to have the education and skills outlined by Legal Secretaries International.
• Legal secretaries can learn more about the certification options through NALS, the society for legal professionals.
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Assisting attorneys with case preparation is the role of paralegals. “Legal assistant” and “paralegal” mean the same thing. Where a paralegal works determines the nature and scope of their duties. Paralegals employed by big organizations or law firms sometimes have less responsibility than their smaller company counterparts. A paralegal’s role is similar to that of an attorney’s, and they provide valuable support to their superiors, although paralegals cannot provide legal advice themselves. Legal assistants help lawyers with client interactions, document drafting, and trial support.
Paralegals must meet the educational standards set out by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.The National Association of Legal Assistants has a list of the usual duties performed by a legal assistant.
Consultant for Legal Nurses
Government organizations, insurance companies, and law firms use legal nurse consultants. Freelancing is another option for legal nurse consultants. As part of their job description, they are expected to analyze medical records, provide medical education to attorneys and other personnel, locate relevant medical experts, and provide support during trials and depositions. Nurses with clinical expertise and a degree in nursing sometimes serve as legal nurse consultants. Additional schooling is not necessary, but there are programs available for this specialty.
A legal nurse consultant’s duties can be found in the National Alliance of Legal Nurse Consultants’ job description.
For more information on how to become a legal nurse consultant, see the website of the American Association of Legal Nurses.
Reporter for Legal Matters
Professional court reporters record all court and pre-trial hearings. For accurate transcriptions, they employ a specialized form of shorthand and specialized transcription equipment. The use of “real time” recordings by court reporters has recently become commonplace, allowing judges and lawyers to view witness evidence on computer displays in real-time. In court reporting, you can get a certificate, a diploma, or a degree.
You may see a list of schools that provide court reporting programs at careers in court reporting.
You may find a summary of this occupation at the Florida Times-Union.
• Requirements for certification are outlined by the National Court Reporters Association.
Prospective attorney
Legal recruiters can be found working for companies, law firms, or even staffing agencies. They are responsible for advertising job positions, screening applicants, providing feedback on performance, evaluating and monitoring HR policy, and training employees. They network with schools, which opens the door for potential referrals of qualified students. Most legal recruiters hold a J.D. or at least a bachelor’s degree.
Legal recruiting trends as reported by the Association of Legal Career Professionals.
Legal recruiters need certain character traits, according to Global Post.
Mediator
Mediators attempt to resolve disputes through an informal procedure. They refuse to make a call or provide a directive. Rather, they operate in many settings, including as private practices, government agencies, and the judicial systems, with the goal of mediating a settlement between the disputing parties. Although many lawyers also work as mediators, a J.D. is not necessarily required to enter this field. It is essential to research the prerequisites for becoming a mediator in your home state as well as any state in which you may be employed, since the credentials needed for this role might vary greatly from one program to another.
Mediators can take advantage of a comprehensive certification curriculum offered by the National Association of Certified Mediators.
A trifecta of mediation styles is defined by the International Mediation Institute.
Attorney General
In criminal cases, the government is represented by a prosecutor, who is a trained lawyer. The position of prosecutor is sometimes known as state’s attorney or district attorney. United States Attorneys are the federal government’s go-to prosecutors. A prosecutor’s duties encompass gathering evidence, questioning potential witnesses, and preparing arguments for trial.
How to Become a United States Attorney is Described by the American Bar Association.The careers of five prosecutors are discussed by Columbia Law School.
Legal Advocate
Lawyers appointed by the government to represent specific defendants in criminal proceedings are known as public defenders. Defendants seeking the services of a public defender may be subject to income requirements. Either the government employs these experts directly or they are part of a pool of lawyers who are willing to represent the public in legal matters. They represent clients in court by preparing and delivering defense arguments. • PBS offers a glimpse inside the lives of public defenders and prosecutors.On ULaw Today, two public defenders talk about how they got their jobs.
Official Verifier of Titles
A title examiner investigates the validity of property titles, including the existence of any restrictions, to determine if they are marketable. “Title” means “ownership” in a legal sense. Even though some research is done electronically, title examiners still often need to go through a mountain of paper paperwork to get a complete picture. Legal professionals, insurers, realtors, banks, and private corporations all employ title examiners. They need not have completed any further formal education beyond that of a high school graduate. Having a bachelor’s degree or higher is, nevertheless, typical for them.
• A comprehensive list of the responsibilities and abilities required by title examiners may be found on O*Net Online.
Advocate for Victims
Victims of crime can receive assistance and support from victim advocates. Various private groups, police stations, and the judicial system employ victim advocates. In order to educate and aid the victim the best, they offer practical help, counseling, and knowledge to the people they are dealing with. They may even go to court with victims to help them understand what’s happening. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for victim advocates, while some may also undergo in-house training.A variety of training courses are available to victim advocates, as described by the Office for Victims of Crime.
Investigative Detective
Upon arriving at a crime scene, investigators begin collecting and analyzing evidence. Moreover, they provide testimony at trial based on the evidence that was gathered. Professionals with advanced degrees in forensic science work for law enforcement agencies as crime scene investigators. Crime scene investigators work for private forensic labs, government agencies at all levels, including local, state, and federal agencies. The International Association for Identification has a wealth of information regarding these professionals.
Judge for Probation
Instead of incarcerating condemned individuals, probation officials work with them as they fulfill the terms of their probation. Offenders are walked through the probationary process and given a meeting schedule. Offenders’ compliance with the probation requirements is monitored during these meetings. Additionally, probation officers look into criminals to make sure they aren’t up to no good throughout their probationary period. While every probation officer’s position is unique, a bachelor’s degree is often required. •Learn more about what it takes to be a probation officer and what each state has to offer by visiting ProbationOfficeEDU. •You can get more information about federal probation officers and their duties on the US Courts website.
Legal Counsel for Civil Cases
Criminal cases are not the domain of civil litigation counsel. Someone has to defend the individual or organization being sued, known as the defendant, while another has to bring claims on behalf of clients, known as the plaintiffs. A large portion of a civil litigation attorney’s day is spent getting ready for trial, which includes things like reviewing documents, answering written questions, taking depositions, and arguing motions that will be presented at trial. If you want to learn more about civil litigation and how to become one, you can check out the University of Baltimore Law School’s Quick Guide to Civil Litigation (PDF). Additionally, the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section has a number of videos that cover various aspects of civil litigation.
Judicial proceedings include administrative, criminal, and civil matters. They make the call on what evidence each side can present in court. During hearings and trials, judges ensure that attorneys adhere to court regulations. Whatever comes up before, during, or after a trial, they decide on. Federal and state courts, in addition to administrative agencies, employ judges.
Become a federal court judge with the help of the American Constitution Society’s film, The Path to the Federal Bench.The requirements for becoming a judge are laid out by the United States Department of Labor.
How to Become an Attorney : A Comprehensive Guide
