What can I do with a law degree?

The time has come, and graduation is fast approaching. You’ll finally have a law degree under your belt, one of the most highly respected and employable degrees around. But, as you probably know, the road to becoming an actual lawyer can be a long and arduous one, so you’ll want to feel pretty confident about your final career choice.

Luckily for you, there’s no shortage of excellent career paths for law graduates, so you’ll be sure to land on something that excites you. Careers in the legal sector are fast-paced and challenging, allowing you to make a measurable impact on people’s lives and reap the rewards of that, but exactly which role is right for you will depend on where your skills and interests lie.

Below, we’ve given a brief overview of 10 of the best careers you can pursue with a law degree, including the average salaries you’ll make in a year. 

Careers you can do with a law degree

Before we get into our 10 careers, it’s worth mentioning that this is by no means an exhaustive list. Employers across many industries and specialisms seek to employ law graduates for their excellent research skills, attention to detail, communication and commercial awareness, and this applies to non-legal employers too.

For example, law graduates are highly sought after by big corporations, government bodies, the police and tech firms. However, this article will largely be focusing on jobs within the legal sector — after all, you most likely have an interest in putting your legal knowledge and experience to good use. So, let’s get into it.

1. Solicitor

Average salary in the UK: £62,000 per year

One of the most popular careers for lawyers, a solicitor is the perfect choice if you prefer to work behind the scenes. As a solicitor, you’ll be the go-to legal expert for clients, offering advice, drafting documents, and negotiating on behalf of them. You can specialise in the area of law that interests you most, whether that might be family, corporate or contract law, but you’ll have knowledge and experience across different areas. 

2. Barrister

Average salary in the UK: £90,000 per year

If, on the other hand, it’s always been your dream to be a courtroom advocate, representing clients in legal disputes and making persuasive arguments before a judge, you’ll want to train to be a barrister. While you’ll also be able to offer expert legal advice, much of your time will be spent preparing and presenting cases for the courtroom, hoping to defend your client or seek prosecution.

3. Chartered legal executive

Average salary in the UK: £38,624 per year

Chartered legal executives are also qualified lawyers, but contrary to solicitors, they focus solely on one specific area of law. They perform many of the same tasks as solicitors, such as advising clients and preparing legal documents, but their training and qualification path is different, often more focused on practical experience. It usually takes less time and money to become a chartered legal executive, but this is reflected in the slightly lower average salary.

4. Litigator

Average salary in the UK: £52,490 per year 

Litigators are professional dispute handlers, ensuring that legal disputes are settled fairly in court. Whether it’s a commercial dispute or a personal injury claim, litigators manage the case from start to finish. This includes gathering evidence, preparing legal documents, and representing clients in court to ensure their side of the story is heard.

5. Paralegal

Average salary in the UK: £27,000 per year

If you’re starting out in your legal career, or still have a way to go before you’re a fully qualified lawyer, becoming a paralegal is a great stepping stone. Paralegals are the backbone of legal teams, providing essential support to solicitors and barristers, from conducting legal research to drafting documents. While they don’t represent clients, their work is crucial in ensuring cases run smoothly.

6. Costs lawyer

Average salary in the UK: £56,000 per year

As the name might suggest, costs lawyers specialise in the financial side of legal proceedings. They focus on calculating and negotiating legal costs, ensuring that the costs associated with a case are fair and reasonable. This role involves a blend of legal knowledge and financial acumen, making it perfect for those who enjoy working with numbers as well as law.

7. Judicial assistant

Average salary in the UK: £86,755 per year

As a judicial assistant, you’ll work closely with judges, providing them with research and drafting support. This is a unique role that offers insight into the judicial process and is often seen as a preliminary career for aspiring barristers or solicitors. You’ll get to see the inner workings of the courtroom and develop a deep understanding of the law in practice.

8. Arbitrator

Average salary in the UK: £65,000 per year

Arbitrators are neutral parties who help resolve disputes outside of court. While this may seem similar to the role of a litigator, arbitration is a more private and flexible alternative to litigation, and is often used to resolve commercial disputes without making much noise. As an arbitrator, you’ll listen to both sides, review evidence, and make binding decisions, offering a quicker resolution to conflicts.

9. Conveyancer 

Average salary in the UK: £35,028 per year

If you’re interested in property law, including handling the legal aspects of buying and selling real estate, becoming a conveyancer might be a fulfilling choice. From preparing contracts to conducting searches, you’ll ensure that property transactions go smoothly. It’s a role that combines legal knowledge with a focus on client service, as you’ll guide clients through one of the biggest transactions of their lives.

10. Civil servant

Average salary in the UK: £33,980 per year

Finishing off with a job that relates to the legal world more indirectly, working in the civil service can open up opportunities to shape public policy and work on issues that impact all areas of society. You could find yourself drafting legislation, advising on legal matters, or working on regulatory compliance, depending on the role you end up in. Having legal expertise is useful in this career context, as you’ll help ensure that the government operates within the law and serves the public effectively.

Explore online law degrees on FutureLearn

Perhaps you haven’t actually got your degree yet, and just read this article because you wanted to explore your options before applying to university. 

If that’s the case for you, did you know that you can actually study a law degree online? We’ve got some excellent online law degrees by top UK institutions, designed to help you get to the next step in your career. 

You can study from home, or wherever suits you, so that you don’t have to sacrifice your work, family or other life commitments for your studies. Take a look at your online degree options below.

• Master of Laws by the University of Law
• MA Law (Conversion) by the University of Law
• MA Law (SQE1) by the University of Law
• MSc Human Resources with Employment Law by the University of Law
• LLB Law by the University of Law
• LLM in Energy and Environmental Law by the University of Birmingham.