sample law school personal statements

The practice of law involves doing different tasks that some people can see as either routine or very taxing. For those with a legal degree, the good news is that there are others avenues if you are at your wits’ end for having practiced litigation for the past two decades. There is a group of other jobs you can look into, and here are some of the principal ones:

In the courts

You may not need to do litigation, but the courtroom can still be your workplace. Lawyers in clerkship jobs do research and recommendations.

Public service

Indeed, politics could be another step for attorneys who are tired of the traditional legal work. Choosing to work in the public sector can be rewarding, especially if money is not an important matter to you. Graduates of law school who wish to work in the public sector find fulfillment and satisfaction helping several people on their legal problems every day.

In-house legal counsel

Big entities and corporations hold their own legal divisions to attend to everyday tasks pertaining to legal matters. The responsibilities of an In-House Counsel do not have to entail high-profile issues. Administrative duties can also be assigned to the members of a company’s legal department. A Counsel In-House often works hand-in-hand with Finance or the Human Resources of his or her company.

The act of legislating

Lawyers can choose to work with a senator or other members of legislative bodies. The legislative lawyer would do research or draft bills which have enactment potential. Needless to say, those in this kind of work would be exposed to a lot of politics, and he or she could later on become a famous personality if he or she gets involved in a very big political issue.

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If you are considering to enter law school, you should know that a legal career has extreme ups and downs. The ups include enjoying a lot of money, working in sleek offices and wearing designer suits. The downs, on the other hand, include working until the morning to prepare for a case and getting sued, at times, for malpractice. Considering the downside in a legal career, a lawyer deserves the amount he or she gets in his or her paycheck. Below are what you must expect in terms of salary and job in a legal career.

What is the salary of a lawyer?

There are different ways to look at the salaries of lawyers. One is by the years of their experience in the legal profession. According to a September 2008 PayScale report, a fresh law school graduate just starting his or her career can earn about $50,000 per year. A graduate’s salary increases $30,000 more after 10 years, and then, doubles to about $100,000 20 years after he or she leaves law school.

In terms of a lawyer’s area of specialization, however, figures vary. A lawyer earns most (about $85,000) if he or she specializes in corporate affairs. Litigation and appeals is the next highest-paying specialization offering a little above $75,000. The third most lucrative practice area for a lawyer is real estate where he or she can earn about $74,000 annually.

Salaries of lawyers are also different if you consider which entity they work for. Lawyers working for the government can earn more or less $91,000 while those handling hospital legal concerns earn about $83,000. And if they work for non-government organizations, lawyers earn least with a yearly median salary of $54,000.

What are jobs for law school graduates?

Other than having their own practices, law school graduates can also apply for jobs in various industries. Some industries law graduates can enter are litigation, insurance defense, and education. Graduates can also apply for jobs in finance or media industries. And depending on factors like pre-law school job experience, legal specialization, and years of experience as a lawyer, graduates can have top-level or mid-level job positions.

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