<p>What other professions can someone get into with a law degree?</p>
<p>law school really is a professional degree. one should go into it with the intention of practising law for 10-15 years to get some return on their educational investment.</p>
<p>I have heard that if you graduate from a top school you will have more opportunities to change your career.</p>
<p>There is no law, so to speak, that says you have to practice law for 15 or 50 years just because you have a law degree. </p>
<p>If you want to go to law school, I'd suggest that you first search within yourself to see if you really want to be a lawyer. That bein said, asking what careers you can pursue with a law degree is like asking what dishes you can make with a prime piece of beef. I'm not being sarcastic here. I mean, actually, that there are endless career choices for one who has a law degree or license. </p>
<p>One thing law school does, though, is to broaden your professional horizons and potential. I suggest academic consulation with some advisors at your school or potential schools. You might also try law school career centers, they definitely would know what practical alternative non-legal careers are available for JD's. </p>
<p>Like younghov, I'm a bit concernend that you are thinking about alternative careers before you've even started or finished law school (assuming that that's where you're at.)</p>
<p>Possbily CEO or maybe even investment banking, teaching.</p>
<p>You can enter pretty much any profession that you like (if that profession doesn't require a different degree or set of certifications). However, please remember that a law degree held by someone who never practiced law is just that -- a law degree. You may be able to call yourself a lawyer or add Esq. to your name once you pass the bar exam, but recruiters, employers and anyone else out there in the know understands that 99% of what a lawyer learns and uses in their daily practice is learned on the job. Without that experience, you have a J.D. but you are not a skilled lawyer.</p>
<p>I second Sallyawp's comment (subject to the quibble that a lawyer who adds "Esq." to his or her own name is likely to prompt snickers - the more common practice is to use this honorific only when referring to others).</p>
<p>One of my law school professors once told me that law school basically provides you with the vocabulary to practice law. That's an exageration, but not a gross exageration. Being a freshly minted lawyer is a little bit like being a novice jazz musician, one who can play all the scales, but hasn't quite figured out how to use those elements to play an interesting solo, or what to play when other people are soloing.</p>
<p>I think that a law degree is a great asset whether you choose to enter the traditional practice of law or not. If you ask around you will find people in a variety of occupations who have a law degree but do not "practice". I know many people in real estate development, politics, retailing, charity work, etc. who graduated from law school. Check the resumes of many top business leaders and you are apt to find law school graduates. It seems to be especially prevalent in the family business area, younger generation goes to law school, but takes over lucrative position at entrepreneurial father's place of business. The critical thinking skills that are taught in top law schools will serve you well in any occupation.</p>
<p>I certainly think there is a degree of truth to what everyone here is saying, that having a jd is versatile.</p>
<p>but i still think that one should not enroll in a law school if they are not planning to practice law in the short to mid range future of their life.</p>
<p>chances are, if you want to successfully payoff those student loans, your gonna have to spend some time practicing. that's where the opportunities are.</p>
<p>Public acctg has offered many law graduates significant opportunities, however you will also need either an undergrad acctg degree, MBA, or LLM in Tax - and bar membership even though you won't be practicing per se</p>
<p>Plus the pure CPA types typically figure you know something they don't</p>
<p>As for law school in general or general law grads w/o business training, if someone could do it cheap (or they have large sums of cash sitting around) and they enjoy the intellectual stimulation and can handle the type of pressure as exemplified in the old movie THE PAPER CHASE -they should go</p>
<p>Otherwise, they will miss out on all the fun</p>
<p>Yes, having the right to add Esq. to your name does not mean it is advisable -- unless you're trying to threaten someone. :)</p>