5 Unconventional Career Pathways for Juris Doctorate Students

When you study law school, you usually picture yourself as a lawyer after completing your studies. That’s the most well-defined career path for professionals getting a Juris Doctor graduate degree. With the conventional pathway, you get your law degree, sit for the bar exam, and become a lawyer after clearing it.

While that sounds like the safe route, it may actually land you against stiff competition. Statistics show that nearly 35,000 students graduated from law schools in the US in 2022, and the numbers are not slowing down. With the majority of graduates planning to become lawyers, setting yourself apart is easier said than done.

Did you know that you can pursue alternative career routes to bypass the competition and achieve professional success? Besides standing apart, you may have other reasons for not becoming a lawyer and picking another field of work. Fortunately, there are plenty of unconventional career pathways to explore as a Juris Doctorate student.

Here are the options worth exploring:

Law Professor

If practicing law in court isn’t your cup of tea, but you love the field too much to leave it, you can try your hand at teaching law. This career field has a high demand, with projections indicating a potential growth of 11% from 2018 to 2028. With many American universities offering courses in law, you need not worry about falling short of options. The pay prospects also look good, with a median annual salary of $133,950.

You can use your academic knowledge to deliver lectures on subjects like contracts, criminal defense, personal injury litigation, and civil procedure. Besides teaching, your role as a professor will entail evaluating assignments, preparing course materials, and staying updated on the current teaching trends.

Corporate Compliance Manager

Compliance management is another area you can build a career after a Juris Doctorate degree. The role involves ensuring that organizations comply with legal and ethical requirements to avoid penalties. It is ideal for corporate professionals planning to further their careers in this evolving field. The good thing is that you have the option to pursue an online Juris Doctorate program as a working professional.

Cleveland State University (CSU) recommends the program for those looking to extend their skill set to become more effective in their job. By exploring this career option, you can get the best of both worlds as you practice law in corporate settings. Additionally, business owners prefer professionals with a legal background for this role.

The average annual salary of corporate compliance managers in the US is $76,980. The demand runs high because all organizations need them to prevent compliance defaults and resulting penalties.

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Mediator

A mediator primarily facilitates communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution between people or parties. The role is quite similar to a lawyer, but the difference is that mediators do their best to prevent the case from going to trial. As a neutral party, you will have to write documents, schedule meetings, and communicate with parties throughout the course of the mediation process.

While you can start as a mediator with a bachelor’s degree, a Juris Doctorate gives you an extra edge. The median annual wage of these professionals is $49,410 per year, and the job is projected to grow at a rate of 6%. You may find employment in the private sector, serve the government, or become an independent contractor.

Political Affairs Officer

Another unconventional career option you can explore after a Juris Doctorate is managing political affairs. A political affairs officer oversees critical matters related to international interactions and foreign politics. These include developing policies, monitoring conflicts, ensuring smoothness between governmental bodies, and consulting on mediation measures.

Your knowledge and understanding of the law enable you to advise on legislation and mediation. Beyond working for the US government, you may also find an opportunity to join an international organization such as the UN. The median salary of political affairs officers in the US is $95,943.

Journalist

Journalism is an unusual pick for Juris Doctorate students looking to try something different. Your education makes you capable of contributing to high-quality, accurate legal publications. There are plenty of online and print publications that seek contributors with a strong voice and a genuine understanding of the law.

The role is apt for people with a strong legal background, and a penchant for research and writing or editing skills. If the field looks good, you can also consider taking a degree in journalism for an extra advantage.  The average annual salary for journalists in the US is $48068, though you can command extra due to your legal expertise.

Conclusion

While JD is the standard law school degree, students need not confine themselves to a career in court. Not everyone is cut out to argue in court as a prosecutor or defense attorney.

You can think beyond the ordinary and visualize yourself in one of these unconventional roles. They are worth pursuing if you want to do something different without giving up on the income potential of the Juris Doctor degree.