From Prestige to Purpose: The Advantages of Working in Law

In terms of job sectors, there aren’t many as big as the legal sector. It could also be said that there aren’t many more important things either. But aside from working in an extremely important area, what are the other advantages of working in law? In this article, we explore five reasons why many people choose to pursue a career in law.

Earning Potential 

There’s no getting away from it; many people are drawn to a career in law due to the money. It’s well documented that lawyers and solicitors earn well above the average salary - UK-based lawyers can earn over £150,000. In the US, this figure can easily hit the $200,000 mark.

However, while working as a lawyer might be the obvious law-shaped career path, there are many other ways to earn money within the law sector. Other high-paying law jobs include roles such as a barrister, judge or legal executive. 

For those who are drawn to the law sector due to the earnings potential of the industry, it may be worth considering combining an interest in law with an entrepreneurial venture. Founding your own law firm can be challenging, with long hours and high pressure, but the trade-off is that it offers a way to increase the ceiling of your earnings.

Travel Opportunities

When you think of a career in law, the potential to travel may not be the first thing to come to mind. But every country in the world has a legal sector, and as a result, you’ll always be able to find opportunities around the world. 

If you are motivated by travel, you may find that your biggest obstacle is the language barrier. Obviously, you’ll need to have a strong grasp of the local language wherever you are working in order to interact with clients or other legal professionals. 

It’s also worth pointing out that not every part of your job will involve direct communication with another person. In fact, many legal roles can now be carried out remotely; meetings can occur virtually, for example. This again broadens opportunities to travel, as it allows legal professionals to work from wherever they choose in the world.

Job Opportunities

As mentioned above, every nation needs laws. Subsequently, law is a universal language, which means the global job market is huge. From small villages to the world’s most populated cities, you’ll never be too far from a law firm of some description.

The sheer number of law firms that exist in the world also means that it’s a great career in terms of progression. Most lawyers and legal professionals start out working for small firms before climbing the career ladder to work for larger companies.    

It’s not just every country that requires legal professionals; it’s every industry. This again opens up job opportunities and allows talent to pursue a career that is interesting to them and their interests. For example, sports lawyers specialise in legalities within the sporting world, which may be an interesting path to pursue for sports-loving lawyers.

Prestigious Career Path

Another reason why people are drawn to a career in law is its prestigious nature. Many of the most respected job titles are related to law in one way or another. Whether that’s someone working directly in the legal sector as a judge or public sector workers like policemen and women who enforce the law.

Job Stability

More and more people are considering job stability when deciding which career path they should pursue. With recent advancements in AI and other forms of technology, many job roles are supposedly at risk of going extinct. For instance, many businesses are turning to AI to assist with creative tasks, which has caused concern among marketers and digital designers.

While the law sector will undoubtedly benefit from technology in some aspects, the chances of legal roles being replaced entirely by AI are extremely low. The nature of the sector means that some form of human contact will most likely always be required. Even if the legal sector does become disrupted by technology, it’s a long time before we can expect to see robots sending people to prison!

Protect Yourself & Loved Ones

Having a law degree under your belt, no matter what type of law, gives you a bridge of knowledge and connections with people within different industries of law. Like they say, knowledge is power, especially in modern times with new laws coming left, right and centre. It also means that you are avoiding being taken advantage of for specific matters. 

There are so many ‘loopholes’, policies and so forth that protect people from specific issues and concerns that aren’t general knowledge. Knowing that there is always something that could protect your family is so important, which makes it worth extending your degree to helping your friends and family. Coming to the rescue and saving them from heartache and potential financial loss.

Start Your Own Firm

Once you have pursued your legal career, there is no limit on what you can achieve; therefore, you can go beyond in starting your own firm or becoming a partner and having influence on an already successful firm, whether it's Bond Turner or an international firm. It’s all up to you, which is what a lot of people love about the role, whether it’s a government official or a private law firm.

Flexibility

With the point made above, it can give you a full range of flexibility, which means you can work day or night, whichever is most productive. Working within the legal sector usually means longer nights and days, but it’s dependent on the type of law, the case and your overall commitment to it. Overall, you don’t have to be in an office to work the job, but you need to put the work in to win your case. Therefore, as long as you are where you need to be in terms of court, you are free to work wherever you please.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of reasons to work in law. The travel-loving law expert may be drawn to the sector due to the opportunities to see the world whilst pursuing a career in law. Today’s culture of remote work means that even areas like law are becoming increasingly digital-based. Others are simply drawn to the sector due to its earning potential. Wherever you are in the world, there’s a strong chance that a career in law will pay above the average salary. Finally, it’s worth considering the secure nature of the legal sector. Opportunities are vast and range from regional firms such as personal injury solicitors like Bond Turner to multinational lawyers with offices all over the world.