Wondering what jobs you can get with a law degree? Many people’s understanding of jobs available after a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is likely informed by the media we consume, whether it’s from shows like Netflix’s new big-law focused “Partner Track,” John Grisham’s best-sellers about public crusaders, or “Suits.” But the truth is, receiving a degree from a full-time or part-time law school program can set you up for a wide range of jobs. This list is nowhere near exhaustive, but it should give you a sense of the many jobs you can get with a law degree and alternative careers for lawyers!
Traditional Jobs To Get With a Law Degree
Before we dive into alternative careers, let’s quickly cover some “traditional” jobs you can get with a law degree. You know, the ones most people think of when they hear “JD.”
1. Associate at a Law Firm
This career path is what many people think of when they envision a career in law. Whether it’s a Big Law firm or something boutique, the associate-to-partner pipeline is a very common path. Working as an associate at a law firm involves practicing law and handling legal matters for clients. Associates typically work long hours, but the pay can be substantial.
2. In-House Counsel
As opposed to working for a law firm, a job as in-house counsel means that you are providing a host of legal services to the company/institution that hired you. You will often provide legal advice to various stakeholders across the corporation, and you will have a chance to develop short- and long-term legal strategies and solutions based on the products and services in question.
3. Government Attorney
Working as an attorney for the government can involve many different roles and responsibilities. Some attorneys work for federal agencies like the Department of Justice or the Securities and Exchange Commission, while others work at the state or local level as prosecutors or public defenders.
These careers can all be fulfilling and impactful, but they aren’t the only way to use a JD. If you’re wondering what else is out there, keep reading.
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Alternative Careers for Lawyers and Jobs for People with Law Degrees
A law degree doesn’t lock you into a single path.
From tech to policy to education, lawyers can pivot into all kinds of roles where their legal training is a huge asset, even if they never step foot in a courtroom.
1. Legal Tech and Innovation
What it is: This growing field blends legal expertise with technology to improve how legal services are delivered. It’s perfect for people who like solving problems creatively and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.
Examples:
- Legal Product Manager at a tech startup
- Legal Tech Implementation Consultant
2. Compliance and Risk Management
What it is: Many companies and institutions have compliance officers, whose primary role is to ensure that the company stays in line (or “compliant”) with both internal policies and external regulations. In tightly regulated industries like finance, compliance officers are especially crucial. However, you can find them in just about any industry, from healthcare to energy.
Examples:
- Compliance Officer at a bank
- Risk & Ethics Analyst at a Fortune 500 company
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Specialist
3. Human Resources (HR)
What it is: HR pros manage employee relations, hiring practices, workplace policies, and internal investigations. Legal knowledge—especially around employment law—is a big asset here.
Additionally, in a diverse, globalized world, many companies are doubling down on their commitment to promoting racial justice, uplifting marginalized voices, and championing social issues both through their business activities and in their employment and workplace policies. If you are passionate about these issues, legal acumen provides an excellent jumping board to operationalize systematic changes that will make an impact.
Examples:
- Employee Relations Manager
- HR Business Partner
- DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Program Lead
4. Policy and Government Work
What it is: There is a reason that so many of our senators, representatives, and presidents are law school graduates. The rigor and training of a Juris Doctor degree are well-suited to the persuasiveness and analytical thinking needed to campaign, build coalitions, and assess policies at all levels. Thus, a background in legal studies can serve as valuable training for a job as a lobbyist, think tank analyst, a budding politician, or a government analyst.
Examples:
- Policy Analyst for a think tank
- Legislative Aide or Advisor
- Government Affairs Manager
5. Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
What it is: As technology advances and integrates into the world around us at an exponential rate, previously unexplored legal questions are becoming increasingly salient. If you have an interest in data, cyberspace, innovation, and privacy, you might consider an alternative career for lawyers in data privacy. This will require a good deal of technical savvy and runs the gamut from consumer protection laws to data-sharing agreements to electronic evidence.
Examples:
- Data Privacy Analyst at a tech company
- Privacy Program Manager or GDPR Specialist
- Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) at a healthcare or fintech organization
6. Consulting
What it is: If the prospect of working with a variety of clients on legal strategy and long-term planning appeals to you, a career path as a legal consultant might be appealing. This may be housed as a division within a general management consulting firm. You would liaise with in-house counsel at companies across industries to help troubleshoot and transform their operations and policies. This is an excellent alternative career for lawyers because you’re still working on legal issues without directly committing yourself to one firm or industry.
Examples:
- Management Consultant at a Big Four firm
- Legal Operations Consultant
- Strategy Consultant for healthcare or tech clients
7. Alternative Dispute Resolution
What it is: If you like helping people resolve conflicts without litigation, ADR is a growing field that includes mediation, arbitration, and negotiation facilitation. This is a job you can get with a law degree that will still allow you to work in the legal field, without representing a side.
Examples:
- Mediator for family or workplace disputes
- Arbitrator for commercial disagreements
- Conflict Resolution Coach
8. Entertainment, Media, and Sports
What it is: Love movies, music, TV, or pro sports? Then you might find a thrilling job you can get with a law degree in the entertainment and sports industry! The entertainment world runs on contracts, negotiations, and intellectual property—all areas where legal training is a major asset. While some lawyers work behind the scenes on deals and rights management, others take more public-facing roles representing talent.
Sports attorneys, for example, often work closely with athletes and/or teams on issues of contracts, negotiations, litigation, and unions. Agents also interface with these issues and do not require any specific training, but a background as an attorney is especially valued, as athletes and teams are often negotiating extremely complex and lucrative trades and transactions.
Examples:
- Sports Agent
- Entertainment Business Affairs Associate
- Talent Manager or Music Licensing Rep
9. Education and Academia
What it is: A common alternative career for lawyers is going back and teaching the next generation. Still, not everyone who teaches has to be a professor at a law school. There are many ways to teach and mentor others, whether through classrooms, test prep, or online platforms.
Examples:
- LSAT or bar prep instructor
- Pre-law advisor at a university
- Law and civics teacher for high school or community college students
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, a JD degree is a launchpad, not a limitation. Obtaining a law degree does not mean that you need to be a lawyer. There are many jobs that law school graduates can pursue post-graduation. The opportunities are endless! If you’re thinking about law school but aren’t sure you want to be a “traditional” lawyer, that’s actually a strength, not a red flag.
Law school will teach you how to think critically, write clearly, analyze deeply, and advocate persuasively. Those skills translate almost anywhere.
Whether you want to help shape policy, build a business, design legal tech, or tell compelling stories, a legal education can be the foundation, not the ceiling, of your career.
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