Career Choices for Legal Professionals

Crime doesn't pay, they say, but that old saw is aimed at criminals. On the other side of the law, there is a vast array of careers for law-abiding and justice-seeking individuals-and they all offer legitimate paychecks.

But there's no room for armchair concerned citizens here. Any of the careers covered in this article can have you out where the action is. Some of the work is detail oriented, some is frustrating, and some involves danger-but there's no greater reward than tracking down real criminals, prosecuting them, and seeing justice at work.


Perhaps you're concerned that the only route to a career in law is the long haul-years and years of law school, bar exams, and stiff competition for jobs with the best firms. It's true, most lawyers go through that. But there are many other paths to follow that can lead you to an exciting law-related career. Have a look at the following overview of career areas from which you can choose, then read on to see what they involve.

If you decide to pursue a career in criminal law, many of your clients will not be innocent, and you might not be able to get all of them acquitted. Some you'd even rather not represent. But, in our justice system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and everyone is entitled to legal defense.

Criminal lawyers operate their own practices, work for private law firms, or represent clients under the auspices of the Public Defender's Office. Lawyers who work for state attorneys general, prosecutors, and courts play a key role in the criminal justice system. At the federal level, attorneys investigate cases for the Department of Justice or other agencies. Also, lawyers at every government level help develop programs, draft laws, interpret legislation, establish enforcement procedures, and argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government.

But criminal trial work is not the only option open to lawyers. Just as doctors can gear their careers toward a particular specialty, so can lawyers.

Judges

Judges apply the law. They oversee the,legal process that, in courts of law, resolves civil disputes and determines guilt in criminal cases according to federal and state laws and those of local jurisdictions.

They preside over cases touching on virtually every aspect of society, from traffic offenses to disputes over management of professional sports, from the rights of huge corporations to questions of disconnecting life support equipment for terminally ill patients. Judges must ensure that trials and hearings are conducted fairly and that the court administers justice in a manner that safeguards the legal rights of all parties involved.

Although not all judges have been lawyers first, most have been to law school and have worked as practicing attorneys.

Court Staff

With access to Court TV and so many media-grabbing trials finding their way to the airwaves, most people have become familiar with the different personnel who make up the court staff. You've seen the judge and the bailiff and the court reporter. But there are others who work behind the scenes-in jobs that might be just right for you.

Paralegals

Not all legal work requires a law degree. Lawyers are often as-sisted in their work by paralegals, who are also known as legal assistants. Paralegals perform many of the same tasks as lawyers, except for those tasks considered to be the practice of law.

Paralegals can enter this exciting field through a formal training program or, sometimes, be trained on the job.

Legal Secretaries

Most organizations employ secretaries to perform and coordinate office activities and to ensure that information gets disseminated in a timely fashion to staff and clients. Managers, professionals, and other support staff rely on legal secretaries to keep administrative operations under control. Their specific duties depend upon their level of responsibility and the type of firm in which they are employed.

Law Enforcement Officers

The safety of our nation's cities, towns, and highways greatly depends on the work of police officers, deputy sheriffs, detec-tives, and special agents whose responsibilities range from con-trolling traffic to preventing and investigating crimes.

Private Investigators

Fancy yourself a Magnum, P.I., type, or maybe another Kinsey Milhone, Sue Grafton's star detective? The field of private investigation can be exciting and glamorous; it can also be tedious and dull. For every undercover operation, there are hundreds of hours spent on the telephone or surfing the Net, and an equal number sitting in a car at a stakeout, cupping a mug of cold coffee.

Corrections Officers

Corrections officers are charged with the security and safety of persons who have been arrested, who are awaiting trials or other hearings, or who have been convicted and sentenced to serve time in a correctional institution. You have probably never been in a jail or prison. Do the movies portray life there accurately?

Security Guards

Security guards work in a variety of settings, and often the work is routine, dull even. But every once in a while, a security guard remembers why he or she was hired-and for the off chance of something going wrong, you have to be prepared.

Choosing Your Field

People who work in law careers give of themselves in many different capacities, providing valuable service to their communities. If you're reading this article, chances are you're already considering a career in one of the many areas of this wide-open field.

But perhaps you're not sure of the working conditions the different fields offer or which area would suit your personality, skills, and lifestyle the most. There are several factors to consider when deciding which sector to pursue. Each field carries with it different levels of responsibility and commitment. To identify occupations that will match your expectations, you need to know what each job entails.

Ask yourself the following questions and make note of your answers. Then, as you go through the following points, compare your requirements to the information provided by the pro-fessionals interviewed inside. Their comments will help you pinpoint the fields that would interest you and eliminate those that would clearly be the wrong choice.
 

•  How much time are you willing to commit to training? Some skills can be learned on the job or in a year or two of formal training; others can take considerably longer.
•  Do you want to work in an office behind a desk or would you prefer to be out and about, patrolling a beat or meeting with clients in their homes-or in prison?
•  Can you handle a certain amount of stress on the job, or would you prefer a quiet-and safe-environment?
•  How much money do you expect to earn starting out and after you have a few years' experience under your belt? Salaries and earnings vary greatly for each profession.
•  How much independence do you require? Do you want to be your own boss or will you be content as a salaried employee?
•  Would you rather work daytime hours or would you prefer evenings and weekends?
•  Can you pay attention to detail and handle paperwork, legal documents, and reports?

Knowing what your expectations are, then comparing them to the realities of the work will help you make informed choices.

The Training You'll Need

The training required for the various law and law-related careers varies greatly. Some positions are entry level, requiring no more than a high school education. Some demand that you be physically fit and have some prior work experience. Others require specific skills and from two to four years of college or a technical training program. Still others require several years of postgraduate study after earning your bachelor's degree.