Undergraduate Careers:
Law

A concentration in Law can prepare you for a variety of career paths. Typically individuals are required to possess a thorough understanding of the complexities of legal issues as related to the business environment. Therefore, some students will chose to have a dual concentration in Law and another area of interest such as Finance. For some students who are considering law school, a law concentration is a great way to explore this interest. If you find the introductory course and legal issues intriguing, the rigorous mental training of law may be for you.

If you are seriously considering law school . . .

It is important to understand some of main criteria that law school admissions officers look for:

Academic excellence and success- Demanding courses & strong GPA
High LSAT scores
Excellent Letters of Recommendation
Extra-curricular activities that distinguish you from other candidates

Once you decide to pursue law school it is important to research the variety of law programs and specialties. Some programs offer joint degrees in which you work towards your J.D. and M.B.A. At most law schools the first year and half involves completing core courses followed by selecting courses towards a certain specialty such as tax, labor, family or corporate law. Law school can be a significant time and financial investment so you want to do extensive research and self assessment to select a program that is the best fit for you and your career goals.

If you are wondering if law school is for you. . .

There are a variety of ways to explore your interest in law and to integrate this interest into your career path:

Internships can be extremely helpful to gain a sense of the law field and types of work settings.
Informational Interviews - Talk to law professionals to learn more about job related activities and steps for enhancing your candidacy as an applicant. Talk to recent graduates to see how they made their decisions whether or not to pursue law.
Volunteer for an agency or non-profit related to your area of interest.
Join related organizations such as Leaders for Corporate Social Responsibility, AHANA Pre-Law Association, Children and the Law, Corporate Law Society, or SMG Student Government.

Sample Entry Level Job Titles

Analyst*
Business Consultant
Claims Adjuster/Examiner
Information Resource Assistant*
Legal Assistant*
Management Trainee*
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist
Paralegal*
Tax Examiner
Teacher*

Possible Employment Settings

Government offices
IBM
Immigration Offices
Insurance Agencies
Law Firms*
Palmer & Dodge LLP
Real Estate
Non-profit organizations*
Teach for America*

* Denotes BU graduates from the classes of 2006 and 2007 with Law Concentrations

Career opportunities which often require additional experience
or education

Attorney
Compliance Specialist
Firm Associate
Human Resources Consultant
In-House Counsel
Judge
Legal Recruiter
Public Defender
Workers Compensation Administrator

Transferable Skills

Ethical analysis
Logic and reasoning
Critical thinking
Writing
Researching
Persuasive communication skills
Current event knowledge

Sample on-the-job Responsibilities

Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Assist lawyers to prepare for hearings, trials, corporate meetings
Analyze and organize information
Conduct research by incorporating a variety of sources such as publications, computer software, and internet resources
Write and edit reports and prepare legal documents
Assist corporate attorneys with employee contracts, shareholder agreements, and stock option plans
Database management
Contact and follow up with parties involved in legal proceedings
Help prepare and file annual financial reports
Monitor and review government regulations

Lawyer/Attorney
Requirements include three years of law school (J.D- juris doctor) and passing the bar examination. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices".

Corporate "In-House Counsel" is a lawyer that helps advise companies on day-to-day business functions such as hiring issues, contracts, patents, collective bargaining agreements, or government regulations.

According to the Law School Admissions Counsel for the Fall of 2006 the application pool consisted of:

Percent of applicants	Age
25%	22 or younger
38%	23-25
19%	26-29
8%	30-34
10% over 34	over 34

Sample Professional Salaries*

Attorney I: $86,304
Compliance Specialist: $57,214
Judge/Magistrate: $149,675
Paralegal I: $43,603
Paralegal II: $51,916
Workers Compensation Administrator: $54,088

*From Salary.com national average base salary data, June 2007. These salaries can vary depending upon the region, size, and type of firm. Be sure to refer to a variety of sources when researching compensation amounts.

Web Resources

Law School Admissions Counsel: www.lsac.org
American Bar Association: www.abanet.org
Federal Jobs Website: www.usajobs.opm.gov
National Association of Legal Assistants: www.nala.org
National Federation of Paralegal Associations: www.paralegals.org
National Association for Law Placement: www.nalp.org
Occupational Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco

Paralegal/Law Assistants
Lawyer

Undergraduate Careers:Law