Studying an LLM program is not just for those who are interested in a career in law – depending on what specialism you opt for there is a whole wealth of other career opportunities open to you.
Alternatively, if you’ve already completed your LLM and decided that a career in the law is not for you, then fret not as you’ve gained a bucket load of transferable skills.
So, if you think that moving on to another area is for you and have completed your Master of Laws, let’s take a look at the other career options available.
Finance
Plenty of undergraduate law students head off to work in finance and investing, and if you’ve completed an LLM in Financial Law, you’ll be in an excellent position to work in finance in a non-legal role. A good understanding of Finance Law or Accounting Law will help if you are working in a small business or in any capacity that involves money.
Conflict Resolution
You don’t have to be a qualified lawyer to work in conflict resolution and if you have studied an LLM in Conflict or Dispute Resolution. Many organisations and businesses employ people who are experts in resolving conflicts between their employees and those with an LLM have the transferable skills to excel at this as well as the counselling skills.
Entrepreneurship
Many law schools will work closely with their local business school – just like the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Wharton Business School – which is ideal for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs. If you fancy starting up your own company or enterprise, you should undertake an LLM at a law school that has a good relationship with their local business school. An understanding of Corporate Law and Finance Law will help you immensely if you are setting up a business.
Journalism
Researching and reporting into legal issues and legal news is a good move for an LLM graduate. If you have a good understanding of the processes in a law court, then you are much better placed to work as a journalist in this area. There are also lots of legal publications and websites that require writers and editors who have a good understanding of the law.
Academia
There are LLM courses, especially in the US, that are directly aimed at those who wish to move into the academic study of the law or for students who specialised in Jurisprudence, a move into academia might be an excellent career path. LLM courses all require academic staff to teach students and research the implications of new laws and rulings.
Government & Politics
Lots of politicians have studied the law – Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to name but two – and those in Government require people around them that understand the implications of changes to the law. International charities, not-for-profits and NGOs all need talented people who have studied and understood the impact of legal changes and the legal issues they create on a global and national basis.
Average Salaries of the Alternative Career Paths in the United States
The fine print: Average salaries in the table above were compiled using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
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