5 Reasons To Consider Studying Law in College
Choosing what you want to study in college is a big decision that often takes a lot of time. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 800,000 attorneys in the United States, and there will be about 9% more by the year 2030. Attorneys aren’t the only ones who will see job growth in the law field, either. Consider these reasons to study law when trying to decide which college path to take.
- There Are Lots of Job Opportunities
There is no rule that says you must go to school for more than a decade and become an attorney. While there’s nothing wrong with that, of course, there is a range of other jobs and education paths you can take in the field of law. Some people decide to join the Seattle court reporting circuit. Others become paralegals, title examiners, compliance specialists, judges, and so on. Even those who decide to become lawyers have a wide variety of options to choose from, meaning you are almost sure to find something that interests you.
- There Is the Chance To Make a Difference
Whether you decide to become a lawyer or to go into another job within the field, you’ll have the chance to make a difference. When laws are no longer considered fair, you can work to make the changes necessary to ensure equality for everyone. When someone crosses the line of the law, such as committing an act of violence, you may be able to help to put them behind bars, thus keeping people safe. Even something as underestimated as understanding property law can make a difference in the lives of people who require your expertise.
- There Is Excellent Earning Potential and Job Security
While money isn’t the most important thing in life, there’s something to be said for the security that it brings. People who work in law have excellent earning potential. Court reporters make nearly $60,000 on average each year. Lawyers typically earn a median salary of $99,000 per year and may make up to $200,000 per year.
In addition to excellent salaries, people who work in law have job security as well. Law has been an integral part of societies since the dawn of civilization and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. In fact, when the economy is bad, the need for bankruptcy and labor lawyers tends to rise, making these areas particularly secure.
- There Is Status and Prestige in Law
Working in the field of law requires a lot of skill and intelligence, which means there is also a lot of status and prestige when you are in the field. In fact, some of the biggest names in history, including Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama, studied law. There is a reason so many television shows and movies center around lawyers as well. Life in law is a hard one that requires hard work but it’s also rewarding and sometimes quite glamorous, especially if you work with big clients or on high-profile cases.
- The Skills Are Transferable
The skills you learn to become a lawyer, a court reporter, or to follow some other law career become transferable. Do you want to own your own business someday? The business law you learn will make it easier for you to start your project someday. Perhaps you’d like to become an expert witness instead of a lawyer. The things you learn in law school can help you to follow that path. Some people who go to law school do so because they want to teach other people the law in a college setting. There is a wide range of options when you have such versatile skills.
Remember, you don’t need to choose your entire path right away. If you know that you want to study law but aren’t sure in what capacity, you can start pre-law courses right away and tailor them to your specific needs and wants as time goes on. This way, you can be sure that you’re doing what you truly want to do with your life.
