Do you enjoy winning arguments — and don't mind putting in the work to make sure your argument is rock-solid? Then a career in law may be a good fit for you. Lawyers advise and advocate for their clients — whether they be individuals, government agencies, or corporations — on legal matters, and they use their research and analytical skills to build strong cases. Demand for lawyers across fields is projected to increase at a steady pace; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a job growth rate of 6% through 2024.Lawyers of all stripes have a few traits in common: they're highly analytical, able to parse large amounts of data and information to find what they need, and they're good communicators, skilled in both writing and speaking. And since lawyers advocate on their clients' behalf, they must have strong interpersonal skills that allow them to build trust with their clients. If you possess these skills, then earning a law degree online can lead you down a rewarding and lucrative career path.If you're considering pursuing a law degree, read on. Our guide will give you an overview of the various careers in law you may want to explore, and how attending law school online can get you there.
Meet Our Expert: Shaolaine Loving
Attorney at Loving Law Ltd.
LinkedInOnline Law Degree Overview
| Degree Level | Average Cost | Loan Default Rate | Time Commitment | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | $20,428 | 6.54% | 3 years | $64,340 | $89,503 | 6.2% |
A four-year undergraduate degree is a prerequisite for all traditional and online law degree programs. Online law school typically takes three years to complete, and you'll graduate with a juris doctor (JD) degree. Most lawyers don't obtain any further degrees after they earn their JD, though some may pursue a master of legal studies online or another advanced law-related degree to augment their studies. Those who are interested in other careers related to law may consider pursuing a legal studies degree online, which you can complete at the bachelor's or master's level.
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| Career | Median Salary | Projected Growth | 2014 Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patent Attorney | $131,744 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Judge | $109,010 | -1% | 44800 |
| Corporate Lawyer | $101,516 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Litigation Attorney | $96,260 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Criminal Defense Lawyer | $76,823 | Not reported | Not reported |
Online Law Degree in Action
Meet Our Expert: Shaolaine Loving
Attorney at Loving Law Ltd.Shaolaine Loving graduated from Cornell Law School and did legal internships in New York City, Seattle, and Chapel Hill. She worked in the public and private sector in Las Vegas for the last 10 years before opening her own law practice in Las Vegas in 2015. Loving focuses primarily on family law and estate planning, but also handles other matters, like landlord-tenant and contract.
LinkedInOnline Law Professional Requirements
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The LSAT is the standard test that traditional and accredited online law schools in the U.S. and Canada require applicants to take prior to admission. The exam measures test-takers' reading and verbal reasoning skills, which need to be top-notch if you want wish to enroll in one of the more competitive online law degree programs. Many students who hope to pursue a law degree online start studying three or more months before they take the test.
BAR Exam
Traditional and online law school graduates must take the bar exam to be qualified to practice law. The bar exam is state-specific, so online law degree graduates are careful to only take the exam in the state(s) in which they want to practice law. Most bar exams are administered in two parts; the first part is the multistate bar examination, which most states require testees to take, and the second is an exam which covers laws related to the state. Many states also require a multistate performance test as part of the bar, which tests how takers perform in a realistic lawyering scenario.