Legal Career Jobs San Diego CA
Looking for attorney jobs or other legal employment opportunities for the next step in your career path? Legal jobs can range from corporate counsel, to a lawyer within a large or small law firm, or even a job as a paralegal. Here you will find additional information on your legal employment search, as well as local companies and providers that may help you in your search.
Data Provided By:
Legal Career Jobs
One of the most popular post-college career choices is the field of law. While career ambitions run high for most students applying to law school, job satisfaction for those in the full time practice of law has been steadily declining in recent years. Notwithstanding, a career in law is among the most coveted professions in American society.
An American Bar Association survey of attorney satisfaction levels showed that nearly 25% of all lawyers were highly dissatisfied with their career choice. Many lawyers who were interviewed characterized their job as depressing. Yet job prestige and salary statistics for lawyers are still powerful attractors among recent college graduates.
A Career As A Lawyer: Education, Income And Job Satisfaction
A legal education is three years of course study after a four year college education plus the taking and passing of the state bar exam. If a law graduate is considering entering a legal specialty like tax or immigration law the law graduate must also enter the certification process in which he or she can be certified as a legal specialist. Certification rules are governed by the state bar association and typically are two year programs culminating in a masters in law.
The average starting attorney salary is $73,000 a year while the median salary is just over $60,000. Annual attorney salaries of more than $75,000 accounted for nearly all of the salaries reported. Interestingly, nearly 60% of all law graduates end up entering private practice with about 30% accepting positions in public service law, including judicial clerkships, and state and federal public agency positions.
A recent career satisfaction study showed that up to 70% of attorneys expressed a moderate-to-strong desire to change careers - if only they could. Most practicing lawyers admit to being so financially committed to practicing law, changing careers would mean a profound financial setback; one that most families, especially those with children, are simply not willing to make.
The most typical career complaints include long hours, work on weekends, tedious work, job stress, client under-appreciation and emotionally unhealthy and antagonistic professional relationships both inside and outside the law office. Lack of career satisfaction seems to be most common in big law firms rather then small ones.
While law associate and partner compensation is normally a big draw for law graduates, the relatively high compensation has not been able to outweigh career dissatisfaction; money alone simply does not offset the drudgery often associated with the practice of law.
Non-Lawyer Legal Careers
Legal jobs are among the most popular career choices for college graduates. A career in law however does not necessarily mean a career as a lawyer.
There are many legal careers that do not require obtaining a law degree (doctorate of jurisprudence) or passing a state bar examination. These careers include jobs in paralegal studies, alternative dispute resolution, criminal justice, court administration and law practice management and technology careers. There are even careers in the field of law firm marketing and branding, usually under the guise of business development. The following are examples of legal careers that do not require a law degree.
Legal Assistant Jobs
Paralegal - Personal Injury
Paralegal - Bankruptcy
Paralegal - Immigration
Contract Administration
Risk Management
Mediation Services (ADR)
Criminal Justice
Legal Compliance Officers
Before Applying To Law School: Work For A Law Firm
We recommend that before beginning the law school application process, you would be well advised to consider carefully if a career in law is right for you. In this regard, you should learn as much as possible about the everyday practice of law.
A few ways of making yourself more informed on the career of law is to speak with as many lawyers as you possibly can. Most lawyers are happy to share their experiences and will appreciate your honesty and diligence in researching your career choice.
We also recommend that you consult with your college career advisor about your interest in law. Finally, consider getting a summer job or interning at a law firm as a law clerk or administrative assistant. Nothing will tell you more then actually working at a busy law firm where you can see how the lawyers work and what their workday is actually like.
For more information on a career advice speak with a career expert at the GotTrouble.com Trouble-Talk Live Center: 24/7
An American Bar Association survey of attorney satisfaction levels showed that nearly 25% of all lawyers were highly dissatisfied with their career choice. Many lawyers who were interviewed characterized their job as depressing. Yet job prestige and salary statistics for lawyers are still powerful attractors among recent college graduates.
A Career As A Lawyer: Education, Income And Job Satisfaction
A legal education is three years of course study after a four year college education plus the taking and passing of the state bar exam. If a law graduate is considering entering a legal specialty like tax or immigration law the law graduate must also enter the certification process in which he or she can be certified as a legal specialist. Certification rules are governed by the state bar association and typically are two year programs culminating in a masters in law.
The average starting attorney salary is $73,000 a year while the median salary is just over $60,000. Annual attorney salaries of more than $75,000 accounted for nearly all of the salaries reported. Interestingly, nearly 60% of all law graduates end up entering private practice with about 30% accepting positions in public service law, including judicial clerkships, and state and federal public agency positions.
A recent career satisfaction study showed that up to 70% of attorneys expressed a moderate-to-strong desire to change careers - if only they could. Most practicing lawyers admit to being so financially committed to practicing law, changing careers would mean a profound financial setback; one that most families, especially those with children, are simply not willing to make.
The most typical career complaints include long hours, work on weekends, tedious work, job stress, client under-appreciation and emotionally unhealthy and antagonistic professional relationships both inside and outside the law office. Lack of career satisfaction seems to be most common in big law firms rather then small ones.
While law associate and partner compensation is normally a big draw for law graduates, the relatively high compensation has not been able to outweigh career dissatisfaction; money alone simply does not offset the drudgery often associated with the practice of law.
Non-Lawyer Legal Careers
Legal jobs are among the most popular career choices for college graduates. A career in law however does not necessarily mean a career as a lawyer.
There are many legal careers that do not require obtaining a law degree (doctorate of jurisprudence) or passing a state bar examination. These careers include jobs in paralegal studies, alternative dispute resolution, criminal justice, court administration and law practice management and technology careers. There are even careers in the field of law firm marketing and branding, usually under the guise of business development. The following are examples of legal careers that do not require a law degree.
Legal Assistant Jobs
Paralegal - Personal Injury
Paralegal - Bankruptcy
Paralegal - Immigration
Contract Administration
Risk Management
Mediation Services (ADR)
Criminal Justice
Legal Compliance Officers
Before Applying To Law School: Work For A Law Firm
We recommend that before beginning the law school application process, you would be well advised to consider carefully if a career in law is right for you. In this regard, you should learn as much as possible about the everyday practice of law.
A few ways of making yourself more informed on the career of law is to speak with as many lawyers as you possibly can. Most lawyers are happy to share their experiences and will appreciate your honesty and diligence in researching your career choice.
We also recommend that you consult with your college career advisor about your interest in law. Finally, consider getting a summer job or interning at a law firm as a law clerk or administrative assistant. Nothing will tell you more then actually working at a busy law firm where you can see how the lawyers work and what their workday is actually like.
For more information on a career advice speak with a career expert at the GotTrouble.com Trouble-Talk Live Center: 24/7
Copyright © 1999-2012 GotTrouble.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
GotTrouble.com - Legal, Financial, Personal by GotTrouble.com Inc. is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License