Pursuing a degree in law and legal studies abroad: what you must know

What is one thing that Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher and Mahatma Gandhi have in common?

Apart from the fact that they are world leaders that have influenced society, they all also studied law!

Law may be one of the oldest academic fields in the world. However, it is a qualification that is still held in high regard today and leads to great career opportunities.

While a portion of those who choose to study law end up working in a courtroom, this isn’t always the case.

Contrary to popular belief, pursuing law and legal studies does not only lead to a career in the law industry. In fact, it is actually a diverse and necessary field that enables you to work across industries.

If you’re interested in this area of study, you’ll have to understand the key differences between law and legal studies so that you can make an informed decision.

What is law?

When you choose to study law, you’ll understand legal theory and how to apply it to real-life circumstances. There are various areas including public law, corporate law and criminal law, as well as legal issues around topics such as human rights and the environment.

As a lawyer, you would be qualified to represent individuals or agencies in court and tap into your knowledge of laws, judiciary and precedents to help your clients secure their rights while on trial.

What are legal studies?

An interdisciplinary field which is a fusion of political science, history, economics and sociology, legal studies can be heavy on the theory aspect. However, it also equips you with transferable skills such as problem-solving and the ability to analyze.

Legal studies will enable you to cultivate a deeper understanding of how the legal system works as well as learn about how regulations are formed and later applied in society through the legal process.

Future outlook of the industry

The demand for lawyers and paralegals is expected to continue rising due to the need for legal services, be it for individuals, federal agencies or businesses.

The employment opportunities for lawyers are projected to grow by 10% this decade, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In other words, that’s 48,700 job openings for lawyers every year within this time frame!

Predicted to become a major global market, the legal industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.97% to hit US$998.73 billion by 2026.

With stable growth ahead, entering the legal industry can be a good move for those looking to secure a stable, high-paying job.

If this is a career path you’re considering, read on to get a clearer idea about what to take note of before embarking on your law and legal studies.

3 things you must know about studying law and legal studies

1. The study options and costs

Law

If you’re planning to go down the law school route, your first step would be to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

There is no specific degree which is required to enter law school. However, most students who want to pursue law usually opt for foundational areas of study such as psychology, criminal justice, political science, philosophy or sociology.

Having said that, depending on the country you’re planning to study in, you might be able to directly enroll yourself into a Bachelor of Law program.

In the US, a bachelor’s degree costs anywhere between US$20,000 to US$40,000 for a 4-year program, depending on your choice of college and program.

After which, you’ll then have to sit for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), which consists of a written essay and 175 multiple-choice questions. For this process, you’ll have to set aside around AUD$340 to cover the writing test, law school report and credential assembly service.

Your LSAT score will then enable you to enroll in a Juris Doctor (JD) degree program in law school, where you’ll specialize in a discipline of law – be it tax, criminal, environmental or constitutional law.

Depending on the school you select, you can expect to pay between US$87,222 for a public school to US$153,804 for a private school for your 3-year law program.

You’ll be licensed to practice law within your state in the US once you earn your Juris Doctor and complete the State Bar Association exam. As different states have different laws and legislations, you may be required to take the State Bar exams in other states if you wish to practice there.

Legal studies

There are almost 1000 universities and colleges offering a legal studies program in the US, with the average tuition fee being US$19,356 for undergraduate programs and US$22,083 for graduate programs per year.

In the UK, expect to pay anywhere between £4000 to £16,000 per year for a bachelor’s degree program and £6000 to £18,000 per year for a master’s program.

2. The jobs and careers in the field

As a law graduate, some job options to consider include:

• Corporate counsel
• Immigration lawyer
• Patent attorney
• Judge
• Law professor

As a legal studies graduate, some careers you can strive towards include:

• Paralegal
• Barrister
• Company secretary
• Civil service administrator
• Advice worker

3. The cross-industry opportunities

During your course duration, you’ll equip yourself with transferable skills that you can bring along to a wide range of industries across different jobs.

If you prefer a corporate job, you can choose to work as a human resources assistant, consultant, analyst and customer service representative.

Those who would rather not be in an office all the time, can consider working as a journalist, real estate agent or be an entrepreneur and work for themselves.

Take the next step towards pursuing law and legal studies

Are you planning to further your education in law and legal studies?

If so, we’re more than happy to help you out!

At IDP, we have a team of educational counsellors who will be able to offer tailored guidance when it comes to course selection and also navigate the application process with you.

Discover the different law and legal studies course and university options before you take the plunge and embark on your journey towards the career of your dreams!

Get started by booking your free counselling session today.