Get Started - Explore the Basics
By Sally Kane, About.com Guide
Understand the Industry
Not certain what a career in the legal industry entails or how to get started? Explore the articles below to expand your legal career IQ and determine if the legal profession is right for you.
- Why Choose A Career in the Law?
- Legal Career Options
- Hot Legal Careers for Non-Lawyers
- Hot Careers in Law Enforcement
- Law Practice Myths
- Legal Compensation
- Should You Become a Paralegal or a Lawyer?
- Reader Stories: Lawyer Careers
- The Role of the Litigation Attorney
- The Role of the Litigation Paralegal
- 7 Hot Law Practice Areas
Career Profiles
The delivery of legal services is a complex process that requires a team of skilled professionals. As a result, the legal field holds hundreds of legal career options encompassing a diverse range of skills, experience and education. Learn about careers in the law including the job duties, required education, skills, salary, work environment and employment outlook of each position.
- Core Legal Careers
- Entry Level Legal Careers
- Law Enforcement Careers
- Courthouse Careers
- Legal Consulting Careers
- Litigation Support Careers
- Legal Writing Careers
- Hot Legal Careers for Non-Lawyers
- Hot Law Enforcement Careers
Law School
These articles will help you understand the A-Z's of law school, from gaining admission to succeeding once you're there.
- Guide to Law School
- Overview of Attorney Education
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
- Law School Admissions Tips
- Law School Frequently Asked Questions
- Part-Time Law Programs
- Pre-Law Reading List
- Preparing for Law School
- Thinking Like a Lawyer
- Exam-Taking Strategies
- Summer Clerkships
- LL.M. (Master of Laws) Degree
Legal Training
The length of time required to complete a legal education ranges from a few months to seven years, depending on the career for which you are training. Learn about the educational requirements and training options for many legal jobs.
Legal Skills
While legal positions vary greatly in scope and responsibility, there are several core legal skills that are required in most legal functions. Learn about the top skills neccesary to excel in today’s competitive legal market and how to polish those skills to advance your career.
Practice Environments
Legal professionals work in a variety of settings and practice environments. While the majority of all legal personnel are employed in law firms, legal professionals also work in private industry, the government, public interest, the judiciary, academia, consulting firms and other settings.