Is a J.D. Right for Me? Exploring the Benefits Within and Beyond a Law Degree
Is a J.D. Right for Me?
If you’re thinking about law school, it’s likely that you’ve got a list of pros and cons in your head—costs and benefits, both tangible and intangible.
But there might be parts of the equation you aren’t aware of. Many legal and employment specialists have noted that going to law school and earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree can have benefits beyond your entrance into a respected profession and increased earning potential.
But let’s start there.
Earning Potential
A J.D. degree prepares you to practice as a licensed lawyer, as well as pass the bar exam. The amount you earn depends on the type of law you practice, and what state you practice in.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a lawyer was $135,740 in May 20221, and job opportunities for lawyers are projected to grow 8 percent over the next decade (2022 to 2032), far faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations.
But some specialties pay more than others. Patent law, for example, is ranked as the highest-paying specialization, with an average salary of $168,000 annually2, according to Indeed.com. Corporate attorneys average $149,000 annually3, also according to the latest figures by Indeed.com. Compare that to the average salary of all professionals nationwide of $59,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and you can see the legal profession’s reputation for earning potential isn’t just anecdotal.
Professional Versatility
While many J.D. graduates go on to practice law, there are other professions—in business, government, education, politics, and journalism, to name a few—that a law degree can open you up to. A law degree prepares you for careers that require intensive research and critical analysis, persuasive oral and written abilities, and organizational skills; it teaches you how to search complex problems for logical and legal solutions, which is a valuable skill set to help you advance regardless of your profession.
The alternative careers are numerous, but here are just a few examples of other careers that a law degree could prepare you for, along with their 2022 average annual salaries, according to Indeed and/or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Policy Analyst: Addresses social and political issues by researching, developing, and evaluating policies; average salary: $79,000
- Management Consultant: Advises organizations on how to increase efficiency and revenue by analyzing data and interviewing stakeholders; average salary: $99,000
- Contract Manager: Creates and manages an organization's formal agreements; develops contracts between the organization and its vendors or clients; average salary: $82,000
- Compliance Manager: Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere; average Salary: $77,000
- Legal Adviser: Provides legal advice to a government or organization, often in an official capacity; average Salary: $99,000
- Law Professor: Teach law at the postgraduate level; average salary: $100,000
Life Skills: Think Like a Lawyer
A J.D. can have uses outside of work; in effect, it will train you to think like a lawyer. Law school curricula cover difficult topics such as civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, legal method, property law, legal writing, and torts. Thus, law school will come in handy when you need to sign contracts, resolve disputes, interpret laws, or understand legal processes.
You will become accustomed to legal writing and analysis and will be much more prepared for formal disputes with neighbors, governmental officials, and those working within bureaucracies. You will also be familiar with how to file complaints or legal responses, and get involved in local regulatory efforts, pushes for new city or county ordinances, and efforts to effectively be heard at your local planning commission or school board meeting.
Additionally, outside of disputes and conflicts, the field of law is very intellectually stimulating. Lawyers deal with complex ethical, philosophical, and moral problems, which are often changing. For those who like to be constantly challenged throughout their life, the field of law is a perfect fit.
Become an Expert in Your Interests
A Law Degree typically requires you to specialize in a legal field that is of interest to you, whether it be criminal law, environmental and energy law, employment law, or intellectual property law. Again, this will allow you not just to work as an attorney in those fields, but to become an expert in them, and perhaps go on to explore such things as policy work or research in areas that you are passionate about.
Networking
Lawyers, and lawyers in training, like to network. It’s a field full of talkers and dealmakers. And law school is no different. More than most other degree programs, your training for your J.D. will allow you to interact with other students and attorneys who are passionate about their fields. After graduation, those connections will help you immensely as you look for work, learn of new trends in your field, and advance your career.
The Chicago-Kent Choice
There are several notable advantages that Chicago-Kent College of Law’s J.D. program has over programs in many other law schools.
First of all, several of Chicago-Kent’s J.D. specializations are ranked among the best in the country, including specializations in intellectual property law, labor and employment law, environmental and energy law, and—for potential litigators—its trial and appellate advocacy programs, which are consistently ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
Just one example: You may have noticed that patent attorneys are ranked highest in earning potential compared to all other types of attorneys. Which makes Chicago-Kent College of Law—known for its nationally recognized intellectual property program, with a specialized patent law clinic—an excellent place to break into that highly lucrative field.
When it comes to researching and writing like a lawyer, Chicago-Kent was the first law school in the United States with a three-year writing requirement, and its legal writing and research curriculum has served as a model for numerous other institutions. The emphasis on legal research and writing reflects the law school’s commitment to training its graduates to be leaders in the profession by giving them the skills they will need to analyze and solve complex problems.
Finally, Chicago-Kent’s alumni network is active and thriving, filled with many working professionals who are willing to help graduates and even those still working on their degrees. For those wishing to network in the Chicago area, there are more than 9,000 alumni in the city’s metro area alone.
If you want to know more about Chicago-Kent’s J.D. program, feel free to reach out to its office of admissions at 312.906.5020 or admissions@kentlaw.iit.edu.