What is a J.D. Advantage Job?

A J.D. degree is not only for the practicing attorney. Learn more about J.D. advantage jobs and how a law degree can help your career options in other fields.

Obtaining a Juris Doctor degree,or J.D,) is one of the first steps to becoming a lawyer. Traditional and hybrid J.D. programs help students develop the practical, theoretical, and cultural skills needed to pursue their legal career dreams.

You may come to realize, however, that the legal field just isn’t the right fit for you. That realization can be concerning when you consider the time, effort, and money already invested in pursuing a legal career.

There’s good news! A J.D. degree is not only for the practicing attorney. In fact, companies are often on the lookout for law school graduates to fill positions that would benefit immensely from someone with the knowledge learned from a J.D. degree.

Those positions are called J.D. advantage jobs. In this blog, we’ll cover the following topics: 

• How to Apply Your J.D. Degree to Careers Outside of Practicing Law
• The Definition of J.D. Advantage Jobs
• Examples of J.D. Advantage Jobs
• & More

Definition of  J.D. Advantage Jobs

 J.D. advantage jobs, or J.D. preferred jobs, are a type of job for which having a law degree will give you a distinct advantage in performing the duties of the role but does not require passage of the bar exam. Whether you intend to take the bar exam or not, law school will equip you with skills that many employers find highly desirable and which easily transfer to other industries.

Some of those skills include:

• Analytical thinking
• Research
• Writing
• Problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Client management
• Building relationships

Most J.D. advantage jobs—nearly 77% in 2018—are high-quality, full-time, long-term positions that offer opportunities for career growth. That number can be even higher for careers in the government or business sectors. 

Law school graduates are often disciplined, dependable, and driven to achieve their goals, no matter what those goals are. A J.D. degree prepares you for success not only in law but in multiple fields and gives you a unique advantage in the hiring process.

J.D. Advantage Jobs and Career Paths

Choosing a career path can be difficult for those with specific degrees but even more so for highly qualified and knowledgeable law school graduates who can use their skills in multiple fields.

The American Bar Association’s Career Center offers helpful resources for law students, lawyers, and legal professionals, including an entire webpage dedicated to alternative legal careers and a career quiz to help you determine which legal path interests you most.  

Consider the following career areas if  J.D. advantage jobs seem like the right fit for you.

Human Resources Manager

HR managers evaluate and manage employee relations to enhance their companies’ policies by implementing beneficial programs and best practices. They need to be able to establish and maintain relationships and read people when considering new hires or employee performance. Effective HR managers demonstrate   impeccable organizational skills and attention to detail and are deadline oriented.

A law background gives any HR professional an advantage when navigating the sensitive subject of human relations. You may want to consider a career in HR management if you possess exceptional people skills and have high levels of empathy.

Project Manager

Even the most simple company project will have  multiple moving parts that must be efficiently organized to ensure successful outcomes. Project managers are accountable for all aspects of a project, including  staffing, timelines, budgets, and deliverables. They also may manage and maintain relationships between a company and its clients. Projects are common in nearly every industry, providing valuable career opportunities to those interested in a specific field.

Law school graduates are well prepared to take on the complexities of managing any type of company project. If you have impressive leadership and interpersonal skills, or if you enjoy mentoring others in a certain field, project management may be the career for you.

Business Development

Business developers are responsible for building a company’s market position through working on and closing business deals, partnerships, and other opportunities. Business developers focus on the company’s long-term goals, ensuring that the strategies implemented will drive success over time.

Law school graduates have a clear advantage in an important aspect of business development:complex contract negotiation. Business developers often work closely with their organization’s legal team to manage and negotiate contracts with their potential partners or clients.

If you have a knack for building relationships and dealmaking, or if you want to make significant contributions to a company’s goals, business development would be a fine career choice.

Writer 

Law school requires extensive research and clear writing on complex topics. J.D. students often develop their writing skills throughout their academic journey, but a few specific roles are especially primed for a skilled writer  with a legal background.

• Journalist: Some of the same qualities that will make you a better lawyer will also make you a solid journalist. Intensive research, analytical thinking, and relationship building are crucial to finding the most interesting stories. While the journalism industry is not necessarily thriving, expertise is valuable when writing about legal matters. If hunting down stories  or helping readers understand  complex legal subjects sounds like a fulfilling career, consider journalism.
• Content writer: Content is king, and companies are seeking  writers who know how to use words in engaging and profitable ways. Content writers produce content for multiple channels to market a company’s brand, including blogs, news articles, ads, emails, presentations, social media posts, and much more. Content writing might be a fit if you appreciate the power of the written word and understand the powerful impact of  writing.

• Legal writer: Legal writing is a specific type of technical writing that requires a solid understanding of the legal landscape. Legal writers can communicate complex facts, conclusions, decisions, and cases in a clear and concise manner. Legal writing places a heavy reliance on authority, so the writer must be able to back up their assertions with the proper citations. Legal writing also requires knowledge of the extensive technical vocabulary and style used in the industry—knowledge that you can gain with a J.D. degree. Legal writing is an attractive career path if you want to stay in the field of law but not become  a practicing lawyer.

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief operating officers  have a hand in every aspect of their business, including marketing, sales, human resources, finances, and even legal matters. A COO is  responsible for efficient business operations  and must be able to establish, oversee, and maintain an  organization’s operating infrastructure.

While this is more of a long-term goal, your J.D. degree can help you get established within an organization and position yourself on a career path to achieve this ambitious target.

J.D. advantage job options are numerous and diverse. . By earning a Juris Doctor degree, you make yourself more attractive to hiring managers and can give yourself a positive advantage over other candidates.

The Colleges of Law offers J.D. and Hybrid J.D. law programs built for future leaders in the legal field or any field they choose to pursue. Contact us today to learn more.