Essential Information
Three main types of law degrees are available in the United States. The first degree students can enroll in is a Juris Doctor degree program and can complete it after three years of full-time study. The second law degree is the Master of Laws (LL.M.), and the third degree is the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.).
Some J.D. programs may be combined with other master's degree programs in specific facets of law, business or public policy, and these programs might last longer than three years. The first year of study focuses on basic topics, like international law, criminal law and civil procedure. Second and third-year students may customize their education to reflect their interests, taking electives in such areas as tax and business.
Juris Doctor
Applicants must have bachelor's degrees, at minimum to enter this standard law degree. Prospective students don't need to take any undergraduate law courses or have prior experience with the judicial system. For the application, law schools will request scores for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), recommendation letters and, in some cases, a current resume.
The first year of the curriculum covers core courses. Students may then choose a concentration and complete a required number of elective classes. Some possible classes include:
Master of Laws
Unlike most master's degree programs, which are considered to be the first level of graduate degrees, the Master of Laws is the second professional law degree after the Juris Doctor. An LL.M. program takes one year to complete with full-time study, and students may specialize in their interests, such as human rights law, environmental law, technology law or taxation. Because there are many different concentrations within LL.M. programs, curricula will differ. For example, a student enrolled in a tax law LL.M. program will gain a strong understanding of U.S. tax law. An LL.M. program mainly benefits international lawyers who wish to become familiar with and legally practice American law, but American lawyers who want to focus their studies on specific areas of law or prepare for an S.J.D. program may be accepted.
Classes depend largely on the type of Master of Laws degree program students pursue. Core courses in a particular area of the law must be completed, and then students choose electives of interest to them. Potential courses may include:
Doctor of Juridical Science
The most advanced law degree in the United States, the Doctor of Juridical Science program can be completed on a full-time basis in three years. Many applicants to a Doctor of Juridical Science program are established law professionals with many years of experience. In addition, a S.J.D. program qualifies students to work in academic settings as law professors.
The program, which is research-intensive, requires students to know their research interests before beginning the application process. Most of a student's time will be spent on the completion and defense of a dissertation. The course requirements are typically dealt with during the first year of enrollment and determined by students in conjunction with their advisors.
A majority of the S.J.D. curriculum gets spent researching and writing a dissertation. However, a small number of courses must be completed before students begin their projects. Classes appeal to an individual's interests, and they may include:
Job Outlook and Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of lawyers was expected to increase by 10% from 2012 to 2022 (www.bls.gov). Law firms, corporations and government agencies often hire lawyers. Fierce competition was predicted due to the large number of law school graduates. The annual average salary of a lawyer in May 2014 was $133,470.
Doctoral graduates may work in academia, teaching and writing papers while employed by a major law school. The BLS reported that the employment of professors would increase by 19% between 2012 and 2022. Postsecondary law teachers were listed as making a mean annual salary of $126,270 in May 2014.
Continuing Education Information
Graduates of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program need to pass the bar exam before they can begin practicing law. Each state administers its own bar exam, but most require candidates to have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Lawyers must pursue licensure through the state in which they wish to practice law.
Careers in Education Law: Education Requirements and Job Options
A career in education law typically requires a bachelor's degree at a minimum. Continue reading for an overview of the responsibilities and salary info for some career options in the field.
Essential Information
Educational reform influences national and state law and policy, which can in turn affect individual students, institutions and schools across the country. Professionals are thus needed to uphold and enforce these state and national regulations.
| Career | Lawyer | Postsecondary Teacher | Postsecondary Educational Administrator |
| Education Requirements | Completion of law school | Doctoral degree usually required | Master's degree usually required |
| Other Requirements | State bar licensing | State licensing | Related work experience |
| Projected Job Growth (2012-2022)* | 10% | 19% | 15% |
| Average Salary (2014)* | $133,470 | $74,040 | $101,910 |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Options
Besides becoming a lawyer, those specializing in educational law can do their part to affect educational reform by becoming school administrators or instructors. Read on to educate yourself about the many careers someone interested in educational law can practice.
Education Law
The field of education law provides many opportunities for lawyers, policymakers and related professionals. Education lawmakers and policymakers may advocate for fairness in education, poor and underprivileged students, students with disabilities and other special cases. They may create laws to eliminate gender or cultural bias in standardized testing, classroom learning, class projects and other assignments.
Educational Requirements for Lawyers
In order to become a lawyer, one must complete a bachelor's degree program as well as a law school degree, or Juris Doctor (J.D.). Upon completion of law school, graduates must pass a bar exam applicable to the state in which they wish to practice law. Most states also require that lawyers continue their education in order to remain updated on the latest issues in the field of law.
Prospective education lawyers should pursue courses in law school such as education law and policy, child welfare, education advocacy and child advocacy where applicable. Some schools offer joint J.D. and Master of Arts (M.A.) programs in law and education. These programs are specifically designed for students who are enrolled in law school and are interested in pursuing a career in educational law and policy.
Educational Requirements for Non-Lawyers
Some non-lawyer careers in the field of education law include those of teachers, school administrators or educational legislators. These positions do not necessarily require that a student become a lawyer or enroll in law school, although educational lawyers may fulfill these positions as well.
Generally, a bachelor's degree in education or a related field can allow prospective education law professionals to begin their careers. For teaching positions in public schools, a valid teaching certificate is required. In order for these professionals to advance their careers, they may choose to enroll in a master's degree program in educational administration or a related field.
Career Options in Education Law
Educational legislators develop and endorse laws related to education. These appointed or elected professionals research issues and establish regulations in the educational sector. Education law professionals may also teach their profession in postsecondary institutions. Additionally, educational lawyers advocate for fairness in education and work to ensure institutions follow existing laws. Other career options in education law include legal advocates and education administrators.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported annual average salaries of $131,990 for lawyers and $58,260 for secondary school teachers in 2013. Lawyers could look forward to 10% employment growth, according to the BLS, from 2012-2022, while elementary and kindergarten teachers could expect 12% growth and secondary school teachers could expect 6% growth in employment opportunities during that time.
No comments:
Post a Comment