Interested in a career in the law sector? This exciting, fast-paced industry has opportunities for more than just solicitors and lawyers. These legal roles don’t require the same grades and degrees. Want to work in law? Check these careers out for yourself…

If you do not have the time or money to go to university and study law, there are other roles in the legal world which might fulfil your penchant for justice. The legal professions hold everything from the administrative tasks to the on-the-job researchers. If you have been in a car crash, fallen in a public place, or hurt yourself in the workplace, there is a lawyer who specialises in helping you. Behind that lawyer stands a veritable army of supporting staff – employees which do exciting jobs without a law degree.

Alternative Legal Roles

Don’t want to be a lawyer? Is the idea of university off-putting? Would you rather work based off your experience? These legal roles offer an alternative to becoming a lawyer which might suit you better.

Become a Paralegal

A paralegal is the person who helps the lawyer or solicitor to prepare legal documents. They take care of the day to day administrative tasks within the legal office. Although they do not need a legal degree nor can their signature carry the same weight as a solicitor’s does, they can set up their own offices and deal with lesser legal matters on the behalf of their clients.

To work as a paralegal in the UK, you will require a proficiency in English and communications, excellent administrative skills, and knowledge of common software systems such as Excel and Word. You can advance your career by studying a diploma in college.

Mediator

If you do not want to go through the court systems, but you still want to settle a dispute with another party, you could call in the mediators. These are professional, private companies which offer mediation on your behalf. You can seek out the help of a mediator when you are in the middle of legal proceedings, or instead of them.

Mediators typically handle things like contract breaches, non-payments, bankruptcy, and landlord/tenant disputes. If you want to become a mediator then you must complete a foundation course in mediation, which is accredited by the regional or national board.

Compliance Officer

Compliance officers are those responsible for ensuring that businesses within their industry perform ethically, complying to legal requirements. They conduct risk assessments and ensure risk assessments are carried out. They review legal websites, making sure privacy is protected. They look for cyber leaks, review employment law, and investigate businesses which maybe of concern.

To become a compliance officer, you will need relevant qualifications, even though there is no formal set course in compliance. For example, you can study software compliance, Anti Money Laundering compliance, or gain the AGRC certificate in compliance to take you forward. A compliance officer is often a job which you evolve into once you become well-versed in your field. A paralegal might eventually choose to work in compliance as they gain experience.

Criminologist

Criminologists do not need law degrees, but they do require qualifications in things like maths, science, and other STEM subjects.

Criminologists are the people who monitor the rates of accidents. They are the ones who study crimes and find out what happened, what the chances of it happening again are, and then extrapolating all of that date out into statistics form. This data is used in governmental and corporate reporting, as well as being used as a benchmark to figure out ways that they can stop the crimes from recurring.

Jury Consultant

The Jury consultant explores the social side of the law. They are experts in body language, behavioural analysts who know what a jury member will go through. They have the best understanding of social dynamics of all in the law team. They will help their legal team identify which jurors they do and do not want on the trial. They can be invaluable to winning a case in court.

To become a jury consultant, you will need previous experience in the legal sector coupled with studies in the behavioural sciences. If you have a talent for judging characters, this is the legal sector job for you.

Is a Career in Law for you?

Do any of these roles leap off the page to inspire you? If so, you should turn to college courses, online study, and on-the-job experience to help yourself into a good position. Volunteering in a law office until you have training is a great way to start. Otherwise, try out these law industry jobs which could be for you.