other career options for people with a law degree

I have my first law degree and soon I will be going for my second law. However I am not really interested in becoming a lawyer, I just want to study law for personal satisfaction. After I get my second law degree(LLM), I would like to find a good job in marketing or human resources. I would like to get some input on what are my chances of getting a good job in marketing or human resources with an LLB and LLM?

Thanks

 

You could always follow the lead of almost every other lawyer in the US and become a scumbag politician.

 

I feel as though an education in law would be very beneficial for human resources but in most cases companies prefer a number a years of human resource experience for a mid to senior level position. Even entry level positions require 2-3 years experience.

At any rate, especially in business, a person cannot sell themselves on their degrees alone.

Duff

 

If you studied law for your own pleasure to the point of completing an LL.B. and are now undertaking an LL.M. for the same reason, may I suggest that you should take this as a sign that you should consider a career in academia?

Your LL.M. would be the basic credential to teach in a Canadian University, as I understand it. Pursuing a subject for the love of it is the mark of a scholar. (No, I am NOT one myself!)

 

sorry for your problems

I've heard that there are almost unlimited opportunities in the food industry.

Jack

 

Both true and sad!

 

Law to HR

I have my law degree and was the Director of HR for a BC corporation without HR experience. If you specialize in labour law you'll have no trouble breaking into HR from the labour angle. (Especially in BC, where there is alot of labour work).

Good luck

 

FWIW, the Director and Assistant Director of the bank Trust Department I once worked for were lawyers.

 

I have thought about teaching law, but to be honest with you I am not a very patient person. So I don't think I would make a very good teacher.

Bo

 

Re: sorry for your problems

Interesting! Could you please be more specific?

 

Re: Law to HR

 

Instead of chasing another law degree, why are you not pursuing an MBA? The combination of an MBA and an LLB is quite marketable in today's economy. There are literally hundreds of career choices you can make with these two degrees.

Word of advice. When you're being interviewed by prospective employers, don't pass yourself off as a lawyer. Most employers, except law firms of course, are reluctant to hire employees who've studied law rather than business.

 

Re: Re: sorry for your problems

McDonalds.
Jack

 

Re: Re: other career options for people with a law degree

Roy,

I also want to get an MBA. My goals for the next 4 years are to get an MBA and an LLM. Right now, I am just debating if I should do the LLM or MBA first.

I must say I am very surprised about you're comment that most employers are reluctant to hire employees that studied law rather than business. Could you please elaborate more on that?

Bo

 

Re: Re: Re: other career options for people with a law degree

People spend their lives avoiding lawyers.

Reminds me, I've got to remember to get my septic tank pumped out.

 

MBA/LLM

I have my LLB from University of British Columbia, and have just started the Heriot-Watt MBA.

I have found that having a law degree is a tremendous asset in business - I don't know that the MBA will advance my career in terms of the letters, but I know the learning that I am doing will enhance my performance. Because MBAs are held by many business professionals, the law degree has been a distinction between myself and others performing similar functions.

In terms of CEO/VP positions, I have seen my LLB as well received as an MBA.

I think that either course of study combined with demonstrated business skills and problem solving abilities will get you a long way, especially if you develop skills as a lawyer that is a "deal maker" not "deal breaker" (the usual lawyer role!).

Personally I think for a second degree after law you'd be better with an MBA than an LLM - but I'm biased because that's what I chose to do!

 

Re: Re: Re: other career options for people with a law degree

Lawyers can sometimes cause trouble for corporations. Employees with law degrees are usually the first to challenge corporate policies, procedures and organizational values (especially if things don't go their way).

Employers are interested in hiring highly qualified candidates, but they want to avoid those who can potentially "rock the boat".

As for the LLM/MBA combination - good choice. But be prepared to practice law when you graduate.

If you want to "test the waters", try asking some of the HR managers of a couple of fortune 500 companies if they are willing to hire someone with law degrees to work in their marketing, finance or brand management departments.

 

"Rocking the Boat"

Roysavia - here I go "rocking the boat"!

I know that I wouldn't want to work for a corporation that didn't want someone who challenged the status quo. One of the most important things I contribute to our organization is challenging the tendency to assume what we've done is what we should do.

You are correct that there are organizations that wouldn't want that, but I know that it wouldn't be a fit.

As for HR people, in my experience they are usually not the ones hiring into senior positions, although I think you are correct on entry level positions.

 

Hi Bo,

I'll start of by telling you about the law grads that I know who are not working as lawyers:

1- BA, LLB, MBA, working in HR/labour relations for a major Canadian Bank.

2- BA, LLB, Post Grad Diploma in Management: worked as a union negotiator, now works as a VP Human Resources for a manufacturing company.

3- BA, LLB: works in the insurance industry

4- BA, LLB, BCL: works as a corporate consultant (not sure if still does), was hired straight out of law school for that one.

5- Not sure about academic background other than "law degree": worked for a non profit special interest group (representing corporate interests, but the group itself was non profit), then went to work in the legal/claims department for one of the member companies.

A good friend of mine works for a financial regulatory body and commented that "half the people" working there have law degrees. There would be a demand for law graduates working in government at the municipal, Provincial and Federal levels.

As you already have a law background the MBA will probably improve your marketability more than a LLM, if you are doing both the question becomes do you plan on doing them part time while you work or full time then get a job? Another question is do you have an undergraduate degree (besides the LLB) and what is it in?

My suggestion is this: Do the MBA first, then see what career path you are following. Then if you like it you can focus your LLM in that area. It would be a shame if you did a LLM in labour law, then ended up working in marketing or finance and wishing you'd focused on consumer law or international taxation.

 

I have known JDs who have never practiced law but went on to become executive directors of nonprofit organizations.

John