What Can You Do with a PhD in Law?

A PhD in Law is very valuable today. It shows that you are an expert in a particular area of law. With this degree, you can contribute to important discussions and help solve complex legal problems. It opens many career doors and allows you to make a big impact in various fields. 

Career Options with PhD in Law

A PhD in Law is the highest degree you can earn in the field of law. It involves deep study and research on a specific legal topic. People who get this degree need to write a dissertation showing their new ideas and findings about the law. If being not sure about this part of your academic advancement keeps you stuck, address a reliable service with a “write my dissertation” request and get professional research and writing assistance.

But let’s talk about career details and see if something really sparks your interest. 

Academic and Research Careers

Many students receive PhD in law or another specialty to continue a high-end career in the academic world. PhD is a sure way to teach in college or university, continue research, publish, etc. The academic world is not less competitive than the corporate world because it offers stable pay, high social status, and big research privileges for those who want to leave the mark. Also, let’s be honest: work in academia is a good start in politics for those with PhD in law. However, we will cover this topic more when we get to the public sector and government options, keep reading.

Legal Practice and Consultancy

This is the most classic part for a law graduate, whether you have a PhD in law or not. Still, a PhD will definitely help you move forward faster and get new clients easier — people respect degrees in traditional fields — medicine, law, finance, etc. And you have to take this advantage — if you need to impress someone and you have a way to do it, why not exploit it? People have more trust in those lawyers who have spent extra time (and money, let’s face it) on getting the best education possible. 

Public Sector and Government

You can enter the public sector and even the government world without any degree. Yes, you heard us: no degree is necessary for many entry and trainee positions, high school will do. However, you can’t move up. At all. If you want to have a good career in these fields or even a decent career growth, you need a diploma, and the better it is, the higher you can get. We may debate about how fair it is and how it really represents the abilities and the potential of candidates, but it is the harsh truth. No matter how talented or experienced in the real world you are, you need to have a PhD in law to get promoted to certain positions in the public sector and government. For something like a national pardon, a PhD in Law would help. And the earlier you get it, the better.

International Sector and NGOs

If you want to work with global organizations like the UN, focus on international law and human rights, and advocate for global policies, the international sector is the perfect place to use your PhD in law diploma. The same goes for the NGO field. You can provide legal help for advocacy and humanitarian efforts. You can choose to work on issues like human rights or environmental protection. Or you can combine it with an academia or even corporate agenda and conduct field research and join international talks. Do you have to have a PhD in law? Not necessarily, but it helps a lot, as you get way ahead of a very thick competition there.

Corporate Sector 

And finally, we reach the point that so many lawyers want to reach. Having a stunning and extremely well-paid career in the corporate sector. There are so many options:

• Advise companies on legal matters.
• Ensure they follow laws and regulations.
• Handle corporate governance and mergers. 
• Develop and manage compliance programs.
• Ensure the company follows legal standards.
• Conduct internal audits.

Again, you can start in the corporate sector without a law degree at all, as an intern, as a trainee, etc. But the shinier the diploma on your wall is, the better the chances for you to get to where you want on a straight path, ask for more money, get faster promotion, etc. It is just how the world works!

Alternative Careers with PhD in Law

But what if at some point I want to walk another path? Develop an app as a legal tech expert? Open your practice but in an NGO field? Write books on legal matters or even start your legal education YouTube channel? The rules are the same. If you have a PhD in law, you are almost invincible to any criticism. You are a confirmed professional, a scientist almost. It is a huge perk. 

How to Apply Your PhD in Law

First, you need to understand that your career path is not 100% (or even 70%!) defined by your choice. There are changes defined by the political and business environment, and you need to get used to the idea that being flexible is a very big virtue. Also, your career advancement won’t be straightforward — the market changes so much with the advancement of technology that you need to update your skills to stay relevant. More of it, you may just change your mind. Today, you want to be a film-like lawyer in a big corporation, and in five years, you may feel the urge to pay back and join some powerful NGO or start your own legal tech startup. 

We want you to remember one key idea — don’t listen to those who say that formal education has no meaning anymore. It is silly and far from reality. PhD in law will open many doors closed before and also closed to your competitors with not-so-formidable degrees. Invest in yourself as much as you can, but also remember to find side jobs and internships to later enter the market with some experience.