Best jobs for pre-law students

The best jobs for pre-law students include victim advocates, legislative assistants, and legal secretaries. Pre-law students cannot act as lawyers yet, but that doesn't mean you can't use your knowledge of the law while finishing your degree. Many positions will involve helping a lawyer or legislator, but many other industries, such as HR and compliance, require knowledge of the law. If you're a pre-law student looking for a job, then here are the ten best options:

1. Victim Advocate

   Average Salary: $38,628

   A victim advocate provides support and assistance to crime victims, helping them cope with the difficulties of their ordeal while fighting for the justice that they deserve. As a victim advocate, they must educate victims of their legal rights, help them understand the court procedures, identify their needs through various assessments, provide counseling, coordinate resources and other services, and support the victim throughout the court proceedings. Moreover, a victim advocate may create programs and strategies that will help the victim's emotional and psychological health.

2. Legislative Assistant

   Average Salary: $45,614

   A Legislative Assistant develops and plans legislative initiatives and monitors legislative developments. They usually work for elected and appointed officials, advocacy groups, or non-profit organizations.

3. Legal Secretary

   Average Salary: $41,725

   Legal secretaries are employees in a law firm who are responsible for many administrative tasks. They handle the tasks such as filing and keeping records, ensuring that all documents are stored properly, and update contact information data and other essential office databases. They must also be knowledgeable on the law because they are, at times, assigned to draw up legal documents such as motions and subpoenas, conduct legal research, and write up other important office memoranda. Legal secretaries should be organized, trustworthy, and level-headed.

4. Paralegal

   Average Salary: $49,943

   Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.

5. Law Librarian

   Average Salary: $51,708

6. Compliance Officer

   Average Salary: $64,058

   A compliance officer is responsible for monitoring company operations, ensuring that all the processes and members are adhering to the regulatory and procedural policies set by the company. Compliance officers' duties also include proposing compliance programs, reviewing and updating existing company policies with management approval, taking immediate actions for policy violations, and mitigating risks. A compliance officer must have extensive knowledge of legal procedures and regulatory standards to manage and evaluate problems, providing meaningful solutions, and keep the company's positive reputation.

7. Real Estate Agent

   Average Salary: $91,788

   A real estate agent helps owners in the selling or renting of houses, land, offices, buildings, or any piece of property. They should be knowledgeable in the area they work in, which local properties are in the market, and the competitive prices for various properties. It is their responsibility to either market or sells in the best possible and reasonable price and conditions. Negotiating is a vital skill for real estate agents as they act as the middleman for buyers and sellers. Most agents bill the client with a percentage of the final sale price as the fee, but some would get a fixed commission for every sale.

8. Legal Assistant

   Average Salary: $42,387

   Legal assistants are responsible for doing most of the administrative or clerical needs of a lawyer. They support lawyers by preparing documents for hearings or trials, conducting research for legal cases, organizing files and records, managing schedules, manning phone lines, communicating with legal clients, documenting meeting minutes, and setting up appointments. It is important for legal assistants to have a basic knowledge of laws and the judiciary system so that they can provide better support to lawyers. They should also be detail-oriented, organized, and excellent communicators.

9. Human Resources Representative

10. Policy Analyst

    Average Salary: $66,359

    Policy analysts are responsible for developing government policies and providing advice and briefing to senior management. These professionals work to influence both social and political decisions. They typically work in four key areas, including collecting information, analyzing policies, providing recommendations, and sharing information with government officials and the public. Additionally, they are also expected to consult with stakeholders to provide quantitative evidence supporting their policy. The rest of their time is spent on writing, reading, and analyzing information.