20 most popular jobs upon graduation for students majoring in law or legal studies

Here’s a practical guide to the 20 most popular jobs for graduates with law or legal studies degrees. Not every law graduate goes on to become a practicing attorney. Many choose paths in compliance, government, business, or education, while others use their legal knowledge as a foundation for entirely different careers. Employers value law grads because you can analyze complex information, write clearly, and pay attention to detail.

• Paralegal
  Assisting lawyers with research, drafting, and case preparation.
• Legal Assistant
  Managing schedules, filing, and basic document preparation in law firms and corporate legal departments.
• Compliance Analyst
  Ensuring companies follow laws, regulations, and internal policies; common in finance, healthcare, and tech.
• Contract Administrator
  Drafting, reviewing, and monitoring contracts for businesses or government agencies.
• Policy Analyst
  Researching legislation, analyzing its impact, and making recommendations for think tanks, nonprofits, or government.
• Regulatory Affairs Associate
  Supporting companies (especially in healthcare and pharmaceuticals) to comply with industry regulations.
• Court Clerk
  Preparing legal documents, scheduling hearings, and maintaining records for judges and courts.
• Human Resources Specialist (compliance focus)
  Handling employee relations, labor law issues, and workplace compliance.
• Immigration Caseworker (support role)
  Assisting lawyers or nonprofits with immigration applications, documentation, and client support.
• Real Estate Closing Specialist
  Reviewing contracts, coordinating with agents and lenders, and preparing documents for property transactions.
• Insurance Claims Adjuster / Examiner
  Investigating claims, interpreting policies, and negotiating settlements.
• Mediator (entry-level assistant)
  Supporting dispute resolution processes in courts, businesses, or community centers.
• Government Policy Officer
  Supporting ministries or agencies with legal and regulatory research.
• Corporate Governance Assistant
  Helping boards and executives with compliance, shareholder communication, and governance documentation.
• Probation or Legal Services Officer
  Working in correctional systems to monitor compliance with court orders.
• Legal Researcher
  Supporting academic, government, or corporate projects by analyzing statutes and case law.
• Public Affairs Associate
  Advocating for policy positions and supporting lobbying activities with legal research.
• Intellectual Property Assistant
  Reviewing patent or trademark filings, conducting research, and supporting IP attorneys.
• Nonprofit Advocacy Coordinator
  Working with NGOs to support social justice, human rights, or community legal education.
• Graduate School or Law School Pathway Roles
  Many legal studies grads work as research or teaching assistants before pursuing advanced study (JD, LLM, or related).

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How to Use This List

A legal studies degree gives you options. You can work in law-adjacent roles like paralegal or compliance, or branch into policy, HR, business, or nonprofits. The key to standing out is to demonstrate applied knowledge: a paper you wrote that analyzed regulations, a contract you drafted in an internship, or a policy brief you helped prepare. Employers don’t just want to know you understand legal principles—they want to see how you’ve used them to solve problems.