On Thursday, the report of a Kaplan Test Prep Survey found more than half of the surveyed pre-law students expecting to work in non-traditional legal jobs after they complete their degree. Confirming once again that the JD remains one of the most flexible qualifications Jeff Thomas, director of the pre-law program at Kaplan said the “society is filled with lawyers in all types of positions- politicians, lobbyists, authors, law enforcement officials, executives at professional sports leagues, and more – which shows that law degrees can be applied to a broad range of career options.”
The survey of pre-law students found among other things:
- While 50 percent of the respondents said they planned for non-traditional legal jobs, three out of five of those respondents said that their decisions were based on the current job market for lawyers
- At least 43 percent of overall respondents plainly stated that they planned to use their law degree in a job in the business world, and if they weren’t pursuing a JD, they would have been pursuing an MBA
- Growing interest in non-traditional legal jobs comes in wake of the recent ABA report showing only 56 percent of 2012 graduates secured jobs requiring bar passage
- Though 71 percent said they were going to law school to follow their passion, 43 percent were ready to alter their study plans if they did not find suitable financial aid packages
Taking note of the angle of financial aid packages factoring in student decisions, Jeff Thomas said, “We’ve always encouraged pre-law students to think about how to finance their legal education and what they can do with their degree, but with the recent contraction in the job market for lawyers, it’s clear that students are more concerned than ever about the financial investment in law school.”