What can you do with a law degree? Alternative careers beyond a solicitor

Dear Oracle

I’m about to graduate from my law degree but don’t want to work at a law firm. What are my options?

The Oracle replies

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If you’re wondering what you can do with a law degree besides becoming a solicitor, you’re not alone. Many law graduates purses alternative careers in areas like business, media, government and finance. This guide explores two options and the transferable skills you can use outside private practice.

Having a law degree opens a range of possible careers and career paths, not just the traditional lawyer route (ie, private practice). According to a Prospects 2025 table only 45.4% of law graduates work directly in legal, social and welfare, highlighting the range of alternative careers available.

Law graduates commonly move into:

• in-house legal roles;
• legal journalism and publishing;
• civil service and government careers;
• HR and graduate recruitment;
• teaching; and
• compliance and risk.

This article show that you’re not limited to a legal career in private practice just because you studied law at university.

In-house legal careers

If you’d like to stay in law but want to avoid private practice, working as an in-house lawyer for a company or public sector organisation could be a great option for you.

Unlike lawyers working in private practice, whose firm will be appointed by clients, in-house lawyers work directly for their employer and carry out legal work for them.

Not sure how to get started? Explore in-house training contracts and legal careers.

There are a number of companies that now offer in-house training contracts/programmes, from the BBC to McDonald’s and Sky, so it’s possible to pursue your legal career this way if preferred through the completion of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

It’s hoped that the SQE makes training and qualifying as an in-house lawyer that bit easier. In fact, the Law Society of England and Wales’ Annual Statistics Report 2023 shows that while 22% of practice certificate holders worked in-house, the majority of trainees (88%) were in private practice.

The SQE’s qualifying work experience (QWE) has also made this route more flexible because QWE can be gained in a variety of organisations as long as candidates are seen to be developing some or all of the competencies on the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s statement of solicitor competence.

The work you do on an in-house training programme will vary depending on the organisation and the work they do, but if you’re keen to work for a well-known brand or public organisation on a broad range of legal issues, this could be an option for you.

Unsure whether to go into private practice or in-house? Get more insight into in-house law.

The Government Legal Profession also offers in-house training contracts in its various departments, including the Government Legal Department, the National Crime Agency and the Competition and Markets Authority.

In an article for the Law Society, legal counsel at Trustpilot Lizzy Lim says: “I am yet to come across an in-house team who would not be able to offer the key attributes that will need to be met in QWE, such as interacting with stakeholders, seeing how solicitors work in practice, opportunity to consider ethical challenges and developing the necessary competences”.

See the Law Society’s In-house Network for articles and webinars on how to kickstart your in-house career.

Legal journalism and media roles

If you enjoy writing and analysing information, legal journalism could be a rewarding alternative.

Most law graduates have the ability to read complex jargon and turn it into something coherent and concise. Writing clearly and succinctly is a skill that law students are taught in their undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Therefore, many law graduates venture into editorial or research analyst roles for publications like Lexology.

This role typically requires strong commercial awareness too, as you could reporting on developments across industries law firms and global markets. Being commercially aware means you’re constantly sharpening your writing, editorial and analytical skills and developing your legal sector knowledge.

Read this LCN Says to find a list of podcasts and influencers you should follow to boost your commercial awareness.

As a legal journalist, you’re in a unique position with access to press releases from law firms and the Law Society; you’re one of the first ones to know when a firm has officially merged and with who; and you get to scope out interesting news stories to share with lawyers and aspiring lawyers.

Other alternative careers for law graduates

Careers in government and the civil service

In-house and legal journalism aren’t the only options – there are many other career paths to pursue with your legal qualifications. LCN’s alternative careers section has information about a range of careers in which legal qualifications and experience are valuable, including in the Crown Prosecution Service, Government Legal Profession, in a law centre or as a licensed conveyancer.

Check out LawCareers.Net’s Jobs page regularly for in-house positions to apply to or use the training contract search and filter for in-house training contracts.

Careers in finance, the civil service or insurance are all also possible with a legal background.

HR and graduate recruitment roles

Some law firm graduate recruiters started out as lawyers. Many got to the point of being a trainee or a few years post-qualification before realising that recruitment (particularly graduate recruitment) within a law firm was what really sparked their interest. Their expertise, having sat on the other side of the recruiting desk, is invaluable when it comes to recruiting and guiding the next generation of lawyers.

How to choose the right career path

Many of the skills developed as a trainee – commercial awareness, client networking, project management – are transferable to all kinds of positions and industries, so consider what it is about the job you enjoy.

Build your skills in LawCareers.Net’s Commercial awareness hub, sponsored by Mayer Brown International LLP.

For example, do you like:

• communicating with clients;
• learning about different industries;
• researching different points of law; or
• the business development aspect?

Final thoughts

A law degree doesn’t lock you into becoming a solicitor. Whether you stay within the legal sector or move into a completely different industry, your skills are highly transferable and widely valued.

The key is to explore your options early, build relevant experience and stay open-minded about where your degree can take you.

Hear from early careers legal recruitment advisor at White & Case LLP, Molly Hill, about the most memorable moment in the job and check out more LCN Meet the Recruiter profiles for insights into law firms' graduate recruitment.

Dimitar Dimitrov (he/him) is a content and engagement coordinator at LawCareers.Net.