The legal industry is a field that will always be around, and as it grows, more personnel and talent are needed to take on the work. But not everyone who wants to get involved in the legal industry needs to go through the rigorous process of law school — there are many jobs that do not require a law degree or state bar association license.
Here are 10 jobs that do not require a job degree, their education requirements, and the average salary you can expect.
Paralegal/Legal Assistant
- Expected Duties
Paralegals and legal assistants help lawyers every day with the court process and communicating with clients. However, they do have slightly different duties. Paralegals read and investigate the facts of a case, research applicable laws, draft legal documents, and help lawyers with trial preparation. Legal assistants (also called legal secretaries) have more administrative duties. They answer phones, make and maintain appointments, with clients, witnesses, and attorneys, take notes and file documents with the court. - Education & Experience Requirements
The minimum hiring requirement is typically an associate’s degree. Generally, though, a bachelor’s degree in paralegal or legal studies is desired. Not many institutions offer a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, though. If you are interested in this line of work, look into paralegal certificates you can earn after completing your bachelor’s.
Legal Intake Representative
- Expected Duties
A legal intake representative (also called a legal intake specialist or professional) works with lawyers at a law firm. They answer incoming calls at the office and assess whether a caller’s legal question or issue is an appropriate case for the law firm to tackle. They schedule appointments between clients and lawyers and help to process new clients to the law firm filing system. They may also assist marketing with advertising to attract new clients and may assist with administrative duties. - Education & Experience Requirements
Candidates usually need to have a high school diploma or GED. They should have good communication skills and be proficient with computer and case management software. Preferably, employers want the candidates to have a bachelor’s degree and previous customer service or sales experience. Previous experience in the legal field is also preferable.
Medical Record Reviewer
- Expected Duties
Medical record reviewers assist law firms in cases that involve health and medicine. This includes medical malpractice and personal injury cases. They review cases, read through the medical files, explain the medical terminology to lawyers and staff, make sure all medical documentation is proper and identify any parts that are not. - Education & Experience Requirements
Most medical records reviewers have a bachelor’s degree in health information management or medical coding. You can also have a high school diploma or a GED and then complete a health information management program. However, a bachelor’s degree will offer more employment opportunities. Applicants can choose different certifications (Registered Health Information Technician and Certified Coding Specialist) to make themselves more marketable as job candidates.
Legal Writer
- Expected Duties
A legal writer writes about legal topics. They can write briefs, which are summaries of the facts of legal cases and the argument, and summarize legal cases that are then published in various media outlets. - Education & Experience Requirements
There are no specific educational requirements to become a legal writer. At the minimum, a legal writer should have a high school diploma. Even though legal writers are not required to have a legal background, legal education or background in a legal position can be helpful for writers who want to take on more technical legal writing, and is more appealing to employers. Excellent writing skills are a must-have. Legal writers should have knowledge of legal terms and doctrines.
Legal Nurse Consultant
- Expected Duties
Lawyers seek the help of a legal nurse consultant when they are working on a case that involves the medical field. Legal nurse consultants provide guidance on how lawyers can approach cases involving injury, worker’s compensation, or medical malpractice. They also assist in explaining medical records and medical jargon to lawyers and other professionals who do not have a medical background. - Education & Experience Requirements
Legal nurse consultants do not need to have an education in law. A two- or four-year nursing degree and nursing license are sufficient.
Legal Marketing
- Expected Duties
A legal marketer’s responsibility is to advertise the law firm. They assist with establishing a law firm’s presence on social media, developing email marketing campaigns, and writing search engine optimized content for lawyers or law firms to attract new clients. For example, the legal marketer would write copy to lay out legal concepts in layman’s terms, explaining why the law firm is the best for certain cases and why it should be hired. - Education & Experience Requirements
Legal marketing workers should have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in marketing, as well as a few years of experience in marketing. Experience in the legal industry is always a plus. Legal marketing workers must have proficient writing skills and are expected to be proficient multitaskers.
Mediator/ Arbitrator/ Conciliator
- Expected Duties
Mediators, arbitrators, and conciliators assist negotiations between parties in conflict without the use of the court system. They have been growing in popularity as an alternative to pursuing disputes in the courts as they are a less expensive alternative. They help parties have open dialogues, organize meetings between the parties, and study information in the records. There are slight differences between the three roles, though. Arbitrators do not discuss issues directly with the parties, whereas mediators and conciliators do. Mediators can only help the parties reach a settlement, but only the parties can come up with a solution. Arbitrators and conciliators can recommend or propose a settlement to end the dispute. However, only an arbitrator’s decision is binding and enforceable in the courts. A conciliator’s solution is only advisory, and parties are under no obligation to agree to it. - Education & Experience Requirements
A law degree is generally not needed to be an arbitrator, a mediator, or a conciliator. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum degree qualification, though some employers may want a more advanced degree. Specific knowledge of a particular industry, such as finance or technology, is a plus. There is no national license body for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators, though some states have license or training requirements. Some states require arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators to be licensed in the field they work (e.g., attorney, doctor, CPA).
Jury Consultant
- Expected Duties
Law firms sometimes hire jury consultants to help positively present their cases. Jury consultants learn and study the potential juror for a trial. They look at the juror’s background, job, preferences, lifestyle, and opinions on different issues. They then analyze this information to create profiles of the jurors so that lawyers and clients can understand which jurors would be inclined to vote for or against them. Jury consultants may also help attorneys write opening and closing statements to sway the juries as well as help prepare a witness for trial. - Education & Experience Requirements
Generally, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum education accepted for a jury consultant. While the degree can be in any field, a degree with a legal background or psychology is deemed more favorable. Many law firms prefer to hire jury consultants with a master’s or Ph.D. degree in psychology, behavioral science, or criminal justice.
Social Worker
- Expected Duties
Social workers help people deal with problems and changes in their lives. Both clinical and nonclinical social workers guide people who are dealing with various life issues, such as death, substance abuse, and broken homes, and refer them to various resources and services available in the community. But only clinical social workers treat various disorders (mental, emotional, and behavioral), work with them, and develop a treatment plan. Sometimes, social workers can have specialized jobs. Examples of specialized duties are social workers for families, mental health, and substance abuse. - Education & Experience Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in social work is required to be a nonclinical social worker. Clinical social workers need a master’s degree in social work, though their bachelor’s degrees can be in other programs such as public policy, psychology, or social science. Generally, a supervised internship is required. All states require clinical social workers to be licensed, while some require nonclinical social workers to be licensed. There may also be a licensing exam. Find more information about licensing here.
Title Examiner
- Expected Duties
A title examiner works with law firms in the real estate industry. They research both public and private records to find, assess, and summarize property titles. They search for defects in the chain of title by reviewing deeds, mortgage documents, and other documents related to ownership of the real estate. - Education & Experience Requirements
A title examiner works with law firms in the real estate industry. They research both public and private records to find, assess, and summarize property titles. They search for defects in the chain of title by reviewing deeds, mortgage documents, and other documents related to ownership of the real estate.
Tips on Getting Hired
The legal industry is a growing field, and new jobs are opening every day. Remember, it’s not all about education and degrees. Employers want to see practical experience. This means being familiar with the intricacies of the work environment and proof that you can handle numerous responsibilities at the same time.
If your resume does not exactly meet the job qualifications, demonstrate how the skills you learned at previous jobs transfer over to the one you’re applying to. Volunteering counts are experience, too. Show that you’ve taken the time to learn about the job and have prepared yourself for what will be required of you. A willingness to learn and build upon your existing skills is a valuable quality that can give you an edge through the job hunt.
