Bachelor Degree in Law
No matter how many jokes about attorneys condemned to burn eternally in hellish flames you hear: law is still nowadays one of the most solid, flexible and reliable careers. And it can be a very inspiring one, too, because Judicial Branch is, doubtlessly, one of the pillars of democracy.
Law is a group of rules and regulations conceived to ensure a peaceful coexistence among all the members of a community, who have both rights and obligations. Such rules are inspired in principles and values, like freedom or equality, that evolved in many different legal concepts, like crime, contracts or mortgages. A degree in law deals with all these concepts gathered into different topics, such as civil law, human rights, environment, taxes, etc…
Students spend four or five years in most Law programs. Contents vary significantly from one country to another, as every government has its own legislation, but the most usual subjects include the following ones:
- History of ancient Roman law
- History of law at your own country
- Philosophy of law
- Constitutional and administrative law
- Civil law
- Family law
- Criminal law
- Criminology
- Public treasure and taxes
- Procedural law
- Financial and market law
- International law
- Labor law
- Property law
- Copyright
- Religious law
Law studies may not demand a high creativity, but they require memory, perseverance and a lot of discipline and self-control, specially for those aiming to success in a court career. Law bachelors may become deputy clerks, attorneys, or even judges, although they’ll need to continue their training for many years to get there. But, are courts the one an only destination for Law bachelors? Of course not! Law is amazingly versatile. There are many different career opportunities available for lawyers.
Private advocacy is the classical option. Defending individuals rights does not circumscribe to crime prosecutions. Property, finances, marriage and divorce, employment relationships… are some of the topics a private lawyer can specialize in. They can also become real estate agents and administrative solicitors.
Public Administration offers a wide range of jobs in addition to those related to courts:notaries, revenue agents, diplomats, immigration inspectors, registry officers, for instance.
But job opportunities don’t end here. Banks and private companies often rely on lawyers to get legal advice, but there’s an increasing number of Law bachelors working in many other departments, such as human resources, accountancy, etc…
Perfect for… people with good memory and a strong sense of duty.
Don’t choose it if… you hate intricate language or you can’t even remember your friends’ last names.
Match it with… Economics, Politic science, a Social Welfare degree, Labor relations or even a Master of Business Administration.