Law Careers that Require a Bachelor's Degree

Law Careers--Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Can you use your Psychology degree for a career as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant?

Once you graduate with your Psychology degree, you have some choices to make. You may not have the financial resources to go to law school to become a lawyer or you don't want to go to law school. That doesn't mean you cannot have a career involving the law. One way you can do this is by becoming a paralegal or legal asistant. Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.

Most paralegals and legal assistants have an associate's degree or a certificate in paralegal studies. Employers may hire college graduates with a bachelor degree with no legal experience or specialized education and train them on the job.

Click here for a great web article on Tips for Becoming a Successful Paralegal Click here to read about reasons to become a Paralegal Salary Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median yearly income for a Paralegal/ Legal Assistant at $50,500.

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Click on the links below to read about another Law career that only require a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology:

Law Careers--Arbitrators/Mediators

Click on the links below to read about other Law careers that require a graduate degree:

Law Careers--Judges and Hearing Officers

Law Careers--Lawyer

Law Careers--Arbitrators/Mediators

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Becoming an Arbitrator/Mediator with a Psychology degree

An interesting career direction you can take with your Psychology degree is to become an Arbitrator/Mediator. To begin, an AribratorMediator works with different sides to settle disputes outside of the courtroom. To be clear, an Arbitrator/Mediator does not represent either of the sides in a dispute, and the decision that is reached does not require a judge. They review evidence, hold hearings to facilitate communication between the two sides, and ultimately render decisions. These hearings are like a court trial, but they are private and less formal. Many Arbitrators/Mediators work for state or local governments or in the legal services industry.

To become an Arbotrator/Mediator, you will typically need to earn a certificate in arbitration/mediation.

Salary Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average yearly income for an Arbitrator/Mediator at $61,000.