Careers in law

The legal industry offers a diverse and exciting range of career paths, with many different professions to explore. Whether you work as a lawyer, in law enforcement, or in a law-adjacent field, there are plenty of options for a rewarding career that helps people and the community as a whole.

This guide to careers in law explores a wide range of different professions, including some lesser-known, behind-the-scenes law jobs. If you’re interested in a career in the legal sector, read on for advice on the skills and qualifications you’ll need to get started. 

What are careers in law?  

A career in law basically means working in the justice system to uphold citizens’ rights and federal laws. Many of these jobs provide guidance and advice, while others are to do with administration and enforcement. Law careers can include resolving disputes, interpreting and applying the law, creating new legislation, advocating for justice, and working in the court system.

Law careers you can explore in New Zealand

There are many different ‘levels’ of lawyers and legal workers in New Zealand. Whether you’re interested in traditional lawyer careers or less well-known careers in the legal sector, here is some inspiration for different pathways you can take. 

Practising law 

To practise law you must complete a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB (Hons)), then a Professional Legal Studies Course, get a Certificate of Completion from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education, be admitted to the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand and hold a valid practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society.

There are many different careers in law you can pursue; following are just a few of them.

Finance law  

A financial services lawyer oversees and advises on financial compliance for their clients. The might draft payment contracts and financial arrangements, and provide advice on mergers, bankruptcies, insurance, investments, and commercial banking transactions.

A combined or double degree in commerce and law would be a great starting qualification for a career in finance law. 

Environmental law 

Environmental law is a growing field, with lawyers working with government, NGOs and corporations to uphold existing legislation and create new laws to protect the environment. They typically advocate for the protection of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, but can also work for corporations to make sure they’re compliant with industry regulations.  

In addition to a bachelor of laws, a postgraduate degree or major in environmental science will provide a good foundation for this specialisation.

Criminal law 

Criminal lawyers represent people accused of committing a crimw. They represent defendants in court, gathering evidence and cross-examining witnesses with the aim of protecting their clients’ interests and ensuring a fair trial.

You can pursue criminal law with a bachelor of laws degree or a double degree like a bachelor of criminology and criminal justice. 

International law 

An international lawyer provides legal advice and guidance for organisations or companies. There are many different areas of specialisation, including international environmental law, international diplomacy, international security law, trade law and human rights law. Obtaining a bachelor of law degree is the minimum requirement to become an international lawyer, while studying international relations can help advance your knowledge and hireability. 

Property lawyer

Property lawyers specialise in real estate. They draw up and vet contracts for the sale and purchase of property and the transferring of titles. They also advise on building restrictions and any other issues to do with real estate and property. Most people use a property lawyer when buying or selling a house, to manage the paperwork and oversee the transfer of title. 

Family lawyer

Family lawyers provide advice and representation on family-related matters, such as separation and divorce, child support, adoption, estates/inheritance and more. A family lawyer’s role is to provide legal advice, representation and advocacy for their clients to achieve a favourable outcome. 

A bachelor of laws is the only required qualification for a family lawyer. The area of family law can be emotionally charged, and requires empathy and excellent communication skills.

Law enforcement  

If you’d like a role in the legal industry outside of the court system, consider a position as an advisor. 

Legal advisors 

Legal advisors or legal counsellors are qualified lawyers, working in-house in a private organisation or government agency to advise on legal matters. They may provide general advice, or specialise in a particular area, such as contract law, labour law, corporate law and more. Their main priority is to make sure their client is conducting business in compliance with the law. 

Working in court systems 

Not all jobs in the legal sector are for laywers. There are also careers that focus more on the administration of the law and keeping the court system running. 

Judges 

A judge is an impartial party who hears and assesses facts, and applies them to decide on an outcome. Judges work in family courts, federal court and high courts, with the latter being the highest level of the court system.

Law clerks 

A law clerk works alongside judges and lawyers. Their job involves supporting lawyers, judges and other legal professionals with research, preparing documents, compiling case files and writing reports. 

It’s often a job people do while studying for a law degree or advancing from a legal administration role.

Court reporters 

Court reporters are in charge of recording what happens during court proceedings, using a method of short-hand writing called stenography to transcribe what is said and what happens. Many court reporters work on a freelance basis for the courts, and will typically come from a journalism background or have done a course on legal transcription of legal services.

Bailiffs and sheriffs

Bailiffs, or enforcement officers, are appointed by the court to serve documents to people required to attend court or receive legal documents, including serving subpoenas and warrants for arrest. 

You can become a bailiff without any formal qualifications, but a course in security, court compliance or court operations will help you be selected for more jobs.

Law consulting  

Law professionals can use their expertise to educate other professionals. Freelance or contracted law consulting jobs offer flexible work arrangements that allow for great work-life balance.

Legal consultants 

Legal consultants advise businesses and clients on legal matters, such as contracts, risk assessment and their compliance with relevant laws and regulations. They can provide general advice, or specialise in one area, like family law, contract law, corporate law or real estate law.

You do not have to be a practising lawyer to be a legal consultant, but it would be beneficial to have a law degree or a degree in the area you wish to consult in.

Management consultants 

Similar to a legal consultant, a management consultant advises companies on ways they can improve their performance. Knowledge of corporate law is required to ensure their advice is compliant with government regulations. A management consultant might advise on staffing, offshoring labour or mergers/acquisitions.

Consulting is highly competitive and consultants need an undergraduate degree in a related field and industry expertise.

Compliance officers 

Compliance officers ensure companies are operating in line with laws, regulations and licensing requirements. They typically audit the processes and procedures in a company and conduct internal risk assessments, and ensure their up to date and that the staff in their company are aware of their code of conduct. They may be in charge of training employees on the policies and procedures of their workplace.

Compliance officers don’t need a law degree, but it’s helpful to have a qualification in a related field like compliance and risk management.

Lobbyists 

A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence lawmakers on a particular issue, whether on behalf of communities, organisations or corporations. They hold face-to-face meetings with politicians and their staff to persuade them to change or introduce legislation.

There are no mandatory qualifications, but a degree in law, political science, criminal justice or your focus area is beneficial.

Legal education  

A career in legal education offers more work-life balance than practicing law or working in a law firm, and can offer high levels of job satisfaction for those who enjoy teaching.

Law professors 

Law professors and lecturers work in universities delivering lessons to a set curriculum. They create lesson plans, teach classes, lead tutorials, set assessment tasks and grade students. To become a law professor you need a PhD, and potentially teaching experience.

Legal writing instructors 

Legal writing instructors are crucial for teaching law students how to research and write for legal purposes. Legal writing underpins legislation and is essential for all legal workers – lawyers, paralegals, judges, counsellors – to understand in order to do their jobs.

You don’t need to study a law degree to be a legal writer or instructor, but you should have in-depth knowledge of the law and have an undergraduate degree in a related field like communications or arts and humanities. A teaching background might also help.

Legal administration  

Legal administrators play an important role by providing support and assistance to legal professionals. 

Legal secretaries 

A legal secretary provides administration support to attorneys, lawyers and paralegals. Their day-to-day tasks may include transcribing meetings, memos and dictation for letters, and preparing legal forms, contracts and paperwork, as well as maintaining client files.

it is not mandatory for legal secretaries to have a formal qualification, but a certificate in legal services is a helpful starting point.

Paralegals 

Paralegals are trained legal professionals who provide assistance to solicitors, lawyers and barristers. This includes interviewing clients, drafting documents, organising files, assisting with research and providing mediation. Paralegals can specialise in areas like litigation, family law, immigration, corporate law, real estate and more. 

You can become a paralegal by first becoming a legal secretary and studying the relevant coursework at technical college. 

Legal assistants 

Legal assistants support legal teams by preparing cases and documents, performing research, tracking billable hours, liaising with clients and more. 

A background in administration and a Certificate IV in Legal Studies will help you get a legal assistant job, but you can often find entry-level positions with no experience needed.

Law librarians 

Law librarians work in law schools, universities, courts, law firms, and private corporations, cataloguing material and locating information. They also analyse and evaluate material for validity, assist with research, teach, and classify library resources. 

Most librarians specialising in law research have undertaken a degree in library or information science.

Law is a challenging field to work in, with law degrees some of the most demanding to complete. For those entering one of the many different roles of lawyers, there is excellent earning potential in almost any specialisation. Even without a law degree, you can enjoy a rewarding and well-paying career – as a paralegal, law librarian, legal assistant, and more. For many, a university degree isn’t required, just a knowledge of and passion for New Zealand's legal system.  

FAQs 

What is the best career in law? 

The best career in law depends on your skills and interests. There are many career paths in law to choose from, including becoming a judge, being a partner in a law firm, representing people in court, and even working as a law librarian.

What type of lawyer is high in demand?  

Criminal lawyers, corporate lawyers and family lawyers are always high in demand. The need for cybersecurity and fintech lawyers is also growing as the use of digital technologies changes.

What type of lawyer is the highest paid? 

Corporate lawyers, criminal defence lawyers, intellectual property lawyers and real estate lawyers tend to be the highest paid lawyers in New Zealand.

Which type of law is best to study? 

The best type of law to study is the one you’re most interested in. A bachelor of laws will provide foundational knowledge in corporate, family,environment and intellectual property law (among others), which can help you find an area of interest.

What type of lawyer is the least stressful? 

Real estate law, estate law, transactional IP law and tax law are considered some of the least stressful types of lawyer jobs as they are fairly straightforward and involve mainly drafting contracts and vetting documents.

Besides being a lawyer, what jobs can I get with a law degree? 

Some of the jobs you can get with a law degree include:

• corporate tax consulting, 
• management consulting, 
• risk advisory, 
• auditing and assurance consulting, 
• policy officer, 
• financial analyst, 
• legal consulting, 
• account management, 
• financial crimes officer and more.

Are there any high-paying legal careers that don't require a law degree? 

Paralegals, police officers, mediators, legal writers and social workers are all well-paid legal jobs you don’t need a law degree to do. 

What are some entry-level jobs in the legal field? 

Entry-level jobs in the legal field include paralegal, court clerk, legal secretary and legal research assistant.