Everyone in their law school has heard the line that ‘you can do anything with a law degree'. And it's not only for the sake of saying, when they say it, they mean it. Lawyers have the opportunity to choose their preferred career from a wide range of options. Law itself is a lucrative career choice. One with ample knowledge of law background can land great jobs. However, after a graduate from a law school practicing as a lawyer or be at a corporate office is not the only option you have. A law graduate, who is interested in journalism, can enter into the legal journalism profession very smoothly. This aspect of journalism is all set to become a part of mainstream news processes. What both require is good communication, researching skills. Better the skills better are your growth. Working as a journalist with a law degree is an excellent career choice.
Why there are more Opportunities?
Legal education helps you to improve your writing, narrating and researching skills which are a necessary attribute to enter into the world of journalism as well. Being a legal expert sets you apart from other journalists. It should be not surprising for you if get a job because of your particular expertise. A journalist with a law degree needs no additional training to report on legal issues. A journalist with a law degree will help in spreading legal awareness among the citizens of a country. A law graduate possesses all kinds of qualities that a journalist requires. The work of a lawyer is to interpret the kind of crime and describe the rules stating that particular crime.
While a journalist job is to report the crime committed that is why it is regarded as the sub-branch. To both the lawyers and journalists truth is necessary. Both lawyers and journalists are the most powerful source available to the world. Legal education provides you attribute which is best suited for journalism. To be a lawyer or to be a journalist is a similar aspect as in each the cases you need to be very specific approximately the info and facts.
Facts to Keep in Mind
A legal journalist cannot always expect a posh salary like lawyers who are working in firms. But this also will be an injustice to mention that once you acquire the appropriate skill to be a legal journalist, there will be no earning limit. The pay scales ultimately depend upon the employing organizations. The advice is to hence follow your heart and work with ample passion towards the chosen profession, success is bound to follow your way!
Be informed that the reporting of facts that is required of a journalist is rather different from the kind of legal writing that law students are apt to be used to. A journalist must be able to convey his message in a simple yet effective and convincing manner.
Considering a lawyer gets trained to present one side of the picture with great conviction and powerful argumentation, journalists have to play a different role. For journalist objectivity of opinion and viewpoint is of the utmost importance. A journalist has to tell a story, not to win a case. He may have to write about grey areas and sensitive social issues.
Note: Although there are no prerequisites to be a journalist, it would be helpful for you if you start making a habit of writing regularly, and maybe having a publication or two (non-legal ones of course). This is to ensure that you have a smooth transition from the law school to the world of journalism.
