Across much of the world, a career in law continues to be one of the most appealing options for ambitious students. Law remains one of the most popular degree programmes in Ireland, with increasing applicant numbers prompting many Irish institutions to raise their grade requirements for entry. If you are about the complete your law degree and considering where to go next, you have plenty of options.
You might wish to remain in study or pursue further training and pass the bar. Or you may wish to enter the legal profession with your current degree and specialise from there. Whatever your plans, here are some exciting and lucrative legal careers that you can embark upon post-graduation.
Civil Litigation Lawyer
Also known as non-criminal trial lawyers in some parts of the world, a civil litigation lawyer is pretty much the highest-paid legal career you can pursue. Of course, passing the bar is a basic prerequisite, and many positions require years of trial experience from candidates.
However, this is about as exciting as the legal profession gets. You could serve clients such as governments, multi-billion-euro companies, and civil society groups, fighting the most high-profile non-criminal cases in the world. In Ireland, you can expect an average salary of €73,000 a year, as per Indeed, although this rises substantially with experience.
Personal Injury Lawyer
If you want a legal career that allows you to help actual people and pursue fair outcomes for those who have been wronged, being a personal injury lawyer could be ideal for you. Most personal injury firms in Ireland, such as McGinley Solicitors, only accept a fee if they win the case, meaning that you get to help people regardless of their financial position. Personal injury claims are more varied than you might think, and having the right lawyer fighting the case can make all the difference.
It is also a great job for a legal all-rounder who wants to develop their skills in all areas of law and trial procedure. Personal injury lawyers in Ireland earn an average of €81,000 a year, although this varies widely according to experience.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
Intellectual property concerns the ideas, technologies, and trade secrets of some of the most dynamic companies and entrepreneurs in the world. As an IP lawyer, it is your job to defend property from theft and to ensure that a company’s crucial intellectual assets are protected. On the surface, this might not seem like the most thrilling line of work, but it is as about as rewarding as it gets.
In Ireland, IP lawyers can expect many of their clients to come from the country’s booming tech sector, with giants such as Google, Apple, and Amazon often in need of talented IP lawyers. Meanwhile, the salaries are statistically some of the highest in the entire legal profession, with the average IP lawyer in Dublin earning around €85,000 a year, according to Payscale. Not too shabby.
These are just some of the exciting careers that you can embark upon once you have your law degree. What really matters is finding a niche that speaks your values and that you will find intellectually and emotionally rewarding. However, the high salaries don’t hurt.
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