JOBS OUTSIDE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY

ACCOUNTING What does an accountant do? Accountants assist their clients with the preparation and maintenance of financial records and other tasks such as financial statements, audits, drafting budgets and advising on investments.

How do I use my law degree? The disciplined and creative approach that you develop through law school are highly sought out amongst accounting firms now. However, often you will still find that you will still require a Bachelor of Business if you want to be a practicing accountant.

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES What do people in this sector do? Banking and finance has a diversity of roles. You can find roles in retail banks, credit unions, investment banks, insurance companies and in the financial tech sector. Generally the roles involve managing and investing money.

How do I use my law degree? The ability to look for patterns in large amounts of information is a highly important skill. Having taken subjects like Taxation Law can help you stand out when applying for jobs in this sector.

CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SERVICES What do people in this sector do? A career in construction can see you employed by a commercial, industrial or residential organisation. You can specialise in property valuation, construction oversight and a range of other processes.

How do I use my law degree? The managing of complex processes, working with multiple stakeholders and effective communications are skills that law graduates should possess. These skills are held in high regard in this sector and could help you get a job.

CONSULTING What does a consultant do? Consultants are the “problem solvers” of the business world. They generally take on the role of an advisor role or an implementation role. These roles could range from how to maximise profits for a new launch to how to navigate a complicated merger.

How do I use my law degree? The diversity of this role suits law graduates as they have been trained to think about a variety of solutions to solve problems. Getting a role at a top-tier consultancy firm can be very competitive so definitely try and get an internship or work experience to stand out.

ENGINEERING What does an engineer do? An engineer’s main role involves testing and making things. They draw upon highly technical skills, developed while studying, to help solve practical challenges. Engineering roles are available in workplaces such as mines, manufacturing plants and in the public sector.

How can I use my law degree? If you wish to work in the engineering sector, there are multiple legal challenges that can arise in this area. You will deal with issues such as risk management, contract negotiation and property transactions.

IT & COMMUNICATIONS What does this sector involve? This is an extremely broad field and one that is constantly evolving and changing. Careers in this area are associated with tasks such as planning, researching and installing new IT systems. They often work in the government, the technology sector and the communications sector.

How do I use my law degree? As a law graduate, the ability to solve complex problems and also make sense of various precedents is a highly sought after skill in this industry. However, having a dual with an IT degree will definitely increase your chances as you can be familiar with various IT systems.

MINING & RESOURCES What does this sector involve? Australia is a large exporter of resources such as coal, tin, aluminium, iron and zinc. These industries contribute significantly to our GDP. Most major mining and resource organisations will have in-house roles available. In addition, most top-tier firms will have areas dedicated to providing external advice for resource companies.

How do I use my law degree? There are many roles in the retail sector that require legal practitioners. These include contract negotiation, brand and IP protection and legal issues relating to marketing and promotions.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS What does this involve? People in this sector work in various roles such as working for freight companies, managing transportation or helping shifting goods around. This section is very important in Australia as it makes up 10% of our GDP.

How can I use my law degree? Employers in this sector hire from very diverse backgrounds. This process tends to favour law graduates as employers like the skills acquired during the degree. Particularly in transport and logistics which requires managing stakeholders, creative thinking and understanding complex processes.

How do I use my law degree? In this sector there are multiple jobs that require law graduates such as contract negotiation, project compliance and employment relations.

THE PUBLIC SECTOR What does this sector involve? The public sector encompasses those sections of the economy that provide government services, these are mostly publicly funded. The public sector holds an extremely diverse range of roles as it is spread across multiple departments and levels of government.

How do I use my law degree? There are many public and government positions that are designed to be filled by legal practitioners, such as the Attorney-General’s Department. Then there are jobs that draw heavily on the skills of law graduates. An example of this is Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for diplomatic and foreign policy positions.

RETAIL & CONSUMER GOODS What does this sector involve? While most people think of retail as face-to-face customer service roles however, the retail sector is a lot of behind the scenes work to ensure that retailers stay competitive and compliant.