Law and criminal justice – degrees and careers

We sacrifice some of our freedom – for example, the right to club your neighbor over the head and steal his goat – in exchange for security. Acceptance of this arrangement is the foundation of a society in which we all, more or less, can thrive. We pass authority to the state to enforce this social contract.

This is where law enforcement, the legal system, and criminal justice come in. Law enforcement officials protect and serve their communities, responding to and investigating reports of crime. The accused is judged in a court of law which establishes guilt or innocence and then determines and delivers appropriate punishment.

Types of law degrees

A bachelor’s degree in law can be thought of as a pre-law degree, even if your program is not formally designated as such. There is no requirement to study law at the undergraduate level in order to enter law school, but a law major can be excellent preparation for law school.

The J.D. (juris doctor) is the key law degree that prepares you to become a licensed attorney. J.D. programs lead to a professional doctorate but can be entered into straight after your undergraduate.

Some J.D. holders pursue a Master of Laws (LLM), which is more advanced than the J.D., although technically a master’s degree. The LLM is most popular among international students who have completed a law degree abroad, as it provides them with a quicker route to practicing law in the U.S. than completing a J.D.

The most advanced degree for lawyers is the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD or JSD). These programs are often offered by invitation only and pursued by those wishing to become scholars of law, requiring many years of research and writing.

Legal practice areas

You are not expected to know what type of law you want to practice when first applying for law school. As a generalist degree, the J.D. provides a foundation for all future specializations.

Lawyers usually specialize in a specific type of law, referred to as their practice area – for instance, tax law. Although there is considerable overlap between practice areas, most can be divided into the following broad categories:

What is pre law?

Pre-law is a designation some specialized undergraduate programs use for bachelor’s degrees designed to prepare students for law school. Be aware, however, that you do not need to attend a pre-law program to get into law school.

What is a paralegal?

Paralegals assist lawyers in preparing for trials, hearings, and meetings. They can draft legal documents, manage cases, and interact with clients. Paralegals need an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor’s degree in any major combined with paralegal certification.

What are the highest paying fields of law?

An important factor in choosing a practice area is the salary you can expect to earn. Recent research by the National Association for Law Placement has found that 48.9% of recent law school graduates receive starting salaries of $75,000 or more, with 24.2% starting with salaries of $130,000 or more.

Below you can see average annual salaries by practice area as reported by the American Bar Association.

What is criminal justice?

Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions involved in preventing crime as well as apprehending, trying, and rehabilitating criminal offenders. Corrections, law enforcement, the judicial system, and federal and national security are all involved in criminal justice. The field also includes public safety agencies such as fire protection, emergency management, and information security.

Criminology vs criminal justice

The terms criminal justice and criminology are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences.

Criminal justice is concerned with protecting people and delivering justice. Law enforcement, courts, and corrections facilities form the basic components of this system. It also includes rehabilitation agencies and probation or parole departments.

Criminology focuses on the study of the effects of criminal behavior on individuals and society. Criminology focuses on how factors like race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or education influence crime and how to successfully rehabilitate offenders.

Types of criminal justice degrees

Studying criminal justice can lead to a range of careers, depending on the final level of schooling achieved.

Potential careers with an associate degree in criminal justice include police officer, detentions facility coordinator, security manager, fire investigator, and court officer.

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can open doors to jobs such as correctional counselor, state trooper, probation officer, and criminal court officer.

Graduates with a master’s degree in criminal justice can progress to leadership positions as correctional officer supervisors, emergency management directors, FBI agents, and more.

Graduates with a doctoral degree in criminal justice can enter teaching, research, public policy, or consulting roles across a range of criminal justice organizations.

What can you do with a criminal justice degree?

Your interests, level of schooling, and additional training will determine you criminal justice career path. Below we outline the main employment sectors in this field.

Law enforcement

Careers in law enforcement exist at the local, state, and federal levels. They include police officers, sergeants, detectives, and more. Law enforcement officers are frequently first responders in crisis situations.

Corrections

Corrections includes bailiffs and parole, probation, and correctional officers. Educational requirements vary by title, but probation and parole officers usually need at least a bachelor’s degree.

Federal and national security

Federal and national security agencies have expanded significantly in response to crises like the War on Drugs and 9/11. DEA agents, FBI agents, CIA analysts, and IT specialists all play important roles in ensuring the safety of Americans.

Courts

Courts are important at all levels of law enforcement. In addition to judges and attorneys, important roles in the judicial system include court administrators, case managers, screening officers, policy development professionals, technology professionals, and interpreters.

Careers in criminal justice

Criminal justice degrees can lead to careers in law enforcement, corrections, the judicial system, and federal and national security.

• CIA analyst
• Counterterrorism officer
• Crime scene investigator
• Criminologist
• Cybersecurity professional
• DEA agent
• FBI agent
• Homeland security careers
• Police officer
• Probation officer

Highest-paying jobs in criminal justice

As with most professions, jobs that require more schooling tend to be better compensated. Thus the highest-paying jobs in criminal justice are often in academia, but these roles require a doctorate degree. Government roles in agencies like the FBI or CIA follow their own unique payment schedules according to systematized role gradation.

Law enforcement certification

Each state determines its own requirements for law enforcement and corrections licensing, certification, and training, but all states require a minimum number of training hours.

Future challenges in the criminal justice system

There are several challenges facing the criminal justice system today. Increasing diversity in workforce, community race relations, and domestic terrorism are some examples.

The criminal justice system continues to evolve based on societal needs, new laws, changes to existing laws, and technological advances. The addition of new agencies and organizations, along with evolving ideas on how to respond to criminality in society all have a role in today’s justice system.