lawyer

If you re organized, methodical, and interested in upholding the ideals of justice in society, you should consider earning a criminal law degree. Criminal lawyers prosecute or defend people who are suspected of committing a crime. They present evidence, argue on behalf of their client, and provide legal advice. As such, graduates will have a strong understanding of criminal law, the criminal justice system and its procedures, and they should have the ability to successfully defend their argument in the court room.

Classes and Assignments of a Criminal Law Major

It s important to note that online associate criminal law degrees are rare. Instead, many law schools offer concentrations in criminal law as part of a complete law degree. Since it s necessary for criminal law specialists to understand the criminal justice system, students may take criminal justice administration, criminal procedure, international criminal law, juvenile justice, and white collar crime. Students in these classes may need to research and analyze criminal cases, complete reading assignments from legal text books, and present an argument in front of their class. Many programs stress the importance of providing practical experience before graduation.

Degree Levels for a Criminal Law Major

• Bachelor s. While some schools offer pre-law undergraduate programs, it is generally recommended that students pursue online bachelors criminal law degrees that will require them to cultivate their writing and critical thinking skills. Many law students graduate with degrees in political science, history, and English because graduates of these areas of study develop the ability to research, analyze, and communicate effectively.
• Master s. With many online masters criminal law degrees, criminal law is just one of several concentrations, including business, environmental, and public interest law. Unlike the other concentrations, criminal law prepares students to argue issues of personal liberty, security, and constitutional rights in the court room. There are two graduate degrees in law. The first, known as the Masters of Laws (LL.M.), takes one year to complete and is designed to expand the student s knowledge of legal concepts. The other, the Juris Doctor (JD), is the degree a student earns after graduating from law school, and it is one of the ways a person can qualify to take the BAR exam.
• Doctoral. A doctoral degree in law prepares students to teach on the university level, in research, or as a legal consultant. In a doctoral program in law, students expand their knowledge of legal ideas and institutions and how law shapes society. As such, they may more courses in law, political science, and area studies. To graduate, students may need to complete an internship and an original research thesis.

A Future as a Criminal Law Major

Employment of all lawyers is expected to increase 13% between and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS states that graduates with superior academic records have the best chances of being hired after school, while other people with legal training are finding work in non-traditional areas, such as in management or at banks. Competition at legal firms is high, which is why 26% of all lawyers are self-employed or partners at law firms. The median annual wage for lawyers, regardless of specialization, in May was $112,760. However, these numbers are no guarantee of actual salary, which is determined by employer and condition of the economy.

Students with a degree in Criminal Law are considered well prepared for