In-Depth Guide to Law & Criminal Justice Degree Programs

What will you study in a Law & Criminal Justice degree program?

Law and criminal justice degree programs focus on the skills necessary to keep citizens safe from criminals. Practitioners examine crime itself, advocate for victims, help shed light on public policy, work to prosecute criminals, protect civil rights, maintain and manage correctional systems, and keep our communities safe.

There are several specific majors, or courses of study, from which to choose, including:

• Criminal Justice: An applied liberal arts major that examines institutions and systems of justice. Students study law, psychology, sociology, and public administration, as well as more hands-on disciplines like criminology.
• Legal Studies: A more theoretical liberal arts major that examines the social implications of, and various interpretations of, law.
• Criminology: Examines crimes and criminals, trying to determine the reasons that people commit crimes.
• Corrections: Looks at the day-to-day management of correctional institutions, focusing on improving the state of prisons.
• Forensic Science: Interpreting clues and evidence from crime scenes using science, from biology and chemistry to computer work, to solve crimes.
• Law Enforcement or Police Science: Blends the theoretical and practical aspects of civil and criminal rights with protecting citizens by interpreting and enforcing the law.
• Paralegal: Explores the research methods and writing skills needed to work in a law office, helping to interpret the law and protect clients as valuable members of a legal team.

Which characteristics do Law & Criminal Justice majors typically possess?

If you wish to pursue a degree in law and criminal justice, you should possess, of course, a natural curiosity. This can serve you well as you investigate crimes and criminals, or seek to improve the criminal justice system and the lives of citizens. If you want to pursue police or corrections work, you have to pass regular, rigorous physical exams and must be in top physical shape and drug-free. You should also enjoy working with people, and have a strong work ethic, honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility in your work. You should also have excellent communications and problem-solving skills, and the ability to think quickly and make sound decisions.

Additionally, for those working as case workers, an interest in human psychology is definitely a plus. Forensic professionals should have a natural aptitude for science, excellent attention to detail, and analytical thinking skills. And for those interested in a career in law, as a paralegal, legal administrator, or lawyer, it's important to be good at research and writing, have strong argumentative skills, and a willingness to work long hours on occasion. A familiarity with technology, particularly computers, is also crucial.

Which specific careers can Law & Criminal Justice majors pursue?

There are hundreds of jobs within the law and criminal justice field. Some put you right on the front lines of crime, while others are behind the scenes, helping us to understand crime, prevent it, protect victims, and shape future policy. The following are a few typical careers you might pursue:

• Police Officer or Detective: These people protect citizens by apprehending criminals, and maintaining the peace. Their work can be dangerous at times, but not all of it is done on the streets; officers spend considerable time writing reports and investigating crimes by questioning witnesses or suspects.
• Corrections Officer: These individuals oversee jails, prisons, or reformatories. Their work involves face-to-face interactions with some of society's toughest criminals.
• Probation Officer: These professionals draw upon their formal training to counsel, monitor, and assist in the rehabilitation of those released on probation. Their work takes them to correctional institutions, courtrooms, and individuals' homes, and blends a knowledge of the law and corrections with psychological study.
• Social Worker: Criminal justice majors often go into this field, which calls for a desire to improve the lives of those affected by crime, poverty, family dysfunction, illness, or other sociological issues. The work requires a thorough understanding of the law, training in psychology and sociology, and compassion for others.
• Forensic Specialist: The field of forensics is quite broad, and can include crime scene investigation, processing evidence in a lab, investigating cyber crimes through computer work, tracing financial transactions as forensic accountants, exploring the criminal mind, or other hands-on criminal procedures that merge science and technology with criminal justice.
• Paralegal: These individuals, also called legal assistants, support lawyers by conducting research, drafting reports, investigating case law, meeting with clients, preparing documents for court, and participating in trials and hearings. This is a great career for those interested in the practice of law who are either debating law school or simply don't wish to further their law studies or practice law. As companies and individuals look to cut legal costs, many turn to paralegals to do much of their legal work.
• Lawyer: Should you choose to further your law and criminal justice study, three years of graduate study could lead you to become a lawyer, working to advise, advocate for, and defend others' legal rights. You can specialize in civil law, in such fields as immigration; tax or corporate law; or criminal law, prosecuting or defending criminals at trial.

Which well-known people in the industry have completed Law & Criminal Justice degree programs before becoming successful?

The practice of law is often the first step toward taking a prominent role in U.S. politics, which is why many presidents have received law degrees. For example, President Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991, after earning his bachelor's in political science from Columbia University. In fact, Obama practiced civil rights law in Chicago, and also put his formal schooling to work as a community organizer, working with Chicago's low-income residents.

But working as an attorney isn't the only route you can take with a degree in law or criminal justice. Just ask Ann Rule, America's foremost true crime writer. Her 20 books and 1,400 articles draw on facts from true criminal cases, and rely upon her knowledge of forensics, criminal profiling, crime scene investigation, corrections, police administration, and the criminal justice system. All of this knowledge she gained not only from her family, four of whom worked in the legal system, but also from her own work as a policewoman in Seattle, and as a former caseworker for the Washington State Department of Public Assistance. Her training includes a college minor in criminology.

How much do Law & Criminal Justice majors typically earn in the various fields they can pursue?

Any number of factors can affect your pay in a law or criminal justice position, including the size and location of your community, the availability and amount of funding available, the type of legal practice, your particular level and training, and more. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates median annual salaries in 2008 for the following careers:

• Police Officer or Detective: Police and sheriff's patrol officers earned $52,810, with higher earnings for state governments than those in local or federal government. Detectives and criminal investigators earned $63,840 with the highest salaries in federal government.
• Corrections Officer: $41,340
• Probation Officer: $49,520, with higher wages in urban areas.
• Social Worker: Ranges from $39,630 to $48,180, depending on field of specialty, which might include child, family, and school; mental health or substance abuse; or medical and public health social work.
• Forensic Specialist: $52,960, although earnings greatly depend on the specialization, which could range from accounting to economics, computer science, or toxicology.
• Paralegal: Median is $48,790 but also depends on education, experience, and type of legal work. Earnings ranged from $47,380 for legal services firms to $60,340 for positions within the federal executive branch.
• Lawyer: $124,750 although many lawyers are self-employed, so earnings dependent on individual or firm fees. However, the BLS reports that lawyers are among the highest paid occupations.

In which part of the country or world do prominent Law & Criminal Justice communities flourish?

You can find law and criminal justice professionals working in every town, state, and country in the world. After all, these are the people upon whom communities rely to keep peace and protect their safety, regardless of their location. Although, if you wish to work with the federal government, those jobs are primarily located in the Washington, D.C. area.

Stimulus dollars provided by the Obama administration create job growth primarily outside the D.C. area--85 percent of them, in fact. These jobs, and the bulk of law and criminal justice jobs, are mostly found in major cities and county seats, where courts and correctional facilities are located.

What type of "real world" experience could you combine with your Law & Criminal Justice degree program to supplement what the program teaches you?

Few full-time careers in law and criminal justice can be attained without a degree. However, certain real world experiences may enhance your studies. For example, working in a law office at an entry-level position, such as a legal secretary, exposes you to legal work and offers you the opportunity to assist with legal documents and client relations. You might also consider obtaining an internship, which gives you on-the-job experience as you complete your coursework. Some outside emergency response training, such as a CPR or first aid course, firearms training, or self-defense training earned through community programs could also prove invaluable.

What can a Law & Criminal Justice degree give you that on-the-job experience may not be able to?

Once again, few law and criminal justice careers are available to those without degrees. Some require further training through a police academy, and, of course, attorneys must attend three years of law school and pass a rigorous exam to practice law. While on-the-job experience certainly introduces you to your chosen field, it cannot replace formal schooling. Even for positions that don't always require a degree, such as paralegal, the field of law is becoming increasingly competitive and employers prefer applicants with degrees. And as certain aspects of the law--for example, financial reporting--become increasingly complex, your schooling is essential to clients in order to help them maintain compliance and abide with the law.