What Jobs Can You Get With a Juris Doctor Degree in Australia?
Juris Doctor (JD), also called Doctor of Jurisprudence, is a professional degree taken by graduate individuals and is one of the prerequisites in order to practice law. It is considered the highest degree one can attain in any given field or discipline. Several career opportunities await a Juris Doctor degree holder and they even come in a wide variety of industries. Being a Juris Doctor is paramount preparation if you want to pursue a career in the legal field.
One of the most popular Juris Doctors in Australia is comedian and TV presenter Corrine Grant. It’s pretty amazing to think how this particular television career path led to legal practice. According to Grant, she finds it appealing to be part of a team and work on a project that’s equally satisfying and mind-boggling. Ten years later, here she is working in Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecution and volunteers at Refugee Legal as she had some experience in law firms.
Juris Doctor is a very great option if you’re thinking of levelling up in your career. Credentials on this degree open pathways to the different areas of law namely:
- -Corporate Law
- -Property Law
- -Human Rights Law
- -Legal Counsel
Top 5 Juris Doctor Jobs in Australia
Lawyer
This profession is what most of us think about when we hear the phrase, Juris Doctor.
Lawyers give legal support to people and organizations and help them in handling legal issues such as filing claims, reviewing contracts, etc.
Lawyers can also mediate disagreements and represent their clients in court. They can specialize in a certain field based on their interest and expertise.
Starting salary is $95,000 and senior level is up to around $145,000 per year. This can increase significantly if you become a law firm partner.
Solicitor
This is a type of lawyer who obtains a certificate for legal practice after completing a degree in law.
Solicitors are the ones who advocate for clients in court if a barrister is not required. Their roles also include preparing legal documents, attending meetings and negotiations, as well as conducting legal research and investigation.
Not that far from a lawyer’s, the average salary of a solicitor ranges from $94,000 to $140,000 annually.
Barrister
A barrister is another type of legal practitioner who specializes in litigation and courtroom defence. This role usually takes part in cases held in superior courts, writing legal pleadings and providing expert legal advice.
For a decade, Armen Karlozian worked in the world of information technology as a department head. He then had a major career shift soon after finishing his Juris Doctor degree and started representing clients from Local all the way up to the NSW Supreme Court.
Having had all these experiences, Karlozian presently practices in technology and trade as well as criminal law.
If you think this is the same career path you’re taking, then being a barrister is a great choice for you.
Barristers in New South Wales had an average salary of $412,200 per year.
Magistrate
A magistrate generally handles less serious criminal cases and judges’ hearings in the lower or local court.
Typically, magistrates get to handle quite a number of cases in a day, making it a busier one.
Entry-level magistrate officers have an average annual salary of $83,000, while in the Victorian Court of Appeals, it can reach up to $468,000.
Judge
This role must be regarded as one of the highest attainments of every law student. As prestigious as it seems, judges have the power to be in a position of authority over serious and more complex legal cases. Judges use their legal expertise to determine the legal repercussions of a case and have the crucial responsibility of handing out sentences, delivering verdicts, deciding on levels of compensation and overseeing a court room.
Supreme court judges earn an average of $468,000. County court judges can expect to earn an average of $405,000 per year.m
Other career opportunities
Having a Juris Doctor degree doesn’t mean that roles are limited just within the justice system. One can perform private practice as well such as:
Workplace adviser
Workplace advisers provide legal counsel involving employment and other issues in the workplace either as a private consultant or an in-house member.
The base salary of a workplace legal advisor starts at $128,000 per year.
Legal policy officer
This role provides analysis and advice on what an organisation is going through concerning different policy issues. This involves conducting research, evaluation and proper implementation of guidelines and drafting legal contracts.
The expected average salary of a legal policy officer is $99,000 to $140,000 a year.
Are you ready to be part of the judiciary world? There’s still a long list of job opportunities for a Juris Doctor. Which one’s best fit for you will depend on your eligibility and expertise.
