Careers

Law and Society students often pursue law-related careers (such as lawyers, law clerks or paralegals), as well as careers in government, research, and advocacy organizations.

You may meet with a Career Development Centre staff member or any faculty member in the Law and Society program to discuss your possible career paths.

Law School

Law Degree (University of Sussex, UK) and Arts Degree (Laurier)

As of 2016, students can earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Laurier and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Sussex (UK) in six years.

In this program, you'll complete your first two years in Law and Society. After three years of studying abroad in the UK and completing an LLB, you'll return for one final year at Laurier to complete your BA. The final year at Laurier will provide you with an enriched program that will position you to successfully write the national accreditation exams leading to legal practice in Canada, or begin a rewarding career in a number of other law-related fields.

Canadian Law Schools

Applicants seeking admission to law school should verify the admission requirements of each law school under consideration to ensure any and all requirements are met. Specific admission requirements for admission to law school are set by each school and usually include an undergraduate degree in any subject, a very good overall GPA (usually B or higher), and an appropriate score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Please note that the Law and Society program is not a "pre-law" program. There are no pre-law undergraduate programs in Canada, and thus there are no specific courses required for admission to Canadian law schools.

Discover Career Opportunities

Law and Society Law Click this tab to view content pertaining to Law and Society
Law and Society and Law (Sussex) LLB Click this tab to view content pertaining to Law and Society and Law (Sussex)

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

assistant legal counsel
child protection worker
community program developer
correctional officer
court reporter
customs broker
human resources specialist
human rights advocate
immigration officer
lawyer
legal administrator
lobbyist
mediator
non-profit organization administrator
paralegal
probation officer
project coordinator
public policy advisor/analyst
research consultant
social worker
victim’s advocate

Sample Industries / Types of Employers

federal government
insurance companies
law firms
legal clinics
Ministry of the Attorney General
municipal government
non-profit organizations
political parties
private corporations
private legal services
provincial government
public interest advocacy groups
trade and professional associations

Online Resources

Organizations

More career resources are available through the Career Centre’s Navigator portal.

Graduate Programs at Other Universities

Graduate Programs at Laurier Brantford

Laurier Grads are Successful

Sample Jobs within the First Year After Graduation

community and emergency services
customer relations associate
law clerk
legal and compliance officer
security professional
structured settlement coordinator

Sample Further Education Programs within the First Year After Graduation

JD: Law.
Master’s degree: Criminology, Feminist and Gender Studies, Cultural Analysis and Social Theory, Social Justice and Community Engagement, Sociology.
College program: Paralegal, Project Management, Public Service.

Careers of Alumni Two-Five Years After Graduation

academic administration assistant
lawyer
real estate buyer specialist
research associate
residential relief coordinator
training logistics administrator

Develop Your Knowledge and Skills

Employers have identified these top four skills as important when evaluating entry-level candidates. As a Laurier student, you gain these skills through the opportunities available to you.

Functional Knowledge

Gain an understanding of law as an interactive part of society, and consider social forces that influence and are influenced by law.
Acquire an understanding of judicial discretion, legal positivism and the rule of law, as well as the role of class, race, gender and politics as they affect the formation and enforcement of law.
Demonstrate knowledge of the structure of the Canadian legal system and the types of enforcement methods associated with each type of regime.
Develop an awareness of principles and values that contradict the Canadian legal system and the political and moral philosophies that influence them.
Analyze theoretical problems that create internal inconsistencies in the application of laws such as feminist legal theory, collective and individual rights, and distinctions between civil and criminal law.
Develop an awareness of human and social behaviour and the application of this information for policy development.
Interpret and assess the impact of policy on society, and demonstrate knowledge of public policy.
Develop questions that expose the underlying assumptions of law.

Collaboration/Teamwork Skills

Work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others for team success.
Oversee, lead and/or contribute to a project including determining goals, planning details, making decisions and completing tasks.
Demonstrate professional behaviour and an understanding of individual perspectives and diversity while clarifying and questioning your own values and perspectives.

Communication Skills

Explain information, ideas and opinions effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Prepare interesting and informative reports and presentations for diverse audiences using current technology.

Problem-Solving Skills

Acquire analytical skills, particularly in assessing and evaluating current problems, issues and trends in an interdisciplinary context.
Develop problem-solving skills such as: articulating a problem, asking questions, devising a research agenda, developing a coherent analysis of the problem’s causes and defending your solution.
Identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources.
Learn, understand and critically interpret information and apply knowledge to new situations.
Set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time, data and resources.