PhD in History vs. Law Degree
Historians and lawyers serve significant purposes in society. Historians study, research, and analyze writings of the past. Lawyers act as advocates and counselors, representing clients in court and providing advice on personal and business issues. Although people who are pursuing either degree are required to meet a number of education requirements, many are willing to obtain these degrees because both professions offer a competitive salary.
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Requirements: Phd in History
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Historians must meet several education requirements Historians must meet rigorous education requirements. History professors at most universities are required to obtain a doctorate of philosophy before they will be hired. Students take two to three years to obtain a master's degree. After receiving their master's, students can apply for a doctorate degree, which takes an additional two to three years. Therefore, most historians must attend graduate school for up to six years before they can apply for a position at a university.
Requirements: Legal Degree
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Lawyers must meet rigorous education requirements Lawyers must meet rigorous education requirements before they can practice law. Students interested in law are required to obtain a bachelor's degree before they can apply to law school. Additionally, students must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Law schools admit students based on a student's grade point average, personal essay, and LSAT score. Once admitted, law school students take three years of courses before they can apply for admission to practice law. Following graduation, law school graduates must apply for their state's bar examination. Students who pass this test will be admitted to practice in their respective states. Many states also require lawyers to enroll in continuing education courses throughout their careers.
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Job Opportunities: Ph.D in History
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Historians have many job opportunities Historians have a number of different job opportunities. Historians are often employed by universities as professors. According to an article from education.com, many historians accept jobs as college administrators, archivists and government employees. "Social Scientists," an article from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, states that historians are also in high demand by many research companies because of their training in research and writing.
Job Opportunities: Legal Degree
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Lawyers have many job opportunities A legal education opens up many job opportunities. Lawyers often work for law firms, state and federal governments, corporations, non-profit companies and universities. Many lawyers work in alternative fields, including banks, real estate and insurance companies, and government agencies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the competition for legal careers will continue to grow in the near future.
Earnings
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Historians and lawyers earn competitive salaries Lawyers and historians earn competitive salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median salary for historians was $54,530 compared to $110,590 for lawyers. Lawyers' and historians' salaries are dependent upon the region they work and their specialties. While most lawyers earn higher salaries than historians, many history professors, especially at prestigious universities, receive salaries greater than even the most successful lawyers. In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the top 10 percent of historians earned more than $96,530.
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- Photo Credit writing book image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com history image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com Justice image by MVit from Fotolia.com senior man with book image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com judge 5 image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com cash image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
