How to Become a Legal Journalist?

As the name suggests, legal journalists are individuals who work at the intersection of law and journalism. Therefore, it requires extensive knowledge and expertise in both fields. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular professions among students. Their job revolves around reporting all matters related to the field of law. In other words, legal journalists keep their audience updated about the latest legal issues and updates. This can be done through social media platforms, newspapers, blogging, and videos. In this blog, we will explore how to become a legal journalist, courses to pursue, top universities, career options, and more.

Course Name	Legal Journalism
Study Level	UG, PG, Diploma
Eligibility	A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognized university.
Job Options	Legal writer, legal manager, legal associate, legal executive

A Beginner’s Guide to Become a Legal Journalist

If you are engulfed in the question of how to become a legal journalist, then here is a beginner’s guide that will help you do the same. 

Start from School

• The journey to becoming a successful legal journalist starts with proper school-level preparation. 
• Candidates should focus on scoring good marks during their high school education to get admission into top-ranking universities.
• Additionally, they must also simultaneously prepare for various entrance examinations as conducted by universities. 

Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

• Students interested in becoming a legal journalist must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in the same or relevant field. We have also mentioned a few courses as well as the universities offering them earlier in the blog. 
• Apart from this, students can also consider pursuing a double degree in legal and journalism. Although a journalism background is not required, it can surely help you understand the field better. 

Complete your Master’s Degree

After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can then move on to pursuing a master’s degree in the same or related field. This will help you gain more qualifications and a grasp a better understanding of the legal world. 

Internships

Once you are done with your education part, you can now move forward with doing internships with law firms and agencies. This is a great move to prepare yourself for a full-time career by understanding the intricacies of how everything works. In addition to this, you will also gain experience in the field which would look amazing on your resume. Students can also consider freelancing to hone their research and writing skills. 

Skills Required

To pursue a degree in higher education, students must possess specific skills that will help them score good marks. If you want to know how to become a Legal Journalist, then here are a few essential skills to will need: 

• Verbal communication skills
• Decision making
• critical thinking
• Analytical skills
• Logical thinking
• Written skills
• Media production knowledge

Courses to Become a Legal Journalist

Here are a few popular course options that you can pursue to become a legal journalist. 

BA LLB

BA LLB or Bachelor of Arts – Bachelor of Legislative Law is an undergraduate course in law. It spans for a sound 5 years and is an amalgamation of different subjects like Sociology, English, History, Administrative law, etc. Candidates are eligible to pursue this course right after the completion of their 10+2 education. 

BCom LLB

BCom LLB is a popular law programme that integrates law with commerce. It is of five years duration and teaches students about the fundamentals of both fields. Common subjects include business statistics, economics, auditing, constitutional law, and so on.

BSc LLB

BSc LLB or Bachelor of Legislative Law is an undergraduate course. It is generally of five years and helps students understand the basics and advances of law and science. 

LLM

LLM is a postgraduate course that allows students to expand their theoretical knowledge in the field of law. It is a one-year full-time course that students can opt for to specialize in law. 

PG Diploma in Law

A PG diploma in law is a 3-year postgraduate course. Students with a Bachelor’s degree in the same or relevant field can pursue this course. The subjects taught in the course include criminology, labor law, etc. 

BA Media and Law

BA Media and Law is a dual-degree undergraduate programme. This 5-year course offers students a chance to delve deep into the concepts of law and journalism field. It covers everything from media specialisation to core courses in law. Moreover, I also expand their job options. 

MA Law and Journalism (Dual Degree)

This course helps students in building a strong foundation in the law and journalism fields. It is a dual-degree program that is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. 

Top 14 Universities

Here is a list of universities that offer the earlier mentioned courses along with their QS rank and fees. 

University Name	QS Rank	Course Name	Tuition Fees
University of Technology Sydney	90	Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Laws	$24,010
University of Strathclyde	276	BA Hons Journalism, Media and Communication & Law	£17,400
Queen Mary University of London	145	Laws PGDip	£10,000
University of Aberdeen	208	Law (LLB)	£20,800
University of South Australia	326	Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing	AUD$ 36,100
University of Arizona	285	Dual M.A. Journalism/Legal Studies	$56,250
University of York	167	LLM Law	£23,900
University of Toronto	21	LLM	$11,283.96
University of Wollongong Australia	162	Bachelor of Communication and Media – Bachelor of Laws	$174,720
University of Kansas	410	JD/MS in Journalism	$30,800
Queensland University of Technology	189	Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)	CSP $16,400
McGill University	30	LLM	36,750 CAD
UNSW Sydney	19	Bachelor of Media/Law	$15,140
University of London	NA	LLB	£27,500

What Does a Legal Journalist Do?

Here is an overview of what a legal journalist typically does:

• A legal journalist conducts extensive research to gather credible facts, case laws, information, and statistics regarding the concerned topics.
• They sometimes also manage law firms and corporations.
• They use the power of social media platforms, websites, and other mediums to spread awareness about legal issues.

Career Scope

The field of Legal journalism offers a rewarding career path for students who are passionate about law and journalism. Professionals in this field get the opportunity to work on the latest legal developments, court cases, and issues affecting the overall legal community. Apart from this, students can also get opportunities in media, print, broadcast, and legal publications. The field of legal journalism combines two distinct fields to offer a fulfilling and promising career. 

Job Opportunities and Salary

Here are a bunch of job opportunities that legal journalism graduates can pursue after completing their studies. 

Job profile	Annual salary
Legal Writer	$45,462 – $70,661
Legal Executive	$50783 – $88,233
Legal Associate	$90,468 – $115,555
Legal Manager	$83,994 – $108,494

FAQs

This blog covers all the information you need to know about how to become a legal journalist. If you have queries or suggestions, drop them in the comments below. For further help, our expert team at Leverage Edu is available to assist you. Drop us a call at 1800572000 today to get an absolutely free counseling session!