Thinking about studying Law or Nursing?
Deciding on what to study can be difficult.
In this article, we’ll help explain their differences and career path options.
So, Law vs Nursing, which one should I study?
Both law and nursing provide a diverse range of professional options.
Law school is more difficult and time-consuming than Nursing school, but it has a better earning potential. Nursing is a vocation that may last a lifetime if you want it to be, even if you’re not a brilliant nurse and does pay more.
The answer to this question lies in a person’s interests in any of the two fields.
Both fields can offer a rewarding career; however, that depends on how well you can adapt to the domain you choose.
Perhaps the best way to identify and find your interests is by knowing the differences between the two fields, giving you a deeper insight.
You can then make the right decisions by keeping job prospects, salaries, and, most importantly, your interests in mind
Nursing demands a serious commitment, so if you are kindhearted and have the willpower to help the weak and diseased, nursing is the path for you.
Furthermore, you need to be willing to contribute long hours in stressful conditions, and you need to put your patient’s needs ahead of your own.
Highly skilled nurses are in great demand globally, and nurses quickly get jobs in the private and government sectors.
Many imagine that nursing involves caring for patients.
However, it is much more than that.
Nurses increasingly assume leadership roles in healthcare settings and can diagnose, treat, and handle patients without supervisors.
Furthermore, advanced education can let you specialize in critical care nursing, psychiatry nursing, oncology nursing, or cardiothoracic nursing.
Then some Paediatric nurses work with children, and they have to provide intensive and standard care and provide everything that their medical condition demand.
Now let’s discuss Law!
A law degree is not easy to obtain.
The bar has been raised, and great academic achievement is expected.
Law school is a true intellectual challenge.
Many courses allow students to combine law with business or accountancy, as well as law with a variety of non-law degrees.
Law graduates are sought after in a variety of professions, including media and law, academia, trade and industry, social work, politics, and more.
It is a difficult job, but those who preserve justice are deserving of our admiration.
You will discover that law school can take you almost anywhere.
Many law graduates have found success in a variety of fields, while some have gone on to become well-respected international leaders.
Obtaining a legal degree does not guarantee instant success or a significant sum of money, but it comes close.
When compared to individuals who do not have this professional certification, you will have more work stability and higher compensation.
A typical day for a lawyer consists of reviewing and negotiating contracts, researching legal concerns, drafting persuasive arguments, preparing for and taking depositions, preparing for trial, and negotiating settlements in various amounts
So now we have answered the main question let’s further explore Nursing and Law.
Law Harder than Nursing School?
Law School is harder than Nursing school. Law is exhausting just by the sheer volume of coursework. Nursing can also have an exhausting course load, although, as an undergraduate degree, it’s more manageable than law.
So what’s the hardest part of studying law you ask?
Studying in law school requires a different approach than studying in undergrad.
The law is extensive, and you need a comprehensive, practical understanding of the materials.
It’s going to take more than memorizing notes (which is often the approach for undergrad).
For many students, this makes studying in law school harder.
Okay, so what’s so hard about studying at nursing school then?
Students at Nursing school typically find the sheer amount of studying difficult, making it overwhelming.
Like studying law you can expect pulling all-nighters to complete assignments.
Studying Nursing you will cover a wide range of subjects, with the hardest subject that most nurses struggle with is Probability and Statistics.
The other thing that makes Nursing or Law school hard is the cost of tuition.
For nursing schools, public universities, students can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000-$10,000 per year, or $6,000-$20,000 overall for the degree.
Private universities usually charge higher tuition, where students might invest up to $40,000 in their ADN
In comparison, Law school fees range from $20k for a public college to $45k for a private college, per annum.
So this means, at the end of studying a student with a law degree will end up with a larger debt than nursing.
However, that said Lawyers do have the capacity to earn more than a nurse.
This takes us on to the next item below;
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Law vs Nursing, which one earns more?
Lawyers earn more than Nurses Practitioners, with the median wage of a Lawyer being $126,930 compared to a Nurse Practitioner of $117,670.
Lawyers have the potential to earn high wages. For example, Partners are Law firm can earn well above $500k + per annum.
There’s always the option of starting up your own legal practice
However, wages will vary on the number of years of experience, geographical location, etc.
Vocational Nurses or Licenses Practical and Licenses Vocational Nurses earn around $48,820 per annum.
| Job Role | Median Wage / Per Annum |
| Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives | $117,670 |
| Lawyer | $126,930 |
According to US Labor Bureau and Statistics, the median annual wage for nurse anaesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was $117,670 per year in 2020.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
The lowest 10 per cent earned less than $82,460, and the highest 10 per cent earned more than $184,180.
Median annual wages for nurse anaesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners in May 2019 were as follows:
| Nurse anaesthetists | $183,580 |
| Nurse practitioners | $111,680 |
| Nurse-midwives | $111,130 |
In May 2020, the median annual wages for nurse anaesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $124,660 |
| Outpatient care centres | $122,840 |
| Offices of physicians | $114,570 |
| Offices of other health practitioners | $111,610 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $111,400 |
Source; Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
Final Thoughts
Law is better if you are looking to for intellectually challenging, personally fulfilling and financially rewarding career. Nursing is better if you are after a career which well paying, varied and in demand career path.
Both law and nursing offer a wide range of professional opportunities.
Law school is more difficult and time-consuming than nursing school, but the earning potential is greater.
Nursing, in general, is a career that can last a lifetime if you want it to, even if you are not a brilliant nurse, and it pays well.
Deciding on what to study is an important one.
Speak with trusted friends and family, even consult with a career consultant for advice.
Consider your strengths and weakness, likes and dislikes before deciding on the career path to study.
