Lawyers advise clients on their legal rights and can represent them in both criminal and civil cases. They conduct research on legal issues and interpret laws, regulations, and rulings. Lawyers are also qualified to draw up legal documents like wills, deeds, and contracts. This career requires a bachelor’s degree, then a juris doctor (JD) degree from a school of law. Admission to the vast majority of law schools requires first taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). 

Information security analysts protect online networks and systems to prevent, monitor, and stop attacks on private data. They typically work in the public sector for businesses and corporations, where their job is to install new safety systems, create and implement firewalls, report on security breaches, and stay up to date on security trends. A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or a related field is typically the education required for someone in this role.

Criminal investigators work with police departments, states, or the FBI to gather facts and collect evidence to help solve cases. They use the information they collect (either from computers or on the field) to prepare criminal complaints and testify in court. Some of the day-to-day duties of a criminal investigator can include interviewing witnesses, writing detailed case reports, filing records, or obtaining warrants. Criminal investigators generally need a college degree in accounting, criminal justice, criminology, forensic science, or a similar field. While a criminal justice program may be specifically required, it will depend on the type of investigating you want to pursue.

Forensic accountants are like financial detectives. They investigate incidents such as insurance fraud, bribery, embezzlement, and money laundering by sifting through financial records, tracing assets, and gathering evidence. Forensic accountants can be found in all kinds of organizations, including government agencies, insurance companies, financial institutions, consulting firms, and more. A traditional or online bachelor's or master's degree in forensic accounting, accounting, finance, or a related field is required for forensic accountants. Additional education in a criminal justice program or law enforcement training is a plus.

Sometimes referred to as special agents, FBI agents work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They collect evidence, interview witnesses, identify suspects. These agents usually specialize in a specific area such as cybercrime, terrorism, murder investigations, or organized crime, just to name a few. Careers in federal law enforcement require a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, accounting, cybersecurity, or a related field and some agents must also complete specialized training.

The job of a police officer is to protect their community by fighting and preventing crime, as well as maintaining law and order. A day in the life of an officer might include patrolling neighborhoods, responding to emergency situations, interviewing victims and witnesses, collecting evidence at crime scenes, and arresting suspects. Most law enforcement positions, like a police officer, require a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related degree.

Fraud investigators uncover cases of financial fraud by analyzing financial data. They also conduct interviews with witnesses and suspects to build evidence in fraud cases, and sometimes they can be called on to testify in court. Accounting, law enforcement, and insurance are some common fields where fraud investigators work. Many of them have a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a similar field.

Also referred to as forensic investigators, forensic specialists work with local, state, and international law enforcement to recover data or evidence from digital devices. They use software programs and cybersecurity techniques to retrieve deleted files or corrupted information. A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science is typically required for this job. 

These types of investigators specialize in solving criminal cases such as robbery, homicide, tax evasion, and more. Criminal investigators conduct surveillance, look for evidence, prepare reports, and question suspected criminals, crime victims, and witnesses. They usually work for government agencies, such as a local law enforcement agency or the FBI, but can also work in the private sector. Criminal investigators commonly have a bachelor’s in criminal justice, cybersecurity, or a similar degree.