

What is the Salary for a Legal Psychologist?

In fact, the number of psychology and law jobs exceeds the number of workers, therefore, job opportunities are much more prevalent in this specialty area than for other specialties of psychology. Some psychology specialties are expected to experience enormous growth.Īccording to the American Psychological Association, jobs where law and psychology intersect are among those to experience the highest growth, and as a result they are in very high demand.ĭriving the demand for workers that can apply psychological principles to legal happenings is the increase in the need for input regarding mental health issues in the criminal justice system.Īs the scope of mental health input in the legal arena continues to expand, so too do the opportunities for trained workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that psychology jobs, in general, will grow by 6% over the next 10 years. The job outlook for legal psychologists appears to be strong. What is the Career Outlook for Legal Psychologists?

Some legal psychologists also hold the JD (Juris Doctor) degree and have sat for the Bar exam, so they are qualified to practice law, and will do so in the venues which other attorney’s do. Legal psychologists may also teach psychology and criminology courses at colleges and universities. They may do research for a federal law enforcement agency or a state or large municipal police force. They may do consulting work which entails travel, such as providing trainings to other professionals, or jury selection. They may have to appear in court, and travel throughout their state or nationwide if they are licensed for practice in multiple states. Other venues are correctional facilities, or juvenile detention centers. They may work with a civil or probate court. They may work out of an office, providing consultation to other professionals, such as attorneys in private practice, state/county prosecutors, or public defenders. They are more research-oriented than the related, but more clinically oriented forensic psychologist. Where Does a Legal Psychologist Work?Ī legal psychologist can work in a variety of settings involving the criminal justice system, or civil court system. They may also work with witnesses to help them recall information or serve as consultants in law enforcement investigations. To carry out this function, legal psychologists might conduct interviews or administer psychological tests to individuals facing criminal or civil charges. Regardless of the individual being evaluated, legal psychologists rely on their training in human behavior to offer an unbiased assessment of the individual.
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In this context, a legal psychologist may evaluate a wide variety of people, from a parent seeking custody of a minor child to an inmate scheduled to go to trial for murder.
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Related Reading: How to Become a Trial ConsultantĪ primary function of legal psychologists is to evaluate and assess individuals for various court systems and legal bodies. In this case, legal psychologists might present information to a city council about the deleterious effects that underage drinking can have on brain development, as well as the most efficacious treatment for minors that have developed a drinking problem. For example, a legal psychologist might work with a city’s mayor, city council, and other officials to devise language in a city ordinance to address an issue of concern, such as underage drinking.Īs part of this role, legal psychologists may consult with the city’s decision-makers to offer both legal counsel as well as offer insight into the psychological concerns related to the issue at hand. Some legal psychologists work in an administrative capacity, such as developing legal policies that address social ills. This might involve developing questions to ask potential jurors during the vetting process in order to eliminate those that do not fit the ideal profile while helping retain potential jurors that do. In this capacity, the primary function of a legal psychologist is to work with attorneys to construct juries that are fair and balanced. In some instances, legal psychologists are employed by the district attorney’s office or private defense attorneys to serve as jury consultants. The job duties of a legal psychologist will depend largely on their employment setting.
