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I am living in Oman, and spent last year in Saudi. I have been studying Arabic while working in the region. I would say I am at a (low?) intermediate level. I am wondering what kind of career opportunities there are for someone with Arabic language skills, as well as experience in the region? I would really like to continue to learn the language and use it in a career with the law.

thanks for your input!

many firms have a dedicated Islamic law practice, where I'm sure knowing Arabic would be valuable.

I bet that the military JAG would love you, if you can pass a MEPS and the physical.

JamMasterJ wrote:many firms have a dedicated Islamic law practice, where I'm sure knowing Arabic would be valuable.

I've read a bit about this. What do you know about Islamic Law practices? what exactly do they do? Are these types of positions in demand? Are they lucrative positions? Do they require living overseas?

Any other ideas?

Ive been reading about immigration law and international corporate law. Both seem interesting, though I am curious to what extent Arabic is useful/marketable in these fields

Thanks again for your feedback

I've seen more than a few postings for entry-level associates for a firm's Dubai / Saudi / etc. practice that requires Arabic and prefers past experience in the region. I think it would be an fairly substantial hiring boost.

kalvano wrote:I've seen more than a few postings for entry-level associates for a firm's Dubai / Saudi / etc. practice that requires Arabic and prefers past experience in the region. I think it would be an fairly substantial hiring boost.

Thanks for the input.

Any idea on where I should be looking at schools and what I should be studying to get into these kinds of jobs?

I have a 165 and a 3.4445

jmcerney wrote:

kalvano wrote:I've seen more than a few postings for entry-level associates for a firm's Dubai / Saudi / etc. practice that requires Arabic and prefers past experience in the region. I think it would be an fairly substantial hiring boost.

Thanks for the input.

Any idea on where I should be looking at schools and what I should be studying to get into these kinds of jobs?

I have a 165 and a 3.4445

Obviously, the better the school the better your chances. But at the same time, Arabic fluency and a basic understanding of Arabic culture probably isn't very common among law students and grads, so with that type of skill set, your grades and school name may matter a little less. If I'm wrong, someone please feel free to correct me.

But shoot for either T14 (not likely with your numbers), a full or close to full ride at a decent school, or best option, retake and score a few points higher on the LSAT and then go to a T14.

jmcerney wrote:Any idea on where I should be looking at schools and what I should be studying to get into these kinds of jobs?

I have a 165 and a 3.4445

To get into these kinds of jobs, you should be looking at the nearest schools that host LSAT testing centers, and you should be studying the LSAT for your retake.

I can say, having just gone through OCI as a fluent Arabic speaker who lived in the Middle East for a while, that having that skill was helpful to talk about in interviews, and it helped me differentiate myself from other applicants. However, I don't think that those language skills in isolation will help much in getting a job. You have to have good grades from a top school first and foremost. I don't think a 165/3.44 will get you in to they type of school where the firms with needs in the Middle East will be recruiting.

Scotusnerd wrote:I bet that the military JAG would love you, if you can pass a MEPS and the physical.

I don't think it would really help that much. The military is really shifting focus away from the Middle East, and JAGs don't really do anything where language skills would be all the helpful anyway.

TheSpanishMain wrote: I don't think it would really help that much. The military is really shifting focus away from the Middle East, and JAGs don't really do anything where language skills would be all the helpful anyway.

The Marine presentation we had at our school painted a different picture. If the U.S. came in and blew up someone's house, the local leaders would want restitution and you'd have to converse with them, for example. Also, contracts, reaching out to the local region, etc. I don't know for certain, but I got the impression that they wanted people with those language skills.

Retake.

Scotusnerd wrote:

TheSpanishMain wrote: I don't think it would really help that much. The military is really shifting focus away from the Middle East, and JAGs don't really do anything where language skills would be all the helpful anyway.

The Marine presentation we had at our school painted a different picture. If the U.S. came in and blew up someone's house, the local leaders would want restitution and you'd have to converse with them, for example. Also, contracts, reaching out to the local region, etc. I don't know for certain, but I got the impression that they wanted people with those language skills.

I guess what I'm saying is it might be a nice to have, but it's probably not going to make JAG pop a boner. Payments to locals might be signed off on by a JAG, but the legwork/meetings with the locals are done by someone else. Ditto local national contracts. And again, Arabic is kind of yesterday's news.

That said, speaking Arabic certainly wouldn't hurt.

PS In the interest of full disclosure, not a JAG recruiter, but I've been in the military/on deployments that involved meetings with locals.

TheSpanishMain wrote:

Scotusnerd wrote:

TheSpanishMain wrote: I don't think it would really help that much. The military is really shifting focus away from the Middle East, and JAGs don't really do anything where language skills would be all the helpful anyway.

The Marine presentation we had at our school painted a different picture. If the U.S. came in and blew up someone's house, the local leaders would want restitution and you'd have to converse with them, for example. Also, contracts, reaching out to the local region, etc. I don't know for certain, but I got the impression that they wanted people with those language skills.

I guess what I'm saying is it might be a nice to have, but it's probably not going to make JAG pop a boner. Payments to locals might be signed off on by a JAG, but the legwork/meetings with the locals are done by someone else. Ditto local national contracts. And again, Arabic is kind of yesterday's news.

That said, speaking Arabic certainly wouldn't hurt.

PS In the interest of full disclosure, not a JAG recruiter, but I've been in the military/on deployments that involved meetings with locals.

Absolutely this. The state department does all of the actual liason work with foreign countries, so a JAG would primarily be responsible for working with the state department on any issues like this.

I stand corrected then. Serves me right for listening to a recruiter.

Skip law school and apply to the CIA / NSA.