When trying to decide on a career, there are many things to consider. If you’re trying to decide between law and medicine, both careers will give you the opportunity to help others. One way to decide between the two fields is to consider your favorite school subjects. If you like science and math, you might choose medicine; if you prefer reading and writing, you may decide to choose the law.

Pediatric Dentistry

A pediatric dentist is a dentist who specializes in caring for the dental needs of children and teens. Children need a different approach to dental examination and treatment, so being a pediatric dentist requires someone with patience. The pediatric dentist must also enjoy working with children. However, kids go to the dentist with their parents, so these professionals must also deal with the adults in the room.

To become a pediatric dentist, your education will begin with a four-year college degree. A dental hygiene major may be a good choice. The next step will be four years of dental school, after which you must pass a dental board exam. The last step is a residency for 2 – 3 years, as a pediatric dentist.

Pediatric dentists need to be intelligent and compassionate. They should be imaginative and creative, in order to appeal to children. Other important traits include trustworthiness and manual dexterity. The average US pediatric dentist’s salary is between $153,710 and $190,434.

Dental Surgeon

Dental surgeons need the same knowledge base as general dentists, but they specialize in performing surgery inside the mouth, including removing wisdom teeth. Oral surgeons can also do reconstructive surgery to help patients whose mouth or jaw was injured during car accidents. People with oral cancer will go to a dental surgeon to have their oral tumors removed. For advanced cases of jaw misalignment, an oral surgeon may work with an orthodontist.

A dental surgeon has the same foundational education as a general dentist: an undergrad degree and four years of dental school. After dental school, they will undergo a residency of four to six years. The last two years of their residency will involve working with a licensed dental surgeon.

Dental surgeons need similar personal characteristics as pediatric dentists. In addition, they need attention to detail, and the ability to stand on their feet for long periods. Some oral surgeons also choose to get a medical degree. The average US dental surgeon’s salary is currently between $270,000 and $370,000.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics refers to appearance, and people can be very sensitive about the appearance of their smiles. If someone’s teeth are malformed or broken, they will need to go to a cosmetic dentist to repair their smiles. These dentists can apply veneers (coverings that give a whitened surface to the teeth). Dental implants and tooth bonding are also services done by a cosmetic dentist.

If a client has lost a tooth or has had a tooth pulled, a general dentist or cosmetic can replace the tooth’s root by inserting one or more cosmetic dental implants. Over the implant, the dentist would apply a tooth replacement, which could be temporary or permanent. Education for cosmetic dentists includes a bachelor’s degree, dental school, and four or more years of dental residency with an experienced cosmetic dentist.

To become a cosmetic dentist, you must be intelligent. You’ll need to communicate with others and pay attention to detail. Because the profession is related to aesthetics, you should also be creative. The current US national average salary for a cosmetic dentist is between $158,814 and $199,529.

Endocrinologist

There are many types of medical specialties. An endocrinologist cares for patients with a medical problem in the endocrine system. The most common types of endocrine problems include diabetics and thyroid problems, but they could also have problems with their pancreas or adrenal glands. When patients have hormonal imbalances, an endocrinologist will often prescribe hormone treatments.

Endocrinologists need to be intelligent, detail-oriented, and empathetic. Hormone problems can severely impact the whole body, so endocrinologists need to be thorough to understand how all the body’s systems work together. Doctors – including endocrinologists – must graduate from a four-year college (typically earning a pre-med bachelor’s degree). After their college education, they must graduate from a four-year medical school.

After the doctor graduates from medical school, they will become residents for three years (typically with an internist). After completing their residency, they will train with an endocrinologist for two years before working independently. The current US national average salary for an endocrinologist is approximately $266,035.

Fertility Specialist

Fertility doctors are also called reproductive endocrinologists. This specialty is very similar to endocrinology because it involves hormones but is typically classified as a subspecialty of obstetrics. When a client consults a fertility specialist, the doctor will perform a series of tests to see if they can determine the reason for infertility. If the procedures are unsuccessful, the doctor may suggest the couple try surrogacy.

As with all medical specialists, fertility specialists must graduate from college and medical school before training. For a fertility doctor, this means four years of OB/GYN residency and three years working with another fertility doctor. The current national average salary for a fertility doctor is $215,122 to $287,313.

Being a fertility doctor may be frustrating because, despite using your best skills, a couple may still be unable to conceive. The testing and procedures for conception for infertile couples are sometimes painful. Fertility specialists work with vulnerable couples so that a fertility doctor will need great compassion, patience, intelligence, and attention to detail.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is responsible for helping clients with mental health challenges. A psychiatrist may work at a clinic, a hospital, or in a facility that is dedicated to specific types of mental health challenges – such as a drug detox facility. Psychiatrists spend much of their time listening to their clients, so they need to be patient and caring. Since psychiatrists are medical doctors, they can prescribe psychiatric medication to their clients when it is needed.

Some people confuse the roles of psychiatrist and psychologist. For the most part, psychologists have regularly scheduled sessions with people who are struggling with mental health problems and attempt to help them develop methods to cope with those problems. Although some psychiatrists do this (which they refer to as “analysis”), they are typically more involved in the medical side of the treatment – or with emergency treatment for mental health clients in a crisis.

To become a psychiatrist, you would go to college and get your bachelor’s degree on a pre-med course like a medical doctor. Afterward, they would go through medical school and complete a residency with an experienced psychiatrist. One unique experience a psychiatrist must undergo is to experience analysis for themselves, in order to empathize with their clients. The U.S. national average salary for a psychiatrist is between $224,124 and $279,833.

Disability Attorney

A disability attorney is a lawyer who helps disabled people apply for SSI (Social Security) benefits. The benefits given to disabled people from social security require a complicated and overwhelming application process. The Social Security Administration requires specific criteria to qualify for benefits, and the disability lawyer can help the applicant understand those criteria.

A disability attorney can also help an applicant who applies for benefits but is turned down. The disability lawyer and their staff will assist the applicant in obtaining and compiling the necessary documents. Because of the nature of disability claims, a disability attorney must be intelligent, detail-oriented, and compassionate. The average US national salary of a disability lawyer is approximately $110,28.

A disability attorney will need the same foundational education as any other lawyer. Lawyers begin their studies with a bachelor’s degree. After graduating from college, a prospective attorney would need to graduate from law school. They would then need to get experience by working with an experienced disability attorney.

Criminal Lawyer

When someone is accused of a crime, they will need assistance from a team of criminal law attorneys. A criminal lawyer is responsible for defending a person or corporation charged with any crime – from a felony to a capital crime. When someone visits a criminal attorney, the lawyer will gather facts about the accused person. After this discussion, the lawyer can explain the state laws regarding that crime and answer any questions the client may have.

Criminal law can differ from state to state, and it’s up to a criminal lawyer to know the laws in their state and be able to communicate them to the client. If the case goes to court, the lawyer will be with them to defend them and provide emotional support. A criminal lawyer must be intelligent, and they must be detail oriented. Because of the sensitive nature of their cases, criminal lawyers should also be compassionate and non-judgmental.

To become a criminal lawyer, you would begin with a similar education as a disability attorney. You must have a bachelor’s degree and then graduate from law school. After that, they should work with a licensed criminal lawyer to gain the needed experience. The U.S. national average salary for a criminal lawyer is between $84,566 and $111,022.

DUI Lawyer

DUI stands for ‘driving under the influence,’ and it typically refers to driving while intoxicated with alcohol. If you were stopped by a police officer and are charged with DUI, you will need the assistance of a DUI lawyer. Driving while under the influence is a crime, so these lawyers are a subspecialty of criminal law. The laws of each state may vary, but if you are convicted in court, you could face a fine, the loss of your driver’s license, and you might go to prison.

In some states, people who are convicted of DUI will be required to attend alcohol education classes, and some may need you to install an ignition interlock on your car. The local DUI attorney you work with can’t guarantee the outcome of your court case, but they can assist you in getting the best possible result.

To become a DUI lawyer, you will begin your education with a bachelor’s degree and then graduate from law school. You will then need to work with a lawyer with DUI case experience. To try a case as a DUI attorney, you’ll need to have a clean law record with no disciplinary actions. The current U.S. national salary for a DUI attorney is approximately $75,000 per year.

Choosing What’s Right for You

To help yourself decide which career to choose, imagine yourself in the typical environment of each profession you consider. When you think of your future self, do you imagine you’d be more content working with sick people or defending clients in court? If you are uneasy getting physically close to people or dealing with blood, it would probably not be a good idea to become a doctor. As for the law, you need to be able to speak eloquently in public and not be afraid of verbal confrontations.

While training for both professions, you will likely spend many nights studying or preparing for trials. However, once you are in practice for yourself, it is more likely for a doctor to have to work at any hour than for a lawyer to do so. If spending time with your family is a priority, that may be reason enough for you to choose the law as a profession.

If finances are a consideration, education for both career paths is expensive. However, law school education is typically more costly than medical school. However, both careers have excellent earning potential. 10 Before beginning a career path in either law or medicine, discuss with your family to decide if it is financially feasible for you.

The career you choose may be one of those mentioned above or a different medical or law specialty. Your profession shouldn’t be determined solely by its salary or prestige, although both are important in your choice. Any career you choose should resonate with your heart. If you prioritize that, you should be able to pick the best career for yourself.