Students interested in law and public safety careers get a head start at NJ county vocational-technical schools by developing technical skills, gaining field experience, and earning public safety certifications.
During their high school years, students have opportunities to earn certifications such as CPR, Firefighter I, First Aid, First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, and Emergency Dispatch Operator. Eager to make a difference, they often get that chance by putting these certifications to work to aid their communities.
In addition to hands-on learning, students explore forensic science, rescue operations, emergency procedures, and legal issues with help from public safety and legal professionals, opening their eyes to a wide range of career possibilities in the public and private sectors.
Why Law and Public Safety?
- Opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the community and help others
- Employs more than 4.5 million people
- Includes the $36 billion security market
- New positions needed by 2029 include about 20,000 firefighters and 40,000 police officers and detectives
- Project growth of 10% for paralegals/legal assistants by 2029
- Median pay for a lawyer in 2020 was $127,000
Career pathways in this area include:
Attorney
Corrections officer
Emergency management specialist
Firefighter
Forensic scientist
Homeland security specialist
Law enforcement officer
Paralegal
Security specialist
For Students And Parents:
To see what law and public safety programs your county vocational-technical school offers, find your school.
For More Information About Careers In Law and Public Safety:
O*Net OnLine has comprehensive information on all types of jobs, including surveys that help people find careers they might enjoy.
View videos on career pathways in law and public safety:
From US Department of Labor Career One-Stop:
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/IndustryVideos/law-public-safety-and-corrections-overview.aspx
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/IndustryVideos/law-public-safety-and-corrections-occupations.aspx
Use the drop-down menu to explore more videos from Career One-Stop:
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx
From Working Nation on forensic scientists:
https://workingnation.com/i-want-that-job-forensic-science-technician/
Law and Public Safety News
NJ’s county vocational-technical schools graduate 251 students who earned associate degrees during high school
Taking full advantage of opportunities to earn college credits while in high school, 251 students from across New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools graduated with an associate degree this year in addition to a high school diploma.
CTE Success Story: Sussex Tech start helps Kevin Garrity make history as the youngest police officer in his hometown force
Kevin Garrity is the youngest Byram Township Police Officer in the history of the town. The 19-year-old had an early introduction to the profession at Sussex County Technical School, where he studied Law & Public Safety and participated in the Jump Start program at Sussex County Community College (SCCC).
Cape May County Technical Schools names Director of County Emergency Management as 2023 Business Partner of the Year
Cape May County Technical Schools’ Law Enforcement and Public Safety students are receiving real-life, hands-on 9-1-1 officer training experience thanks to the program’s flourishing partnership with the director of the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management, Marty Pagliughi. Pagliughi continues to be an asset and recently earned the honor of Cape Tech’s 2023 Business Partner of the Year.
Read more news about Law and Public Safety