Attorney:
Partnership track
Non-partnership track
Contract
Document review
Administration
Large multi-office firms
Medium-size firms
Small firms
Sole practitioners
Legal clinics
Other private legal services
Acquire excellent research and writing skills.
Obtain clerkships or internships during law school.
Large and medium-size firms frequently emphasize grades and class rank and value law review and moot court experience.
Expect to exhibit management and marketing expertise and practice profitably.
Those in administration handle office management (e.g., work flow), business development, clerk and attorney recruitment, clerkship programs, finances, and human resources.
Private practice
In-house counsel:
Transactional
Litigatory
Securities law
Law-related Areas:
Compliance
Procurement
Contracts
Human resources
Mergers and acquisitions
Tax law
Legislative compliance
Liability issues
Contracts
Law firms with corporate law and related business practice areas
Any large corporation (largest number of attorneys are at corporate headquarters):
Accounting firms
Financial institutions and insurance companies
Continued:
Hospitals
Retailers
Consulting firms
Corporate office summer clerkships and entry level in-house positions are rare.
Usually only experienced lawyers are hired by corporations as in-house counsel. Entry-level positions in compliance, procurement, or other law-related departments are more common.
Develop tolerance for bureaucratic procedure.
An undergraduate major in business, particularly accounting or finance, is helpful.
A joint MBA/JD degree may open additional opportunities.
Counsel
Legal aid services
Public defense
Civil rights law
Indigent services
Advocacy
Community outreach
Law reform
Legal Services Corporation
Legal aid societies
Federal, state, and local government
Public defender offices
Private public interest law firms
Nonprofit and public interest organizations (e.g., ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund)
Unions
Foundations
Gain supervised work experience in an area through summer internships.
Demonstrate a desire to help the economically disadvantaged and show an interest in law as a means of change.
Volunteer for non-profit organizations that serve a wide range of people.
Learn to communicate and interact with a diverse clientele.
Litigation
Advisory/Counsel
Regulatory
Public Policy
Most government branches have legal counsel; some of the largest employers of lawyers are:
Department of Justice
Department of Defense
Department of Commerce
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Environmental Protection Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
Federal Trade Commission
Internal Revenue Service
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) corps for all branches of the military
Complete an internship program with the federal government to get a foot in the door.
New lawyers frequently go to court and litigate sooner; experience gained here can be valuable to private firms later.
Government work offers a variety of practice opportunities from criminal to contracts.
High academic achievement is emphasized by state and federal judges; federal judges usually require top 10% or 15% class rank.
Federal courts of appeal and district court (trial) judges and magistrates
Bankruptcy and administrative law judges
State courts of appeal and trial level judges
Federal and state court clerkships for collective judges in a court
Clerkships can be a stepping-stone to other legal areas and provide many benefits for future career opportunities.
For U.S. Supreme Court, applicants must be top law graduates with one to two years clerking at lower Federal Court.
Moot Court participation in regional and national competitions is helpful.
Law review membership, as an indication of writing ability, is highly valued and emphasized at all court levels.
Litigation
Advisory/Counsel
Regulatory
Public policy
Criminal prosecution
Public defense
District Attorney’s office
Attorney General’s office
Governor’s offices
State agencies
State legislatures
Cities, municipalities, counties, school districts, boards of education, and state universities
Public Defender’s offices
Take essential courses related to criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, and evidence.
Participate in a criminal clinical program.
Obtain summer positions in a prosecutor’s office or a criminal litigation office or private firms practicing criminal law.
New lawyers frequently go to court and litigate sooner; experience gained here can be valuable to private firms later.
Civil law deals with a broad range of subjects other than criminal matters and provides for a wide variety of functions including the opportunity to work with private lawyers and public officials.
A demonstrated interest in public issues and completion of related internships are helpful.
Consider earning a joint Master’s of Public Administration/JD degree.
Teaching
Student affairs
Law schools
Universities/Colleges
Higher education administration
Pre-law advising
Law librarianship
General counsel
Law schools including departments of:
Career services
Admissions
Student services
Law libraries
Business schools
Undergraduate departments of History and Political Science
Paralegal schools
Universities and colleges:
Judicial affairs/Student conduct office
Dean of students
Human resources
For teaching: Obtain several years of experience in private practice or government agency. The LLM degree and an outstanding academic record are usually required for law school teaching. Teaching allows for more flexibility of time and Some lawyers teach on an adjunct basis.
For administration and student affairs, consider earning a master’s degree in College Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or related area. As an undergraduate, participate in campus leadership roles. In law school, secure a graduate assistantship in an office of interest, such as judicial affairs.
For librarianships, a master’s in library or information science, in addition to the law degree, is often required.
District Attorney’s offices
Law firms
Sole practitioners
Public Defender’s offices
There are two sides to criminal law: criminal defense attorneys, including public defenders, and prosecutors/district attorneys.
Criminal law requires outstanding oral and written communication skills and the ability to persuade others.
A deep understanding of federal, state, and local laws, and court procedures is necessary.
Law firms (specialized)
Corporations
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
These lawyers help protect clients’ claims to copyrights, inventions, patents, creative work, etc.
This highly specialized area usually requires technical, science, or engineering degrees at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Law firms
Corporations
Federal agencies (e.g., Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency)
State agencies
Environmental compliance services companies
Regulatory commissions
Advocacy organizations
Public interest groups
This area involves rights to resources including those in the Earth and dangers in production of energy as well as transportation, taxation, patents, clean air and water, and government regulation.
An undergraduate major in environmental science, agriculture, engineering, or science may be good preparation.
Law firms
Sole practitioners
Government agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Adoption agencies
Work with families and individuals on matters such as divorce, adoption, and juvenile justice.
Law firms
Insurance companies
Health maintenance organizations
Hospitals and nursing homes
Government agencies
Pharmaceutical companies
Represent all parties in healthcare such as hospitals, physician groups, health maintenance organizations, individual doctors, insurance companies, and patients.
Public:
Relations between governments and citizens
Private:
Interactions of private citizens, corporations or other organizations
Governments
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
World Bank
International organizations
United Nations
Law firms
Large corporations
This area deals with a myriad of issues faced by governments, corporations, or non-profits in an international arena.
Fluency in another language and familiarity with other cultures will help prepare one for this field.
Seek international experience by studying, volunteering, or working abroad.
Intern with a firm or organization that deals with international law.
It may be difficult to find an international law job immediately after law school.
Law firms
Nonprofit organizations assisting immigrants or refugees
Legal Aid
Government agencies (e.g., Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Corporations employing international employees
Large corporations
This area assists individuals or organizations dealing with issues of immigration, citizenship, naturalization, VISA/employment status, deportation, or asylum.
Fluency in another language, particularly Spanish, may increase opportunities in this field.
Law firms
Large corporations
Government
Unions
Special interest groups
Represent workers and employers on employment issues including wages, discrimination, harassment, unlawful termination, benefits and pensions, etc.
Law firms
Sports teams
Universities/colleges
Studios
Record labels
Production companies
Other employers in the radio, television, movie, and video game industries
Work with individual athletes or artists, as well as the sports and entertainment companies that hire them, on a range of issues including contracts, intellectual property, royalties, or disputes.
Firms specializing in this area are more commonly found in Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville.
Law firms
Large corporations
Financial institutions
Government
Property management firms
Deal with individuals or organizations on matters related to land or property. Lawyers may focus on contractual work or litigation.
Educational institutions:
K-12 school districts
Universities/colleges
Government
Law firms
Represent educational institutions, students, or parents on issues related to the educational process such as: special education rights, student discipline, teacher/administration selection/retention, etc.
Bank trust departments
Brokerage firms
Insurance companies
Development offices for preparatory schools, hospitals, and universities
Insurance “Estate Planning” positions require interest and ability in sales.
Bank trust department positions are good for those who do not want to litigate or be confrontational.
An undergraduate major in accounting or finance may be helpful.
Lobbying/Government Relations
Elected Office
Corporations
Trade and professional associations
Political action committees
Law firms
Public interest advocacy groups
Government
Clerkship or summer associate positions with law firms providing lobbying services provide good experience.
Demonstrate an interest in politics through your undergraduate major, active campaigning, or research papers/articles.
Obtain full-time law firm experience as a stepping stone into field.
Acquire superior writing skills.
Develop a pleasing personality, enthusiasm, and high energy level. Demonstrate a service-oriented attitude.
Show ability to work with people and good communication and organizational skills.
Learn to enlist the help of others.
Consider earning a joint Masters of Public Administration/JD degree.
Students interested in attending law school may choose any major of interest. Some undergraduate majors can help prepare students for a particular area of law, (e.g., a B.S. in environmental science) for a career in environmental law.
Develop strong research and writing skills. Enhance communication skills through public speaking courses, debate team, or Toast Masters (a public speaking organization).
Maintain a high grade point average to increase chances of gaining admission to law school, and thoroughly prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
Join Phi Alpha Delta professional association.
Secure strong personal recommendations from professors.
Find part-time jobs or internships in law firms or government agencies to reality test your interest in law and to gain relevant experience.
Participate in mock trial, student government, student judiciary boards, and other related organizations.
Completing the law degree, Juris Doctor or JD, typically takes three years of full-time coursework. After completion, one must pass a state bar examination in order to practice law in that state.
New law specialties are always emerging and the fields included here are not exhaustive. Consider your interests and skills when choosing an area of practice and research fields more thoroughly to learn how to effectively plan for a career in that area.
Law school graduates may also find job opportunities outside the field of law if interested in pursuing alternatives.