Corporate Practice: Employers

Employers

Any large corporation (largest number of attorneys are at corporate headquarters)

Corporate Practice: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Corporate office summer clerkships and entry level positions are rare. Usually only experienced lawyers are hired by corporations. Develop tolerance for bureaucratic procedure. An undergraduate major in business, particularly accounting or finance, is helpful.

Federal Government: Employers

Employers

• Most government branches have legal counsel
• Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for all branches of the military

Federal Government: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Get involved with an internship or co-op 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.

Judicial Clerkship: Areas & Employers

Areas – Judicial Clerkships

• Federal Court
• State Court

Employers

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.

Judicial Clerkship: Strategies

Information/Strategies

High academic achievement is emphasized by State and Federal judges; Federal judges usually require top 10% or 15% class rank. 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.

Politics: Areas & Employers

Areas – Politics

• Lobbying/Government Relations
• Legislative Positions

Employers

• Corporations
• Trade and professional associations
• Political Action Committees
• Law firms
• Public interest advocacy groups
• Congressional representatives at national, state and local government

Politics: Strategies

Information/Strategies

A service-oriented attitude is helpful. Learn to enlist the help of others. 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 law firm experience. Acquire superior writing skills. Develop a pleasing personality, enthusiasm and high energy level. Show ability to work with people and good communication and organizational skills. Consider earning a Master’s of Public Administration.

Private Practice: Employers

Employers

• Large multi-office firms
• Medium-size firms
• Small firms
• Legal clinics
• Other private legal services

Private Practice: Strategies

Information/Strategies

• Acquire excellent research and writing skills. Obtain clerkships or internships.
• Large and medium-size firms frequently emphasize grades and class rank and value law review and moot court experience.

Public Interest Law: Areas & Employers

Areas – Public Interest Law

• Legal Aid Services
• Public Defender Offices
• Public Interest Groups

Employers

• Federal, state & local government
• Private groups contract
• Nonprofit and public interest organizations
• Law firms practicing public interest law

Public Interest Law: Strategies

Information/Strategies

• 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.

Teaching: Employers

Employers

• Law schools
• Business schools
• Undergraduate departments of History and Political Science
• Paralegal schools

Teaching: Strategies

Information/Strategies

• Obtain several years of experience in private practice or government agency.
• The LLM degree and an outstanding academic record are required for law school teaching. Teaching allows for more flexibility of time. Some lawyers teach on an adjunct basis.

State & Local Government: Areas & Employers

Areas – State & Local Government

• Criminal Prosecution
• Civil Law

Employers

• District Attorney’s Office
• Attorney General’s Office
• Attorney General’s Office
• State agencies, commissions, boards, executive and legislative office staff
• Local agencies and commissions
• City and county law offices

State & Local Government: Strategies

Information/Strategies

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. 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 a variety of public officials. A demonstrated interest in public issues and completion of related internships are helpful.

Patent & Copyright Law: Employers

Employers

• Law firms (specialized)
• Corporations
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Patent & Copyright Law: Strategies

Information/Strategies

This highly specialized area usually requires technical, science or engineering degree. These lawyers help protect clients’ claims to copyrights, inventions, software, etc.

Energy Law, Natural Resources, & Environmental Law: Employers

Employers

• Law firms
• Corporations
• Federal agencies (especially Department of Energy)
• Environmental compliance services companies
• State agencies
• Regulatory Commission

Energy Law, Natural Resources, & Environmental Law: Strategies

Information/Strategies

This area involves rights to resources including those in the earth and dangers in production of energy as well as transportation, taxation, patents and government regulation. An undergraduate major in environmental science, agriculture, engineering or science may be good preparation.

Financial Planning, Investment Banking, Estate Planning: Employers

Employers

• Bank trust departments
• Brokerage firms
• Insurance companies
• Development offices for preparatory schools, hospitals and universities

Financial Planning, Investment Banking, Estate Planning: Strategies

Information/Strategies

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.

Legal Publishing / Journalism: Employers

Employers

• Legal publishers
• Print and electronic media

Legal Publishing / Journalism: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Exhibit interest in writing, research and editing for publishers. For national media, gain experience covering the law and politics.

Law Firm Administration: Employers

Employers

• Private law firms

Law Firm Administration: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Handle office management (e.g. work flow), business development, clerk and attorney recruitment, clerkship programs, finances and human resources in a law firm.

Higher Education Administration: Employers

Employers

• Law schools
• Universities and colleges

Higher Education Administration: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Serve as a Dean or Director of Academics, Admissions, Career Services, Records, Alumni Affairs, Development, etc. in law schools. Work in judicial affairs, pre-law advising or other undergraduate student support services.

Law Librarianship: Employers

Employers

• Law firms
• Law schools

Law Librarianship: Strategies

Information/Strategies

Masters in Library or Information Science, in addition to a law degree, may be required for some positions.