January 13 2010
What Can I Do With My Law Degree Besides Work at a Law Firm?
posted in 1L/2L, 3L, Law School Applicants by Grant
Categories: Jobs, Life After Law School
Discussions of alternative careers are becoming more and more prevalent in this uncertain economy. The stereotypical law firm jobs are becoming fewer and fewer, and it is a good idea to consider other options, even if you eventually hope to land at a law firm. You may not get that cushy law firm job right of the gate upon graduation, but you can work elsewhere for a few years, gain some experience, meet some people, and see what doors open up.
The most obvious alternative career path is politics. Countless politicians have pursued law degrees prior to starting their career in politics. Some had legal careers before going into politics, and some jumped right in. When you start classes, you’ll start to notice who is there to be a politician, especially if you’re (un)fortunate enough to start law school during an election year. If you’re interested in politics, there are several things you can do while in law school to position yourself to be the next Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Ron Paul, or Sarah Palin. You can figure out what firms are politically involved or try to get internships with in state government. Most importantly, however, I would suggest you figure out where you stand on every issue you can think of. Even if you’re not interested in politics, at this point in your life, you should know these things.
You can also look at larger companies that have in-house legal teams. Like big law firm jobs, these jobs are hard to come by. There isn’t a huge need for inexperienced young lawyers within these legal teams, but some companies will consider you. If you can get one of these jobs you are set. Many young attorneys that start at law firms aspire to these jobs, coveting the shorter hours and often less intense work product.
You can apply to nonprofit organizations.
Other ideas include law schools and universities that have career offices or other administrative positions in which they’d like to put someone with a law degree. Additionally, there are organizations that specialize in compliance, like the NCAA, that require candidates to have a JD. Of course, there are also several federal and state agencies interested in hiring attorneys, often less for their knowledge of the law than their problem-solving ability.
It is important to consider what kind of job you think you’ll like years down the road and go for that. Keep in mind your interests, what kind of hours you want to work, what kind of people you want to work with, etc. And if you’re in the middle of a recession and all else fails, they might let you flip burgers at the local fast food joint.
