You have already made decision upon decision. Which law school do I want to attend? What concentrations do I want to study? How can I build my resume before I graduate? Yet many forks in the road still await. You and that newly minted degree are poised for launch, but where do you want to go? What do you hope to become?
Your first decision should be whether you want to work in the public or private sector. By no means is this a simple question. For some, the public sector offers too little glamour and fewer opportunities for personal and material gain. Indeed, there is a vast difference between the two areas of law, but this does not make one lesser than the other. Public sector jobs offer tremendous hands-on experience in the courtroom and direct contact with clientele. The work can be rewarding and groundbreaking. You can directly see your impact on the lives of clients. However, private firms offer opportunities abroad, complex litigation, and a greater degree of selectivity. Naturally, there are downsides to both. Public interest lawyers complain of bureaucratic impediments, a paucity of formalized training, and insufficient salaries. Lawyers who work in firms are exposed to intense competition and stress, often at the detriment of their personal lives. If you have a penchant for the “high-risk, high-reward” type lifestyle and enjoy the constant buzz of a competitive environment, the private sector is a better fit. For the more idealistic personality, and for those who are driven by the desire to aid others, the public sector might be for you. There are ups and downs with both options, but the decision ultimately comes down the the kind of work you seek to perform and what you hope to gain from your practice.
Once you have made a choice between the public and private sector, there are many different types of work you can pursue within each category. In general, there are two options for first-time job seekers in the private workforce. You can work for a big law firm or a small law firm. As your career progresses and you gain more experience, starting a solo practice or working as an in-house counsel are other potential avenues. If you find commercial law (employment, corporate, litigation, etc.) of interest and you seek to interact with a high-profile clientele, big law firms are right up your alley. The prestige and salaries are generally more favorable within big law firms than the smaller ones. You will also have more substantial opportunities to specialize, conduct international work, and gain experience in complex litigation. On the downside, your life will revolve around billable hours (often somewhere between 50-80 hours per week when you first start). There will also be immense pressure to perform at a competitive level and becoming a partner is considerably more challenging. Big law firms tend to hire 2Ls for summer associate positions and then offer full-time positions post-graduation. Small firms trend toward more generalized practice, but you can find firms that specialize in areas like criminal law, immigration, labor, etc. If you enjoy direct contact with clients, independent work, and a more relaxed atmosphere, a small firm might be advantageous. While the likelihood that you will make partner increases in a small firm, the salaries are invariably more modest and the resources not as extensive (you will probably be making your own photocopies). Small firms also offer summer associate positions, but these are far less likely to convert to permanent positions upon graduation. You will need to take a more personal and meticulous approach when seeking jobs at small firms. Try seeking out lawyers in your area for the strict aim of gaining practical advice and experience without the pressure of a job on the table. Get your foot in the door and develop some sort of mentor-type relationship with a few lawyers at the firms that you are most interested in. When the time comes for those firms to hire, you will be more than just a name in a large stack of applications. Big or small, ensure that you find a firm that matches your individual goals, personality, and academic background.
Should you find yourself drawn toward work in the public sector, the majority of your options are within nonprofit organizations and government employment. All three branches of the United States government and numerous independent agencies employ attorneys. If you enjoy litigation, you can work for the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Attorney General’s Honors Program is highly competitive and employs numerous recent law graduates. Other agencies within the government also have programs to launch your career in the public sector. If you would rather not litigate, you can work a legal job specializing in regulation. The EPA, FDA, and other similar agencies hire attorneys to develop and enforce new statutes and ordinances. Alternatively, these agencies also hire lawyers for advisory positions. You could provide counsel or work on congressional inquiries, petitions, etc. The best place to start for a recent graduate seeking work in the government is to apply to recent graduate or honors programs within agencies that interest you. You can also go a different route and seek employment in nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits have an extremely vast spectrum of locale and issues in which attorneys can work. Because so many nonprofits exist, your work can be as specialized as you desire. You can perform civil legal services or public defense. You can work for an advocacy group, focusing on civil liberties, human rights, child welfare, and more. There are also international opportunities for those who are multilingual. If you have specialized interests and a dedication to the greater good of the general populace, you may find working for nonprofit highly stimulating and rewarding.
The choices you have to make when launching your career are onerous and formidable. Take time to decide where your priorities lie and be honest with yourself about what you truly want to gain from your law career. Are hefty paychecks and big bonuses enough? Do you want to work abroad? Do you like helping those less fortunate? Do you crave time in the courtroom? Does competition wake you up or shut you down? There are many questions to ponder, but once you determine what you want and where you want to go, your path will be clear and the career you covet within reach.