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| Home >> Prospective Students >> Pre-law Handbook >> Life After Law School | ||
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| Home >> Prospective Students >> Pre-law Handbook >> Life After Law School | ||
Life After Law School
Because the number of practicing lawyers in the United States continues to increase, finding jobs in some fields and in certain regions of the country may become more difficult for graduates. Opportunities will vary from locality to locality and among legal disciplines. Future lawyers may have to devote considerable time and energy to secure a first job. Competition for certain positions will continue to be intense, while opportunities in other fields may expand.
Types of Employment
Almost three-fourths of American lawyers are in private practice. The majority of these attorneys work in small law offices, but some will choose larger, multi-partner firms. Public service constitutes the second most frequent employment setting. This area consists of government agencies (including the military), judicial clerkships and public interest positions. Business and industry account for about 10 percent of jobs in the legal profession, and one percent is in legal education.
Many law school graduates do not actually practice law. In fact, as many as 15 to 20 percent of all graduates never practice. The transferable skills acquired in law school serve as excellent preparation for many other careers. In addition to possessing excellent writing, counseling, negotiation and research skills, law school graduates have the ability to analyze facts and resolve problems as well as an awareness of legal risks and issues.
Fields of Interest
The legal profession allows a practicing attorney a large number of avenues to pursue based on interest and expertise. As a prospective law student, however, your primary concerns should be deciding whether law school is right for you and taking steps to improve your chances of being admitted. Once in law school, your classes and practical experiences will expose you to many potential areas of interest. Use this exposure to evaluate your strengths and interests.
Even if you are fairly certain of the kind of law you would like to practice, do not plan on specializing too much in law school. You will not have a "major;" most law schools do not offer enough courses in one area to constitute a major field of study. Many lawyers do not begin to choose a specialty until they have been practicing for several years. Remember that a well-rounded legal education gives you the flexibility to consider many career options. Of course, you may take note of schools offering many electives in a field that interests you. By checking the catalogue, you also can learn how many faculty members are identified with that field. In general, however, do not apply to a school in order to become a legal specialist.
While the following list is not exhaustive, it illustrates the number and diversity of fields of interest within the legal profession.
Administrative/Regulatory Labor/Employment Relations Admiralty Malpractice Antitrust Mergers and Acquisitions Banking/Securities Military Bankruptcy Oil and Gas Civil Patent Corporate/Business Personal Injury Litigation Criminal Probate/Estate Planning Education Product Liability Entertainment/Sports Public Interest Environmental/Land Use Real Property Family Social Security Governmental Affairs/Legislative Statutory Health Care Taxes Immigration Telecommunications Insurance Torts Intellectual Property Trial International Workers Compensation
An abundance of information on careers in law is available in the College of Law Career Planning & Placement Office, Career Center, Strozier Library and local bookstores. Students considering the study of law are encouraged to visit these places to learn more about specific schools, preparing for and applying to law school, as well as the law school experience in general. Prelaw advisors also can serve as valuable sources of information.