LAW …

                                                    LAW
                      What can I do with this graduate degree?
           AREAS                       EMPLOYERS                                     INFORMATION/STRATEGIES
CORPORATE PRACTICE
                       Any large corporation (largest number of attorneys   Corporate office summer clerkships and entry level positions
                          are at corporate headquarters)                        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
                       Most government branches have legal counsel          Get involved with an internship or co-op program with the
                       Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for all             federal government to get a foot in the door.
                          branches of the military                          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 CLERKSHIPS
Federal Court          Federal Courts of Appeal and District Court          High academic achievement is emphasized by State and
State Court                (trial) Judges and Magistrates, Bankruptcy           Federal judges; Federal judges usually require top 10%
                           and Administrative Law Judges                        or 15% class rank.
                       State Courts of Appeal and Trial Level Judges        Clerkships can be a stepping-stone to other legal areas and
                       Federal and State Court Clerkships for Collective        provide many benefits for future career opportunities.
                           Judges in a Court                                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.
  (Law, Page 2)


                 AREAS                    EMPLOYERS                                            GENERAL INFORMATION
POLITICS
Lobbying/Government       Corporations                                            A service-oriented attitude is helpful.
 Relations                Trade and professional associations                     Learn to enlist the help of others.
                          Political Action Committees                             Clerkship or summer associate positions with law firms
                          Law firms                                                   providing lobbying services provide good experience.
                          Public interest advocacy groups                         Demonstrate an interest in politics through your
                                                                                      undergraduate major, active campaigning, or research
                                                                                      papers/articles.
Legislative Positions     Congressional representatives at national, state, and   Obtain law firm experience.
                             local government                                     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
                          Large multi-office firms                                Acquire excellent research and writing skills.
                          Medium-size firms                                       Obtain clerkships or internships.
                          Small firms                                             Large and medium-size firms frequently emphasize grades
                          Legal clinics                                               and class rank and value law review and moot court
                          Other private legal services                                experience.

PUBLIC INTEREST LAW       Legal Services Corporation                              Gain supervised work experience in an area through
Legal Aid Services        Legal Aid Society                                           summer internships.
                                                                                  Demonstrate a desire to help the economically
                          Federal, state & local government
                                                                                      disadvantaged and show an interest in law as a means of
Public Defender Offices   Private groups contract
                                                                                      change.
                                                                                  Volunteer for non-profit organizations that serve a wide range
                          Nonprofit and public interest organizations
                                                                                      of people.
Public Interest Groups    Law firms practicing public interest law
TEACHING                  Law schools                                             Obtain several years of experience in private practice or
                          Business schools                                           government agency.
                          Undergraduate departments of History and Political      The LLM degree and an outstanding academic record are
                             Science                                                 required for law school teaching.
                          Paralegal schools                                       Teaching allows for more flexibility of time.
                                                                                  Some lawyers teach on an adjunct basis.
   (Law, Page 3)


                 AREAS                     EMPLOYERS                              GENERAL INFORMATION
STATE & LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Criminal Prosecution     District Attorney's Office                     Take essential courses related to criminal law, criminal
                         Attorney General's Office                          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                Attorney General's Office                      Civil law deals with a broad range of subjects other
                         State agencies, commissions, boards,                than criminal matters and provides for a wide
                             executive and legislative office staff          variety of functions including the opportunity to work
                         Local agencies and commissions                      with private lawyers and a variety of public officials.
                         City and county law offices                    A demonstrated interest in public issues and completion of
                                                                             related internships are helpful.


PATENT & COPYRIGHT LAW
                         Law firms (specialized)                        This highly specialized area usually requires technical,
                         Corporations                                       science or engineering degree. These lawyers help
                         U.S. Patent & Trademark Office                     protect clients' claims to copyrights, inventions,
                                                                            software, etc.
ENERGY LAW
NATURAL RESOURCES &      Law firms                                      This area involves rights to resources including those in the
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW        Corporations                                       earth and dangers in production of energy as well as
                         Federal agencies (especially Department of         transportation, taxation, patents, and government
                             Energy)                                        regulation.
                         Environmental compliance services companies    An undergraduate major in environmental science,
                         State agencies                                     agriculture, engineering, or science may be good
                         Regulatory Commission                              preparation.


FINANCIAL PLANNING
INVESTMENT BANKING       Bank trust departments                          Insurance "Estate Planning" positions require interest and
ESTATE PLANNING          Brokerage firms                                     ability in sales.
                         Insurance companies                             Bank trust department positions are good for those who do
                         Development offices for preparatory schools,        not want to litigate or be confrontational.
                             hospitals and universities                  An undergraduate major in accounting or finance may
                                                                             be helpful.
      (Law, Page 4)


                 AREAS                                           EMPLOYERS                                             GENERAL INFORMATION
LEGAL PUBLISHING/
                                                   Legal publishers                                        Exhibit interest in writing, research, and editing for
JOURNALISM
                                                   Print and electronic media                                  publishers.
                                                                                                           For national media, gain experience covering the law
                                                                                                               and politics.
LAW FIRM
ADMINISTRATION                                     Private law firms                                       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                                     Law schools                                             Serve as a Dean or Director of Academics, Admissions,
                                                   Universities and colleges                                  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                                  Law firms                                               Masters in Library or Information Science, in addition to a
                                                   Law schools                                                law degree, may be required for some positions.



GENERAL INFORMATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
· 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 G.P.A. to increase chances of gaining admission to law school.
·   Join Phi Alpha Delta professional association.
·   Find part-time jobs or internships in law firms or government agencies to reality test your interest in law and to gain relevant experience.
·   Prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) which is required by all law schools.
·   Secure strong personal recommendations from professors.
·   Participate in mock trial, student government, student judiciary boards, and other related organizations.


                                        Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
                        Editorial assistance and additional information provided by The University of Tennessee College of Law. (1994, Revised 2003)
                                                        UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer