In order to help you establish the focus of your job search, lawyers in transition ought to decide whether they wish to consider opportunities in different practice settings or areas of practice.
Different Practice Settings
Although this may seem obvious, switching practice settings has made a world of difference for many attorneys. It is also the least drastic, and easiest change to make. Choices include:
- Move from the private sector to the public sector or vice-versa.
- Move from a large firm to a small firm.
- Move from an urban environment to a suburban environment, or from a firm's main office to a branch office.
- Move to a different environment while utilizing the same skills; i.e., from insurance defense litigation in a law firm to a similar position in an insurance company.
- Change to a firm with different types of clients.
A good way to deal with this issue is to take an inventory of your most desired work settings and options. Complete the following checklist by indicating which options most interest you:
A. Law Firm
_______Solo Practice
_______2 -10 Attorneys
_______11 -25 Attorneys
_______26 -50 Attorneys
_______51 -100 Attorneys
_______101 -250 Attorneys
_______251 -500 Attorneys
_______500 + Attorneys
Representing
_______Businesses
_______Businesses with significant pro bono opportunities
_______Businesses and individuals
_______Individuals (defense/plaintiff)
_______Individuals (non-litigation)
_______Public Interest
_______Other (specify)
B. Government
Federal
_______Executive
_______Legislative
_______Judicial (trial/appellate)
_______US Attorney
_______Armed Forces
State
_______Executive
_______Legislative
_______Judicial (trial/appellate)
_______Attorney General
County or Regional
_______Executive
_______Legislative
_______Judicial (trial/appellate)
_______District Attorney
Municipal
_______Executive
_______Legislative
_______Judicial (trial/appellate)
_______City Solicitor
C. Academic
_______Law School Professor
_______Law School Administrator
_______Other School Professor
_______Other School Administrator
_______Librarian
D. Public Interest/Human Services
_______Legal Services Programs
_______Individual Representation
_______Class Action, Law Reform
_______Policy, Research
_______Litigation
_______Public Defender (Trials/Appeals)
_______Public Interest Law Centers
_______Individual Representation
_______Class Action, Law Reform
_______Policy, Research
_______Litigation
_______Social Action Organizations
_______Citizen/Community Organizations
_______Nonprofit Organizations
E. Corporation In-house Counsel (Profit/Non-Profit)
_______Business
_______Foundation
_______Non-Profit
_______Labor Union
_______Hospital/Health Organization
_______Trade Association
_______Banking/Financial Services
_______College and University
_______Real Estate Development
_______Museum
_______Insurance
_______Professional Society
_______Accounting
_______Religious Organization
_______Management Consulting
F. Other
_______Delivery of Legal Services Systems
_______Pre-Paid Legal Services
_______Private Foundations
_______Elective Politics
_______Legal Clinics
_______Non-traditional Legal Career
Different Practice Areas
Many attorneys are upset to discover that, having chosen the real estate department as a first year associate, they are forever condemned to practice real estate law. Moving to a different area of practice involves a substantive change, which can be much more difficult to make than moving to a different practice setting. Here are some good ways to start:
- Attend continuing legal education courses offered by the American Bar Association, state and local bar associations, Law Institutes, and private companies.
- Join the relevant section of the American Bar Association and your state or local bar association. Membership often includes a subscription to a publication that provides information on new developments in the field and upcoming programs. Volunteer to work as an active member. This will provide excellent opportunities for networking and learning about the subject, as well as establishing credibility.
- Take courses at a local university related to your area of interest. You do not have to commit to getting a degree. Many schools have certificate or visiting professional programs.
- Enroll in an LL.M. program.
- Do volunteer work for an organization in your area of interest.
- If you want to remain with the same employer but in a different area of practice, talk to the head of the department you would like to work in and ask for an opportunity to work on a case in that area. Try to bring in a client in the area you want to work in and ask to co-counsel the case. Bolster your credibility by availing yourself of the aforementioned courses.
Consider the variety of practice areas in which you can work. Check the ones which are of interest to you:
Alternate Dispute Resolution
_______Mediation
_______Negotiation
_______Arbitration
Art, Entertainment and Media
_______Motion Pictures
_______Sports
_______Music
_______Computer Art/Graphics
_______Press
_______TV and Radio
_______Cable television
_______Art and Theater
_______Recreation/Leisure
_______Communication
_______Culture
_______Libel
_______Literary Property
_______First Amendment
_______Video
Business Law
_______Banking
_______Corporations
_______Securities Regulation
_______Bankruptcy
_______Corporate Finance
_______Admiralty & Maritime
_______Energy
_______Investment Banking
_______Utilities
_______Industrial
_______Reorganization
_______Mergers
______Commodities
_______Trade Regulation
_______Unfair Competition
_______Oil & Gas
_______Mining
_______Natural Resources
_______Advertising
_______Insurance
_______Foreign Trade
_______Economic Development
_______Interstate Commerce
_______Agriculture
Civil Litigation
_______Appellate Litigation
_______Practice and Procedure before Administrative Agencies
_______Malpractice
_______Personal Injury and Negligence
_______Trial Practice and Procedure
_______Products Liability
Consumer Goods and Services
_______General Purchasing
_______Debtor's Rights
_______Insurance
_______Transportation
_______Product Liability
_______Energy
_______Food
_______Corporate Responsibility
_______Utilities
_______Pharmaceuticals
Criminal Justice
_______Criminal Law Trial
_______Criminal Law Appeals
_______Prisoner's Rights
_______Probation and Parole
_______Juvenile Justice
_______Rehabilitation Employment
_______Worker Safety
_______Equal
Employment
_______Collective Bargaining
_______Pension/ERISA
_______Worker's Compensation
_______Employee Benefits
_______Civil Service
_______Labor (Management)
_______Labor (Union)
_______Unemployment
Family Law
_______Adoption
_______Conservatorship
_______Foster Parenting
_______Wills, Trusts
_______Marriage
_______Divorce
_______Guardianship
_______Settlement of Estates
_______Parent Custody Rights
_______Children's Rights
_______Surrogate Parenting
_______Neglect and Abuse
Health
_______Physical Health
_______Disabled Persons
_______Abused Persons
_______Mental Health
_______AIDS
_______Health Care Systems
_______Commitment
Law Practice
_______Law Office Economics
_______Paralegal Services
_______Prepaid Legal Services
_______Professional Education
_______Specialization
_______Law Research Materials
_______Advertising
_______Ethics
_______Legal Clinics
_______General Practice
_______Recruitment
_______Management
Property Law and Real Estate
_______Architecture
_______Construction
_______Conveyancing
_______Cooperative
_______Building Codes
_______Condemnation
_______Condominiums
_______Eminent Domain
_______Environmental Law
_______Land Use
_______Shopping Centers
_______Tenant Rights
_______Urban Development
Public Interest/Human Services
_______International Human Rights
_______Civil Rights
_______Civil Liberties
_______Women's Rights
_______Elder Law
_______Minority Rights
_______Community Organizing/Citizen Action
_______Municipal Affairs
_______Education
_______Legislation
_______Election
_______Youth
_______Urban Affairs
_______Welfare
_______Rural Residents
_______Small Farm Owners
_______Military Justice
_______Veterans
_______Immigration
_______Antitrust
_______Poverty
_______Constitutional
_______Government
_______Disarmament/Arms Control
_______Environment
_______Disability Law
Science and Technology
_______Aeronautics
_______Engineering
_______Genetics
_______Patent
_______Copyright
_______Trademark
_______Computers
Taxation
_______Income and Other Taxation
_______Estate and Gift Taxation
_______Practice and Administration
_______Federal and State Liaison
As you explore your options, keep three simple rules in mind:
- Always trust your own instincts.
- Try not to let money completely rule your life.
- Motivate yourself.
Excerpted from Jobs for Lawyers by Hillary Jane Mantis & Kathleen Brady (Impact Publications 1996).