Contrary to what some people think, litigation is not the be-all and end-all of legal practice. Sure, bulk of the bar-passers go into litigation and client representation as a career. But there are also tons of other options for the practice of law. So if you’re not up for the courtroom drama, below are some alternative career options you can consider:
Politics and public service
Lawyers who wish to hold public office and venture into politics can kick off their political careers by getting elected as a district attorney. From there, lawyers can aim for the position of state attorney general, and move further up the political ladder by getting elected or appointed. Lawyers also have the option of joining the US Department of Justice, or get appointed by the US President to hold a position in the US Attorney’s Offices. Know though that pursuing a political career often requires a certain level of popularity not just in the community of legal practitioners, but also in the academe and law organizations.
Policy-making and legislation
Lawyers can also secure employment in legislative sectors by serving as consultants to senators and members of the Congress. See not all politicians have extensive knowledge on the history of laws and legal procedures, and this is where lawyers can help. Working in the field of legislature entails helping politician conceptualize and draft bills and policies.
Private legal consultancy
Every company and corporation needs someone with significant legal background and knowledge to take care of the legal aspects involved in their industry. Labor and industrial laws should be taken into consideration in the operation of companies and corporations. Lawyers can work as corporate consultants and become the point persons for drafting contracts and legal agreements, as well as ensuring that the company’s nature of work is in compliance with labor and industrial laws.
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The legal industry is a field that makes little or no room for poetry. Presentation of facts should always be concise and direct to the point. One document where concise writing should be practiced is the legal brief. Legal briefs are the documents that showcase the legal arguments presented in court, as well as case summaries. The ability to write concise legal briefs, without emitting pertinent information, is important in the realm of law. So much so that most law schools even require their students to take legal writing courses in their first year in law school.
Legal briefs are important documents because these show the progress and developments made in the legal processing of cases. Below are a few tips which can also serve as a guide for legal practitioners, law students, and paralegals in crafting clear and concise legal briefs.
Always maintain brevity and conciseness
If you’re tasked to write a legal brief and it’s your first time to do so, don’t fret. Most courts follow a template that dictates how legal briefs are formatted and structured. The US Supreme Court, for one, enacted a set of brief-writing rules in January 1990, which is being followed to this date. For federal appeal cases, however, a different format is followed in writing legal briefs. The FRAP, or Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, is a handbook that details how legal briefs on federal appeal cases should be written. From page margins to document length, the FRAP outlines the rules that should be followed when writing briefs.
Presentation of Questions
The key to succeeding in this part of the legal brief is to avoid writing loaded or leading questions. Learn to practice neutrality in presenting facts, while still writing your questions in a way that reflects the side you are arguing for.
Drop the pretty words
As mentioned, there’s no room for poetry in law. Drop the “fluffy” words and present cold, hard facts in a clear manner.
Accuracy in stating facts
Brief writers should be careful about presenting “facts.” If the information is contained in the case records, you can rest assured that is considered factual. But if you’re merely stating claims and declare them as factual information, you’ll affect the consistency and credibility of the legal brief.
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Though you’ll learn significant amount of law jargon throughout your stay in law school, there are some terms associated with law firms that could still sound foreign to you. To avoid giving off the impression that you’re an “outsider” to the realm of law, here are a few terms used in law firms along with their definitions:
Pro Bono
This term literally translates to “for the good of the public,” but is used in law firms and offices to refer to the provision of free legal service to clients. To do something pro bono means to do it for free. Contrary to what many people think, pro bono service and hours do not just come from the goodness of lawyers. The American Bar Association actually requires all lawyers to render 50 pro bono hours each. Although the ABA has a set requirement for ABA hours, the state bars have the authority of lowering this number according to their discretion.
Summer Associate
Summer associates are law students employed by law firms as interns. The duration of service for summer associates is three months. If they perform well as interns, the firm may invite these students to stay as associates or guarantee their employment with the firm after they graduate.
Partner
Law firms are rarely owned by just one individual. Ownership is usually shared with one or two other persons called partner or partners. Equity partners own part of the law firm and is entitled to a cut from the total profits raked in.
Associate
This is the title lawyers get once they’re hired by a law firm. Entry-level positions for lawyers come with the title as associate, and can be further categorized into junior associate and senior associate.
Billable hours
Billable hours are what sustains lawyers’ subsistence. Because lawyers get paid by the hour, the more hours of service rendered means more income for the lawyer. Billable hours refer to the time periods wherein legal service is rendered to the client in exchange for a certain fee. Associates are sometimes ranked, albeit informally, according to their billable hours.
Paralegal
Paralegals are those equipped with the knowledge and expertise to work in the law industry even though they don’t have law degrees. Paralegals are usually hired to help lawyers conduct research, prepare documents, and provide legal advice to clients under the supervision of a licensed attorney. In the US, the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations can certify and register paralegals to increase their chances for employment.
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Law reviews are journals or papers edited and distributed by the students of a specific law school. Although mainly staffed by law school students, law reviews usually consist of articles and features authored by students, judges, law professors, and legal practitioners. As you will Students, however, are also free to publish their own articles in the form of notes or comments. Law reviews are an effective venue for students and those in the legal community to discuss issues related to law and the judiciary system.
What are the different types of law reviews?
Law reviews are differentiated by the content they include. As mentioned, most law reviews tackle topics related to policies, politics, and the judiciary system, but there are also law reviews that only tackle specific topics and issues as decided by the specific law school they belong to. Considered as specialty law journals, these specialized publications are popular because they provide more focus on issues and topics pertaining to specific branches of law.
Who can hold a position in law reviews and journals?
Holding membership to a law school publication such as reviews and journals scores major points when included in law graduates’ resumes. Many law firms prefer their employees and lawyers to have experience working in or writing for their specific law schools’ publications. This is why many students sign up for membership in law school publications, and aim to have their articles published therein. To screen applicants, most law reviews conduct writing competitions. And as with most organizations, the upper classmen students are the ones who usually hold the editorial positions, while the younger ones are usually given staff positions.
What is the importance of joining a law review?
Law journals and reviews are effective platforms for legal discourse in the academe. These are venues where information and opinions can be shared among students, legal practiitioners, and members of the academe. And the fact that students are given the chance to publish their own articles also means that law reviews can also serve as a venue for students’ opinions to be expressed.
Holding a position in your law school’s journal or review lends you an edge over other law graduates — something that you will greatly benefit from once you’re in the rat race to secure employment and pursue a professional career in law.
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The career and placement departments in many law schools have linkages and connections with various law firms to help their students find careers when they graduate. Especially for top law firms, the competition for internship and employment can get quite fierce. And though these law firms are the ones doing the chasing to get knowledgeable lawyers, they too are well aware that many are clamoring to secure employment with them. This is why many law firms stand firm in their standards and requirements for hiring lawyers.
Notable academic performance
Grades and academic achievements are among the prime criteria that law firms have for selecting and hiring applicants. Because grades deal with figures and numbers, these are the easiest ways to gauge an applicant’s abilities and intellectual prowess. Some law firms explicitly state that they will only entertain applicants who are in the top percentile of their class, while some state minimum required GPA figures that applicants must meet.
If you don’t belong to the top percentile of your class and your grades aren’t that impressive, don’t worry. The selection process of most law firms look beyond grades and figures and into the skills necessary for lawyers to succeed.
Communication and negotiation skills
Lawyers are notorious for their impeccable elocution and persuasive arguments. Needless to say, lawyers are expected to have excellent communication and negotiation skills because bulk of their work often revolve around litigation and negotiation. Written communication skills are also essential because lawyers are also often tasked with preparing memos, briefs, contracts, and other legal documents.
Strength of character and staying power
The dog-eat-dog world of law and legal procedures require someone who has strength of character to stay in the firm. While a sense of humanity and client sensitivity are admirable traits, lawyers have to constantly keep their personal emotions at bay to be able to deal with cases objectively and logically.
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Passing the bar exam is a requirement for all law students to be given a license for legal practice in an given state or jurisdiction. The bar exam consists of a series of multiple-choice tests and essay questions that test the student’s knowledge on statutes and laws. The bar exam follows no template, it differs depending on the specific state’s regulatory board. If you’re planning on practicing law in a specific state, that’s also where you should take the bar exam.
To help you get an idea of how state bar exams are formulated and structured, you can check out the websites of your desired state’s bar association. Another option would be to consult your law school’s career and placement office. That said, here are more tips to help you prepare for the bar exam.
Check if you need to take other qualifying exams
The MPRE or Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination is a set of standardized tests that should be taken by law students in all US states and is recognized as a qualifying exam except in Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. You should also check if your state requires law degree-holders to undergo character evaluation to become licensed attorneys.
Sign up for bar exam review schools if you need to
While some students are confident that self-studying is enough to help them pass the bar exam, some attend bar exam review schools to help them prepare. It’s recommended that law students enlist the help of review schools to provide them with a guided study on the various subjects covered and discussed throughout your whole law school education. Some people even say that preparing for the law exam can be likened to having a full-time job, because it requires intensive review and studying. Another benefit of going to a review school is that it can provide you with sample questions that appeared on the previous years’ bar exams.
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After graduating and passing the bar, lawyers who take the path of professional legal practice have to decide on the nature of their practice. Some immediately go for private practice and apply for positions in top law firms, while some may prefer to go into public practice and serve the government. Read on to find out the similarities and differences between public and private practice.
Private practice
One main reason why lawyers go for private practice in law firms is the financial rewards. Private lawyers can earn thousands of dollars in handling just one case. But aside from firms, lawyers can also go into private practice by serving as legal counsels to corporate clients. Some big-time companies hire their own in-house lawyers whose main responsibility is to handle whatever legal issues the company may face in labor practice and laws. Lawyers who want to maximize financial gain from their law school education would do well to go into private practice because it’s more financially rewarding than public legal practice.
Public practice
Lawyers who go into public practice are those employed the state or government to provide legal counsel and services to groups and individuals who do not have access to private lawyers. Pubic attorneys, or public defenders, hold noble jobs in that they ensure that the citizens’ right to be legally represented in courts is not violated. Cases of criminal nature are the ones often handled by public defenders, although handling labor and property cases is also commonplace.
The salaries of public defenders pale in comparison to those of private lawyers. Often, lawyers have to provide legal services pro bono because they represent people who cannot afford to get their own lawyers. The state shoulders the wages of public attorneys, which is not that impressive but is made up for by the numerous benefits and civil protection that they get.
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The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, or simply called the Federalist Society, was formed in 1982 by a group of law students from top law schools, specifically, Harvard, Yale, and the University of Chicago. The organization was founded with the aim of reforming the current US judicial system. From being an organization composed mainly of law students, the Federalist Society has grown and developed into being the largest network of students and legal professionals in the US.
The Federalist Society is currently composed of three main divisions: Student Division, Lawyers Division, and a Faculty Division. The group has members of more than 10,000 law students from ABA-accredited and non-ABA accredited law schools, as well as members from international graduate and law institutions. The Federalist Society also has chapters all over the US and in other countries, and has around 30,000 members in their Alumni and Faculty Division.
Mission and vision
The Federalist Society aims to improve current and future political leaders’ understanding of the underlying principles in the Constitution of the United States. The organization believes that the main purpose for the state’s existence is to preserve and uphold individual freedom and the country’s traditional values by ensuring that the judiciary follows the limitations and rights stated in the Constitution. Furthermore, Federalists aim to spread legal awareness on constitutional issues and serve as watchdogs of the US judiciary system.
Programs and activities
The Federalist Society is known, among many other things, for the forums, discussions, and debates they hold in law schools across the US. Through these, and their annual gatherings, Federalists have successfully redefined the terms of legal debate and spread awareness and information regarding the issues that the US judiciary system currently faces. To ensure that the discussions and debates are as informative and unbiased as possible, the Federalist Society also invites speakers from opposing sides to present their views.
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Contrary to popular belief that law school students immediately go to law firms and practice law after graduation, there are actually quite a number of various positions that law school graduates apply for. From legal and corporate research to socio-political activism, here is a list of some of the fields and industries that law school graduates can work in:
Legal research, consultancy, and analysis
Though the knowledge gained in law school is valuable, most students feel the need to immerse themselves further in the legal realm before they apply their knowledge and litigate in courts. One good way to do this is to work as a legal researcher or legal consultant. Doing so will enhance the law school students’ work experiences while adding to their knowledge on legal matters.
Public administration and policy-making
It’s common for law school graduates to run for office after gaining much experience and knowledge on the legal aspects involved in holding government positions, such as policy-making. Most politicians hire law school graduates to be part of their staff to help them craft speeches, conceptualize and formulate policies, and even to lobby for bills. Working in this field is ideal for those who specialized in constitutional laws.
Corporate and professional industries
Especially for law school graduates who specialized in finance and taxation, companies and corporations hire law students because of their knowledge on taxation and revenue laws. Every large-scale company needs an attorney to take care of whatever legal issues that the company may fac, may it be labor-related or regarding income and revenue.
Non-profit and civic organizations
The types of law school graduates who go to work for non-profit and civic organizations are usually those who specialized in labor laws, human rights laws, environmental laws, and family law. For some law students, their law school education is best put to use by working in non-government organizations and civil society organizations dedicated to advancing human rights and bringing attention to social issues. The legal knowledge that law school graduates possess is valuable to such organizations because they provide the necessary information to hold socio-political entities accountable and pursue structural changes.
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A legal career has its own versions of ups and downs. Lawyers have the advantage of getting high salaries, wearing designer suits, and working in high-end offices. However, they still have to work hard to advance their positions in private law firms and public litigation. Lawyers usually stay up till morning to study and prepare cases. With these in mind, it is just enough that lawyers get decent paychecks. If you are considering a career in the legal industry, read the following so you’ll know what to expect.
Salary range of a lawyer
Salaries of lawyers are determined by a number of factors. Their experience in the legal profession is just one of these. Based on the September 2008 PayScale report, fresh law school graduates who are just starting their careers in the legal profession earn an average of $50,000 per year. After 10 years, a graduate’s salary increases as much as $30,000. After twenty years of leaving law school, a graduate can earn as much as $100,000 annually.
A lawyer’s specialization also plays a role in his or her salary. A lawyer for corporate affairs can earn at least $85,000 annually. This, so far, is the highest earning specialization for lawyers. Graduates who specialize in litigation and appeals, on the other hand, can earn as much as $75,000 per year. Real estate lawyers can have an annual income of $74,000.
The workplace of lawyers is also a consideration. Government lawyers can earn at least $91,000 per year. Lawyers handling hospital legal concerns earn about $83,000. Those who are working for non-government organizations can have a median salary of $54,000.
Jobs of law school graduates
Law school graduates can opt not to practice law. As a matter of fact, they can get positions in various industries. Graduates can qualify for jobs focused on litigation, insurance defense, and education. Finance and media industries also offer positions for law school graduates. Top level and mid-level positions in these industries can also be offered to lawyers. However, their job offer can be determined by their pre-law school job experience, legal specialization, years of experience as a lawyer and law school academic standing.
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