Lawyer jobs can be found across various sectors. Some lawyers work in law firms, which could earn them several million dollars at top firms or up to $190,000 as starting associates annually.
Lawyer jobs offer prestige and intellectual stimulation; however, they also involve stress levels, competition and ethical challenges that may require significant management time commitments. Discover more about what legal jobs exist.
1. Law Firms
Legal firms are the primary employers for lawyers, offering them many career opportunities. Lawyers at law firms may specialize in fields like corporate law, litigation or tax law, working alone on cases or managing teams of associates. Paralegals, compliance officers and legal secretaries all play important roles in helping a law firm run smoothly and efficiently.
Salary requirements of lawyers vary based on position and field. Some may decide to become partners in their firm and share in its profits as invested partners; these partners must bring new business while managing cases as team leads and supervising associates under them.
Other attorneys may opt to opt-out of partnership arrangements by becoming non-equity associates, which still allow them to share in profits. Many larger firms also offer this category for senior lawyers who don’t wish to participate in management but still want access to the firm’s brand and resources.
Some attorneys can opt to become “of counsel,” which allows them to continue working on cases with the firm without participating in its management or profit sharing decisions. This title may also be applied to retired attorneys who wish to maintain close ties with it.
2. Government
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 803,000 lawyers work for the federal government alone; others may hold local, state, or city positions as well. Benefits associated with government employment include increased responsibility and lower pay than private firms as well as access to an array of practice areas.
Beginning government attorneys often start as law clerks before transitioning into attorneys upon passing the bar exam. Many agencies post available clerkship positions on USAJOBS for law students looking for one.
Legal clerk positions offer an ideal starting point for legal careers; however, their salaries often pale in comparison with the higher BigLaw associate salaries. Government employees, however, often negotiate their salaries. Furthermore, most agencies can promote them one step at a time!
At government law firms, unlike in private firms, lawyers often manage their caseloads independently without following a strict hierarchy chain. Graduate law students often choose government law careers for this very reason – early responsibility being one reason many choose it over private firms. Also appealing about working for government is the variety of practice areas available such as litigation, regulatory and advisory work that government attorneys offer. Many federal and state/local attorneys leave eventually but those that remain develop essential skills which can be transferred back into private employment environments or non-government employers.
3. Nonprofits
Many lawyers work for non-profit organizations, such as community arts groups or educational institutions. These nonprofits may focus on specific populations like children or abused women, or may emphasize environmental protection or poverty alleviation issues.
Lawyers with law degrees often serve in various positions at these organizations, such as general counsel, executive directors and board members, lobbyists, legislative directors, writers and editors, development (fundraising) directors, project managers and investment managers. Furthermore, many attorneys with law degrees serve as officers within an organization; this role bears similar fiduciary responsibilities to that of board membership as well as requires some leadership skills for fulfillment.
Attorneys associated with these organizations engage in pro bono work, representing low-income individuals and non-profit entities at no or reduced costs to them. Furthermore, they take part in creating public interest policies as well as offering community outreach programs.
An informative website dedicated to the nonprofit sector lists internships, volunteer opportunities and paid employment at various nonprofit organizations. This resource also features career paths for legal and management professionals working within this industry.
Lawyers Alliance for New York was established in 1969 and today provides services to over 700 nonprofit clients annually on a broad range of transactional legal projects, and educational programs for both the legal community and low-income residents. Program priorities include community arts, economic opportunity, housing/human services/quality education/urban development.
4. Individuals
Lawyer jobs can be found anywhere from large cities to small towns, assisting individuals, companies and government organizations with a range of legal matters and proceedings. Lawyers may specialize in specific areas like immigration or real estate law while others work as corporate counsels or in-house attorneys, providing advice to companies on their legal affairs.
Some people choose the legal profession because they want to make lots of money, or because they think the financial prospects are better in law. Others believe they can make an impactful contribution by helping people with their legal matters; unfortunately, however, the average starting salary for new lawyers remains relatively low compared to other occupations.
Before entering the legal industry, those considering working should carefully consider their desired area of work and strengths. Different law degrees offer degrees that specialize in different areas, requiring different interpersonal skills than others. Furthermore, staying current on developments within this industry and being open to trying new things is vital. It will keep you engaged with your work while helping prevent burnout while remaining satisfied in your job role.