Careers in Law

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in law? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

If you don’t watch the television show Law and Order religiously, you should (SVU or Criminal Intent, either is acceptable). Elliot and Olivia are my favorite cop duo on the show, and they frequently work with judges, lawyers, paralegals, and attorneys to put criminals behind bars. Specifically, Casey Novak, the young and focused senior assistant district attorney helps them win a number of cases. If I ever had to stand before a judge in court I’d want her (or another lawyer) on my side to give me advice and represent my legal matters.

Law Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user steakpinball

Law Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Lawyer Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Lawyer
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Lawyer
  4. Best Locations for Lawyers
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Lawyer
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Law
  7. Law Resources
  8. Careers Related to Law
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Law

What a Lawyer Does

Lawyers give advice to their clients and represent their legal matters in court. To do this they apply abstract legal theories and knowledge to solve specific individualized problems or to advance the interests of those who hire them.

A Typical Day for a Lawyer

Typical days for lawyers are long, full of travel, and full of communicating and preparing or revising documents. They might spend time discussing cases with clients or preparing the briefs of a case. To do this they travel to meet their clients wherever they are. Lawyers also travel to court and to different places to gather proof or evidence for their case that they can submit to the legislative bodies. When lawyers aren’t working on a case, they devote time during their day to study law and new laws in order to protect their clients.

Salary and Career Progression in Lawyer

A new lawyer makes on average between $44,000 and $171,000 per year. Beyond that there are growth opportunities like General Counsel ($75,000-$300,000), Senior Attorney ($77,000-$276,000) and Corporate Counsel ($67,000-$192,000).

Best Locations for Lawyers

Here are some hot spots for lawyers:

  • Reno, Nevada
  • Newport Beach, California
  • Walnut Creek, California
  • New York, New York
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Houston, Texas
  • Washington DC
  • Wilmington, Delaware
  • New Haven, Connecticut

Pros and Cons of Being a Lawyer

Pros:
  • Wide range of clients
  • Great pay
  • Great career path
  • Lots of travel
Cons:
  • Long hours
  • Continuous studying and learning

What You Need to Know for a Career in Law

You must attend a graduate school for law where a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for admission. The bachelor’s degree can be in any field since high grades and a high LSAT score are more important than a specific major. Law schools award graduating students a J.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Jurisprudence) as the practitioner’s law degree. Many schools also offer post-doctoral law degrees such as the LL.M (Legum Magister/Master of Laws), or the S.J.D. (Scientiae Juridicae Doctor/Doctor of Juridical Science) for students interested in advancing their research knowledge and credentials in a specific area of law.

Law Resources

If a career in law still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Law

Displaying 1-10 of 8,974 results.
Data Entry Clerk Work From Home - Part-Time Focus Group Participants ($750/Week)
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US Custom and Border Protection Ashburn, VA
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Data Entry Computer Job - Work from Home Part Time
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Amazon Customer Service - Work From Home $16-$35/hr
Amazon Herndon, VA
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Ben Glass Law Fairfax, VA
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FT Data Entry Clerk - Work From Home>
The League Arlington, VA
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ALDI Germantown, MD
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Progression Rockville, MD
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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Law

Juvenile Law Center Logo

Juvenile Law Center - Juvenile Law Center is a Philly based org that “plays a leadership role in shaping and using the law on behalf of children in the child welfare and justice systems."

See the complete Juvenile Law Center profile


Justice Policy Institute Logo

Justice Policy Institute - Justice Policy Institute is a D.C. non-profit that aims to "reframe the conversation around justice for all."

See the complete Justice Policy Institute profile


Forensicon Logo

Forensicon - Forensicon is a Chicago, IL based “firm specializing in computer forensics analysis and consulting."

See the complete Forensicon profile


GoPro Logo

GoPro - GoPro is a San Mateo, CA based company that has built a huge business by offering “the world’s most versatile camera.”

See the complete GoPro profile


kCura Logo

kCura - kCura is a Chicago based company that offers "web-based e-discovery applications for managing large volumes of electronic evidence during litigation or investigations.”

See the complete kCura profile


Natural Resources Defense Council Logo

Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC is an NYC based non-profit that wants to "safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends."

See the complete Natural Resources Defense Council profile


Conservation Law Foundation Logo

Conservation Law Foundation - Conservation Law Foundation is a Boston, MA based non-profit that believes “that healthy communities and a clean environment are a right for all New Englanders.”

See the complete Conservation Law Foundation profile


American Student Assistance Logo

American Student Assistance - American Student Assistance is a Boston, MA based non-profit that empowers "students and alumni to successfully manage and repay their college loan debt.”

See the complete American Student Assistance profile


Public Knowledge Logo

Public Knowledge - Public Knowledge is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “preserves the openness of the Internet and the public’s access to knowledge."

See the complete Public Knowledge profile


Rocket Lawyer Logo

Rocket Lawyer - Rocket Lawyer is a San Francisco, CA based company that is “making legal work easier and more convenient for everyone.”

See the complete Rocket Lawyer profile


Lawline Logo

Lawline.com - Lawline.com comes is a New York, NY based “provider of Online Continuing Legal Education courses for attorneys across the country.”

See the complete Lawline.com profile


Newscred Logo

NewsCred - NewsCred is an NYC based company that "sources and licenses trusted content across a broad range of subjects and perspectives.”

See the complete NewsCred profile


General Growth Properties Logo

General Growth Properties - GGP is a Chicago, IL based real estate trust that owns and operates shopping centers all across the United States.

See the complete General Growth Properties profile


Irish International Immigrant Center Logo

Irish International Immigrant Center - Irish International Immigrant Center is a non-profit organization that supports immigrants from Ireland and more than 120 other countries, and they're hiring.

See the complete Irish International Immigrant Center profile


Macmillan Logo

Macmillan - Macmillan is the public face of a ton of U.S. publishers owned by a German media company, and they have a ridiculous number of job opportunities.

See the complete Macmillan profile


Internet Brands Logo

Internet Brands - Internet Brands is based in El Segundo, CA and they manage web properties in a variety of verticals. They're hiring for a ton of jobs right now.

See the complete Internet Brands profile


Environmental Law Institute Logo

Environmental Law Institute - The Environmental Law Institute is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that helps shape "the fields of environmental law, policy, and management."

See the complete Environmental Law Institute profile


Mothers Against Drunk Driving Logo

Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization dedicated to stopping drunk driving and saving lives, and they're hiring.

See the complete Mothers Against Drunk Driving profile


Free Software Foundation Logo

Free Software Foundation - The Free Software Foundation has a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all free software users, and they're hiring.

See the complete Free Software Foundation profile


Council of State Governments Logo

Council of State Governments - Council of State Governments is a non-profit organizations that brings state governments together to learn from each other, and they're hiring.

See the complete Council of State Governments profile


Total Attorneys Logo

Total Attorneys - Chicago based Total Attorneys provides software solutions that make it easy for individual lawyers and small firms run their businesses, and they're hiring.

See the complete Total Attorneys profile


Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Logo

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - If you enjoy Martha Stewart and want to work on the media or merchandise side, you definitely need to take a look at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Careers.

See the complete Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia profile


Central Intelligence Agency Logo

Central Intelligence Agency - Today is a good day to be an American and a good day to think about career opportunities with the CIA that will allow you to serve your country.

See the complete Central Intelligence Agency profile


Corbis Logo

Corbis - All creative works belong to someone and Corbis is a company based in Seattle, WA that buys and sells the rights for creative intellectual property.

See the complete Corbis profile


American Greetings Logo

American Greetings - American Greetings seems to keep on growing, and that means lots of hiring at their headquarters in Cleveland, OH and elsewhere.

See the complete American Greetings profile


Corporate Executive Board Logo

Corporate Executive Board - If you’re fascinated by large corporations and how they work, then The Corporate Executive Board would be an excellent place to start your career.

See the complete Corporate Executive Board profile


United Talent Agency Logo

United Talent Agency - If you've always wanted to be a talent agent, then you need to check out United Talent Agency and their entry level Agent Training Program.

See the complete United Talent Agency profile


FactSet Logo

FactSet Research Systems - FactSet focuses their College Recruiting on Consulting and Engineering, but that doesn't mean that they don't have entry level opportunities in other areas.

See the complete FactSet Research Systems profile


Simon & Schuster Logo

Simon & Schuster - If you’re intrigued by what Simon & Schuster is doing to maintain (or improve) their position in the trade publishing industry, then check out their Jobs page.

See the complete Simon & Schuster profile


Disaster Accountability Project Logo

Disaster Accountability Project - If you’re passionate about how our government deals with disasters, then you should get involved with the Disaster Accountability Project.

See the complete Disaster Accountability Project profile


Gerson Lehrman Group Logo

Gerson Lehrman Group - Gerson Lehrman Group is a firm that acts as a professional matchmaker for subject-matter experts, and they're hiring recent grads for a number of positions.

See the complete Gerson Lehrman Group profile


MCG Logo

MCG - If you're quantitatively minded and looking to work in an innovative and entrepreneurial environment, then you should consider a job at MCG in Providence, RI.

See the complete MCG profile


IGT Logo

IGT - IGT is really big on campus recruiting, and they seem to put a lot of effort into their University Relations presence.

See the complete IGT profile


Hachette Book Group Logo

Hachette Book Group - I don’t have the inside details of how Hachette Book Group’s business is doing, but I like what I see when I browse around their site.

See the complete Hachette Book Group profile


Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Logo

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - If you like what you see at CREW, then you should check out their Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Communications Associate.

See the complete Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington profile


Audience Science Logo

AudienceScience - And what about careers at AudienceScience? There are some options for new grads posted in their Job Listings.

See the complete AudienceScience profile


The Advisory Board Company Logo

The Advisory Board Company - Right now the The Advisory Board Company has just over 40 jobs posted, and I’ve picked out the following as being ideal for new grads.

See the complete The Advisory Board Company profile


Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center Logo

Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center - Florida is going to continue to attract immigrants, and FIAC will continue to stay busy. Interested in being a part of what they do? Check out their Jobs page.

See the complete Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center profile


Center for Court Innovation - If Center for Court Innovation gets your ears perked up, then you should check out their Jobs page.

See the complete Center for Court Innovation profile


The Constitution Project Logo

The Constitution Project - The Constitution Project has one position available right now—Development Associate—and it requires some prior experience, but it’s worth checking out.

See the complete The Constitution Project profile


RightsFlow - RightsFlow has put together an extremely impressive clients list, and they seem to be growing at a great rate. That’s why it’s no surprise that they’re hiring.

See the complete RightsFlow profile


STATS, Inc. - If you’re a sports stats geek like me, you’re probably already dying for a job with STATS... and you're in luck. They're hiring grads for a number of jobs.

See the complete STATS, Inc. profile


CB Richard Ellis - A friend who works at CB Richard Ellis let me know about a job they’re trying to fill, and their Jobs pages shows more than 200 additional job openings.

See the complete CB Richard Ellis profile


The Bronx Defenders - The Bronx Defenders, like many non-profits, is an organization that you hope you never have to take advantage of, but if you do, it’s nice to know it’s there.

See the complete The Bronx Defenders profile


Mozilla - One of the coolest things about working at a company like Mozilla is how many people they reach. That's why you should check out their entry level jobs.

See the complete Mozilla profile


Starwood - Starwood gets hospitality. They also get entry level recruiting. They make it dead simple for college students and new grads to find jobs with them.

See the complete Starwood profile


Vera Institute of Justice - Vera Institute of Justice's wants “justice systems that are fairer, more humane, and more effective for everyone,” and they’re hiring to help make it happen.

See the complete Vera Institute of Justice profile


Department of Veterans Affairs - Finding jobs with the Federal Government can be tough, but we’ll guide you through the process of finding opportunities with the Department of Veterans\' Affairs

See the complete Department of Veterans Affairs profile


The Innocence Project - We don’t cover many law related entry-level jobs here on One Day, One Job, but The Innocence Project has a number of opportunities for new college graduates.

See the complete The Innocence Project profile


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