Getting the Scoop on Jobs and Careers

Updated April 23, 2008 by Mary Whisner.
Updated by Penny Hazelton, June 19, 2003.
Prepared by Mary Whisner for Bridge the Legal Research Gap, June 25, 2002.

Legal Research Guides

• Introduction
• How Can I Learn about Legal Careers?
  • Legal Careers Generally
    • Books
    • Websites
  • Biographies and Books about the Practice of Law
  • Specialties
  • Periodicals
• Where Can I Find Advice about the Job Search Process?
• How Can I Find Information about Law Firms?
• How Can I Find Information about Government Agencies?
• How Can I Find Information about Public Interest Groups?
• How Can I Find Information about the Attorneys I'm Going to Interview with?
• How Can I Find Information about Other Cities?

Call numbers and locations are provided for books in the UW Gallagher Law Library.

Introduction

You need information at all stages of your career planning and job search, from your first tentative musings about what sort of job might be a good fit for you to your preparation for a big interview or decision about whether to accept an offer. This guide suggests some sources and search tips.

Note that you might use the same source or type of information at different stages, for different purposes. For instance, Martindale-Hubbell and West’s Legal Directory can be useful when you are:

• gathering information about a type of practice or community
• looking for lawyers who might be willing to talk to you in an informational interview
• looking for employers to apply to
• preparing for a job interview.

How Can I Learn about Legal Careers?

Many books, notably some published by the American Bar Association (ABA), introduce you to legal careers. Check library catalogs (note: many will have “vocational guidance” in the subject heading).

Legal Careers Generally

Books

• Deborah Schneider & Gary Belsky, Should You Really Be a Lawyer? The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During & After Law School (2005). KF297.S36 2005 at Classified Stacks
• Deborah Arron, What Can You Do With A Law Degree? A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law (5th ed. 2004). KF297.A872 2004 at Reference Area & Classified Stacks
• Kathy Morris & Jill Eckert, Ask the Career Counselors: Answers for Lawyers on Their Lives and Life’s Work (ABA, 2003). KF297.Z9M674 2000 at Classified Stacks
• Kimm Alayne Walton, What Law School Doesn't Teach You--But You Really Need To Know: Expert Tips & Strategies For Making Your Legal Career A Huge Success (2000). KF297.W344 2000 at Reference Area
• Kimm Alayne Walton, Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams (1999). KF297.W34 1999 at Reference Area & Classified Stacks
• Gary A. Munneke, The Legal Career Guide: From Law Student to Lawyer (4th ed. ABA, 2002). KF297 .M86 2002 at  Reference Area
• Brian Doan et al., A Life in the Law (ABA, 1997). Very short (25 pp.) KF297.Z9A454 1997 at Reference Area
• What Can You Do with a Law Degree?: A Lawyer’s Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law (5th ed. 2004). KF297.A872 2004 at Reference Area
• So You Want to Be a Lawyer: A Practical Guide to Law as a Career (1994). KF297.Z9S6 1994 at  Reference Area
• Gary A. Hengstler, Making Work Work for You (ABA, 2001). KF318.H46 2001 at Classified Stacks
• Steven C. Bennett, The Path to Partnership: A Guide for Junior Associates (2004). KF300.B36 2004 at Classified Stacks

See also books listed under Law – Vocational Guidance – United States in the Gallagher Law Library online catalog.

Careers generally (not just law)

• Pam Gross & Peter Paskill, Want a New, Better, Fantastic Job? How to Find Satisfying Work in This Topsy-Turvy World (2d ed. 2001). HF5382.7.G76 2001 at Classified Stacks
• Po Bronson, What Should I Do with My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question (2003). BF637.S4B869 2003 at Classified Stacks

Websites

• Separate tabs for students, lawyers, employers.
• Career articles (from various ABA publications)
• “Attorney by Attorney” section has profiles of individual lawyers, sorted by Practice Area, Employer, Location, or Firm Size.

Monster.com offers a variety of features. “Career Advice” has articles about job-hunting and work life. “Monster Moving” has relocation information.

Findlaw's Career Center has an extensive array of articles, career advice and job ads.

The ABA's Market Research Department offers statistics on the legal profession. There’s a lot more to the practice of law than big firms: nearly 50% of lawyers in private practice are in solo practice!

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Biographies and Books about the Practice of Law

• Richard L. Abel, American Lawyers (1989). KF297.A756 1989 at Classified Stacks
• Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Women in Law (2d ed. 1993). KF299.W6E65 1993 at Classified Stacks
• Karen Clanton, ed., Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters: Words of Wisdom from Multicultural Women Attorneys Who’ve Been There and Done That (ABA, 2000). KF299.M56D43 2000 at Classified Stacks
• For other books, check library catalogs for subject headings like:
  • lawyers – United States
  • minority lawyers – United States
  • practice of law – United States
  • women lawyers – United States

Specialties

Specialties Generally

• Lisa L. Abrams, The Official Guide to Legal Specialties: An Insider’s Guide to Every Major Practice Area (NALP, 2000). In Career Services

Government and Public Interest

• Bradley M. Bittan, The Public Defender Experience: A Student Career Guide into the Heads and Hearts of America’s “Real Lawyers” (1997). KF9646.B57 1997 at Reference Area
• Ronald W. Fox, Lawful Pursuit: Careers in Public Interest Law (ABA, 1995). KF299.P8F69 1995 at Reference Area
• Do Your Legal Career Justice: Opportunities for Entry-Level Attorneys and Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice (2002). A short guide. KF299.G6D6 2002
• Stacy M. De Broff et al., Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide. Volume I, USA (15th ed. 2004). 400+ page guide from Harvard Law School. KF299.P8S46 2004 at Reference Area
• UWLS Career Services, Government Employment, http://www.law.washington.edu/Career/Gov/. Includes a research guide.

Solo & Small Firm Practice

• Jay G. Foonberg, How to Start and Build a Law Practice (5th ed. ABA 2004). KF300.Z9F66 2004 at Reference Area
• Starting a Law Practice, http://www.okbar.org/members/map/practice.htm, links to guides and resources, from the Oklahoma Bar Association.

International Law

• Mark W. Janis & Salli Swartz, eds., Careers in International Law (2d ed. ABA, 2001). KZ1238.U55C37 2001 at Reference Area
• Careers in International Law: A Guide to Career Paths and Internships in International Law (American Society of International Law, 2005). K115.C47 2005 at Reference Office
• See the Careers in International Law guide.

Judicial Clerkships

• Debra M. Strauss, Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships (BarBri, 2002). KF8771.S85 2002 at Reference Area
• Federal Judicial Center ( http://www.fjc.org ) has descriptions of different court staff positions (“Who Does What,” http://tinyurl.com/8kjc3), including law clerk – and other court legal staff.
• UWLS Career Services, Judicial Clerkship Information, http://www.law.washington.edu/Career/clerkships.html. Includes a research guide.

Corporate Counsel

• Association of Corporate Counsel, http://www.acca.com.
  • In-House Jobline, http://jobline.acca.com/.
  • Employment Resources (note: they aren’t just for in-house lawyers), http://www.acca.com/jobline/resources.php.
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association, http://www.mcca.com/. (Includes material for minorities, women, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians – and, of course, much of the advice is applicable generally.)
  

Law Librarianship

• American Association of Law Libraries, Education for a Career in Librarianship, http://www.aallnet.org/committee/tfedu/education.html.
•  UW Law Librarianship Program, http://lib.law.washington.edu/lawlibrarianship/.
• Mary Whisner, Choosing Law Librarianship: Thoughts for People Contemplating a Career Move (1999), http://www.llrx.com/features/librarian.htm.

Other Specific Specialties

• F. Lee Bailey, To Be a Trial Lawyer (2d ed. 1994). KF8915 .B343 1994 at Classified Stacks
• Careers in Intellectual Property Law (ABA, 1993). KF299.I57 C37 1993 at Classified Stacks
• William D. Henslee, Entertainment Law Careers (2d ed. ABA, 1998). KF299.E57 M46 1998 at  Reference Area
• Robert M. Jarvis, Careers in Admiralty and Maritime Law (ABA, 1993). KF299.M37 J37 1993 at Classified Stacks
• Sara Vlajcic, Family Law Careers (ABA, 1998). KF299.F3 V63 1998 at Reference Area

Nonlegal Careers

• Gary A. Munneke, William D. Henslee & Elaine S. Wayne, Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers (5th ed. ABA, 2006). KF297.M85 2006 at Reference Area
• Deborah Aaron, Running from the Law: Why Good Lawyers Are Getting out of the Legal Profession (2004). KF297.A87 2004 at Reference Area
• Deborah Aaron, What Can You Do with a Law Degree? A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside, and Around the Law (5th ed. 2004). KF297.A872 2004 at Reference Area & Classified Stacks

See also other books listed under keywords vocational guidance and united states in the Gallagher Law Library online catalog.

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Periodicals

Skimming local or national bar publications and legal newspapers can help you get to know different types of practice. They often have articles about practice, articles about attorneys, and profiles of firms.

• Print: KF332.W3W354, current at Reference Area
• For essays about solo practice, search the archives for “Jeff Tolman.”

• Print: KF332.W3W359d, current issues at Reference Area

• Print: current issues at Newspapers

• Print: current issues at Newspapers

• Print: current issues at Newspapers
• LexisNexis
• Westlaw

• Print: current issues at Newspapers
• LexisNexis
• Westlaw

• Print: current issues at Reference Area (display shelves)
• LexisNexis
• Westlaw

• Print: KF287.S77, current issues at Reference Area

• Print: KF297.A1C65 at Classified Stacks
• Web:

• Print: KF332.W3W359co at Classified Stacks

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Where Can I Find Advice about the Job Search Process?

J. Murray Elwood, The Legal Career Guru’s Guide to the Perfect Legal Resume (2000). KF297.E48 2000 at Reference Area

How Can I Find Information about Law Firms?

Firm resumes – often available in career planning offices.

• See links at Greedy Associates.
• Find URL in directory listings (e.g., West’s Legal Directory).
• Use a search engine.

• Attorney directory from Martindale
  • Can search for individuals or firms.
  • Can limit by geography, practice type, etc.
• Law firms in Martindale Directory
• LexisNexis (Legal > Reference > Martindale-Hubbell(R))
  • More flexible than the web version. Use that flexibility to focus your searching – either for applications or for leads for informational interviews.
  • Tip: use “Restrict by Segment.”
  • Sample searches:
    • To look for medium-sized firms in Colorado, choose “CO Listings” and search for firm size < (60) and firm size > (10).
    • To look for New York lawyers who went to your college, choose “NY Listings” and search for college (reed) and admitted aft (1995).
    • To find California firms that represent big newspapers, choose “CA Listing” and search for clients (los angeles times or san francisco chronicle or san francisco examiner or sacramento bee or san jose mercury or san diego union-tribune).
    • To find lawyers who clerked for a judge you had a successful externship with, search for text (clerk! w/5 coughenour).

“Findlaw’s Legal Directory” – same thing):

• You can search by practice area and location or by name.

• WLD – lawyers, law firms, and judges in U.S., Canada, and Europe.
• WLD-CA, WLD-WA etc. – state databases.
• WLD-ENV, WLD-FAM, etc. – practice area databases.
• More flexible than the web version. Use that flexibility to focus your searching – either for applications or for leads for informational interviews.
• Use template or standard (terms & connectors) search.
• Sample searches:
  • To look for smallish California firms that represent labor unions, choose WLD-CA; in the template, enter Area of Law: labor; Firm Size: 11-25; Representative Clients: union* or local. (You’ll get some false drops – “Union Bank” and “American Civil Liberties Union” – but you’ll also get good examples of what you’re looking for.)
  • To find UW law grads practicing in Hawaii, choose WLD-HI; in the template, enter Law School Information: “university of washington”.
  • To find Washington attorneys who list their volunteer work with organizations you’ve had externships with, choose WLD-WA, and enter as a standard search: “northwest women’s law center” or “american civil liberties union” or aclu.
  • To search for UW law grads who are government attorneys in Western states, choose WLD-GOV; in the template enter State: wa or ca id nv az ak [remember that Westlaw reads a space as “or”] and Law School Information: “university of washington”.

• Martindale-Hubbell and West’s Legal Directory are both incomplete. Some lawyers and law firms just don’t fill out the forms to be listed.
• Sometimes one has information that the other doesn’t.
• They tend to be more complete for law firms, especially larger firms. They are spottier for government and corporate counsel.
  

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How Can I Find Information about Government Agencies?

• Directories. E.g., United States Government Manual (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/nara001.html) and the Washington State Yearbook. Government directories are available in all types of libraries, including law libraries, public libraries, and college and university libraries.
• Agency websites. A good starting place is http://lib.law.washington.edu/research/research.html.
• The Office of Personnel Management has a searchable database of government jobs at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/.
• Fedworld also has a database of government jobs at http://www.fedworld.gov/jobs/jobsearch.html.
• Federal agencies that regularly hire law students and law graduates include:
  • CIA: http://www.odci.gov/employment/jobs/attorney.html.
  • Comptroller of the Currency: http://www.occ.treas.gov/jobs/lawjob.htm. 
  • EEOC: http://www.eeoc.gov/soars/index.html (see “Additional Employment Opportunities at EEOC”).
  • FTC: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/oed/hrmo/jobops.htm.
  • HUD: http://www.hud.gov/jobs/index.cfm. 
  • Interior: http://www.doi.gov/sol/sohonsup.html.
  • Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/.
  • NLRB: http://www.nlrb.gov/jobs/jobs.html.
  • Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: http://www.pbgc.gov/about/jobs-ogc.htm.
  • SEC: http://www.sec.gov/jobs.shtml. 
  • State: http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/hr/.
  • U.S. Courts, http://www.uscourts.gov/employment.html  (includes position announcements for federal public defender, probation officer, legal intern).
• State Government Jobs has links to state personnel agencies.
• Washington
  • Washington State Department of Personnel, http://www.dop.wa.gov/.
    • Only lists a few law jobs.
    • Of course, you aren’t limited to jobs that require a law degree.
  • Many Washington agencies do not go through the State Department of Personnel. See list at http://www.dop.wa.gov/JobSeekers/OtherOpportunities/Directemployment.htm.
  • The biggest employer of lawyers is the Attorney General’s Office, http://www.atg.wa.gov/careers/.
  • Washington Courts, http://www.courts.wa.gov/employ/.
• Local government
  • Check each city’s or county’s personnel or human resources department.
  • Watch the want ads.
  • Network, network, network!

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How Can I Find Information about Public Interest Groups?

• Public Service Law Network Worldwide (PSLawNet), http://www.pslawnet.org/. Click on "Sign up now" and register.
• Encyclopedia of Associations. Available in print in law libraries and on Westlaw (EOA). Profiles thousands of nonprofit organizations.
• Idealist.org, http://www.idealist.org/, a project of Action without Borders, offers information about volunteer opportunities and jobs with nonprofit organizations.
• Equal Justice Works (formerly NAPIL): http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/.
• Foundation Center: http://www.foundationcenter.org/. 
• National Public Defender Association: http://www.nlada.org/Jobs. “[I]ncludes positions in civil legal services, defender organizations, pro bono and public interest organizations, public interest law firms and academia.”
• See the Gallagher Law Library guide on Fellowship Opportunities in Law.
• Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide. Vol. 1, USA. KF299.P8S46 2004 at Reference Area

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How Can I Find Information about the Attorneys I’m Going to Interview with?

• Check for listings in Martindale-Hubbell and West’s Legal Directory.
• Check firm websites.
• Search organization websites.
• E.g., searching the Washington State Bar Association site (http://www.wsba.org) might tell you that an attorney has served on a committee or written a letter to the editor in the Bar News.
• E.g., searching the ACLU of Washington’s site (http://www.aclu-wa.org) might yield press releases mentioning a cooperating attorney or even pleadings he or she drafted.
• Search for news stories.
• If they are litigators, search in case databases for their cases. E.g.,  
  • Westlaw: at(hugh /2 spitzer)
  • LexisNexis: counsel(helen w/2 anderson)
• See “People-Finding,” http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/people.html.

How Can I Find Information about Other Cities?

• City profiles
  • Best Places: http://www.bestplaces.net/.
  • Ersys: http://www.ersys.com/.
• Cost of living comparisons
  • The Salary Wizard, http://salary.money.cnn.com/. 
  • The Salary Calculator, http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html?NETSCAPE_LIVEWIRE.src=moneymag
  • Cost of Living Wizard, http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.asp
• City websites. With a quick search, you can learn a lot about a city. For example, a Google search for "tri-cities" got me to the website
  for the Tri-Cities Visitors and Convention Bureau, http://www.visittri-cities.com/. And that quickly led to a page on relocation information, http://www.visittri-cities.com/relocation.shtml.