- Multiple legal specialties
- Admiralty & maritime law
- Corporate counsel
- Employment law
- Entertainment law
- Environmental law
- Estate planning
- Family law
- Government & public interest work
- Intellectual property law
- International law
- Judicial clerkships
- Law librarianship
- Law teaching
- Personal injury
- Real estate law
- Solo & small firm practice
Links
Getting the Scoop on Jobs & Careers >
Learning about Legal Specialties & Practice Areas
Updated Dec. 29, 2008.
Prepared by Mary Whisner.
Books, DVDs, and websites provide useful information about specialization of legal careers.
Multiple Legal Specialties
Lisa L. Abrams, The Official Guide to Legal Specialties: An Insider's Guide to Every Major Practice Area (NALP, 2000). In the Career Planning office
Admiralty & Maritime Law
Michael Marks Cohen, Fair Winds and Following Seas: A Career in Admiralty Practice, in Careers in International Law (3d ed. ABA, 2008). KZ1238.U55C37 2008 at Reference Area
Robert M. Jarvis, Careers in Admiralty and Maritime Law (ABA, 1993). KF299.M37 J37 1993 at Classified Stacks
Corporate Counsel
The Association of Corporate Counsel website has an In-House Jobline and information on Career Development.
Minority Corporate Counsel Association also includes a Job Bank.
Employment Law
Mindy Farber, How to Build and Manage an Employment Law Practice (ABA, 1997). KF299.E44 F37 1997 at Classified Stacks
Entertainment Law
Gary Greenberg, How to Build and Manage an Entertainment Law Practice (ABA, 2001). KF299.E57 G74 2001 at Classified Stacks
William D. Henslee, Entertainment Law Careers (2d ed. ABA, 1998). KF299.E57 M46 1998 at Reference Area
Environmental Law
Stuart L. Somach, How to Build and Manage an Environmental Law Practice (ABA, 2000). KF300.S66 2000 at Classified Stacks
Estate Planning
Daniel B. Evans, How to Build and Manage an Estates Practice (ABA, 2008). KF300.E83 2008 at Classified Stacks
Family Law
K. William Gibson, How to Build and Manage and Family Law Practice (ABA, 2006). KF300.C455 2006 at Classified Stacks
Sara Vlajcic, Family Law Careers (ABA, 1998). KF299.F3 V63 1998 at Reference Area
Government & Public Interest
Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide: Harvard Law School's Handbook & Directory for Law Students and Lawyers Seeking Public Service Work. (Vol. 1 is U.S., Vol. 2 is international.) KF299.P8S46 at Reference Area
Alan B. Morrison & Diane T. Chin, Beyond the Big Firm: Profiles of Lawyers Who Want Something More (2007). KF299.P8 M67 2007
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 at Reference Area
Cynthia Siemsen, Emotional Trials: The Moral Dilemmas of Women Criminal Defense Attorneys (2004). KF299.C7 S55 2004 at Classified Stacks. Not explicitly a "career" book, but relevant.
Paul B. Wice, Public Defenders and the American Justice System (2005). KF9646.W53 2005. Not explicitly a "career" book, but includes these chapters: "The staff attorneys : background and career patterns," "The work environment and courthouse relationships," and "Personal and professional issues."
See also the Gallagher guide on Fellowship Opportunities in Law.
DVDs
Deborah Ellis, Pursuing a Career or Finding a Calling (Gates Public Service Law Speaker Series, Feb. 26, 2007). KF299.P8 E45 2007 at Classified Stacks
Rob McKenna, Washington State Attorney General (Gates Public Service Law Speaker Series, May 15, 2007). KF299.P8 M35 2007 at Classified Stacks
Intellectual Property Law
Careers in Intellectual Property Law (ABA, 1993). KF299.I57 C37 1993 at Classified Stacks
International Law
Salli Anne Swartz, ed., Careers in International Law (3d ed. ABA, 2008). KZ1238.U55C37 2008 at Reference Area
Careers in International Law: A Guide to Career Paths in International Law (American Society of International Law, 2005). K115.C47 2007 at Reference Area
See also the Gallagher guide on Careers in International Law.
Judicial Clerkships
Debra M. Strauss, Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships (BarBri, 2002). KF8771.S85 2002 at Reference Area
Federal Judicial Center website has descriptions of different court staff positions ("Who Does What" includes law clerks and other court legal staff).
See also the Gallagher guide on Researching Judicial Clerkship Opportunities.
Law Librarianship
American Association of Law Libraries, Education for a Career in Librarianship
University of Washington Law Librarianship Program
Mary Whisner, Update to Choosing Law Librarianship: Thoughts for People Contemplating a Career Move (2008)
Leslie A. Lee & Michelle M. Wu, Beyond the Books: People, Politics, and Librarianship (2007). Z682.35.V62 B49 2007 at Classified Stacks
Law Teaching
See Legal Scholarship Blog's Teaching page.
Personal Injury
K. William Gibson, How to Build and Manage a Personal Injury Practice (ABA 2d ed. 2006). KF8925.P3 G53 2006 at Classified Stacks
Real Estate Law
Sidney G. Saltz, Ed., From Handshake to Closing: The Role of the Commercial Real Estate Lawyer (ABA, 2008). KF665.F76 2008 at Classified Stacks
Solo & Small Firm Practice
Carolyn Elefant, Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be (2007). KF300.Z9 E44 2007 at Classified Stacks. Elefant also writes MyShingle, a blog with lots of great commentary and resources for solo practice.
Jay G. Foonberg, How to Start and Build a Law Practice (5th ed. ABA, 2004). KF300.Z9F66 2004 at Reference Area
Gerald M. Singer, How to Go Directly into Your Own Solo Law Practice and Succeed: Into the New Millennium and Beyond (2000, with 2004 supp.). KF300.S56 2000 at Reference Area
Starting a Law Practice, links to guides and resources, from the Oklahoma Bar Association.
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