|
So
it's the second semester of your last year of law school and
you've just realized that you're not sure if you want to
practice law. Or maybe you never intended to practice. Do
not fret. Chances are you are not the only Pace Law School student
with similar thoughts. And, based on the American Bar
Association study described below by Prof.
Gary Munneke, you will have much
company after graduation.
The skills and training you develop as a law
student and as a lawyer are invaluable.
While you can implement them at obvious “traditional”
legal employers, many of these skills are transferable to
non-traditional employment settings as well.
In fact, all four career counselors and the CCD Recruitment
Coordinator are attorneys! Increasingly,
for various reasons, including work-life balance goals, more and
more attorneys are choosing to pursue an alternative career path.
In saying this, however, we strongly encourage law
students to engage in the more traditional practice of law for at
least a few years prior to making a transition to a non-legal
career. It is not
impossible to reenter the legal profession after pursuing an
alternative legal path (we have created a new program at Pace
called New Directions
that assists attorneys with doing just that).
However, practically speaking, it is more challenging to
return to traditional legal practice if you have never practiced.
At the very least, if you choose an alternative path
initially, or even at a later point in your career, unless you are
absolutely certain that you never want to practice, we would
recommend that you sit for at least one bar exam following
graduation, and engage in some pro bono work and attend
continuing legal education (CLE) events in your field to keep your skills fresh.
We are very lucky to have Professor Gary Munneke, an expert in this area, on our faculty!
Included in this newsletter are links to an excerpt from the 5th
edition of his book, Non-Legal
Careers for Lawyers, and to an interview he conducted with the
Student Lawyer. Professor
Munneke will be moderating a panel, co-sponsored by the
Westchester Women’s Bar Association, "Alternative legal
Careers Using Your Law Degree," on
April 1, 2008, from
6-7:30 pm, in the Tudor Room—we encourage you to attend!
In addition, the NYC Bar Association is presenting a
program on this topic called "Non-traditional Careers for
Attorneys: A Program for Law Students and Recent Law School
Graduates" on
March 5, 2008
(see http://www.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event.php?eventid=821
for further details).
A career in legal academia is another
alternative legal career. Whether you are looking for a
fellowship, are interested in teaching a course or clinic as an
adjunct professor some day or if you want to be a full-time,
tenure-track law professor, we have guidance for you. Please
join us with Professors Leslie Garfield and Bridget Crawford
on Tuesday, March 4, at 12:45pm in the Center for Career
Development for an informal discussion or pursuing careers in
academia. We will also be handing out our Guide to Legal
Academic Careers, so please be sure to join us!
We have listed below several academic
fellowships as well as some resources
for alternative legal careers that you might find useful; we will continue to
update these materials as we learn of new resources. And again, if
you have not already done so, please come in and speak with one of
our counselors to discuss your career plans.
A Note About Nonlegal Careers
Return to top
Back in the late 70s and early ‘80s, I
sat on (and later chaired) the ABA Standing Committee on
Professional Utilization and Career Development. The Committee was
created amidst concerns that law schools were producing a
“glut” of lawyer, which the job market would not be able to
absorb. As the Committee conducted research on employment
patterns, we learned that a substantial number of law graduates
were going into positions outside the practice of law. In 1950,
over 80% of all lawyers were in private practice; by the mid-80s,
the percentage had dropped to just over 60%, where it has
remained. Furthermore, many of those not practicing law were
working outside the legal field. We found the same pattern among
experienced attorneys, and in fact a continuing exodus of older
lawyers from the practice of law over the years.
The realization that a significant segment of the population of
lawyers did not practice law prompted the Committee to create a
booklet on Nonlegal Careers
for Lawyers in the Business Sector, which was published in
1980. In 1984, Nonlegal Careers was expanded to cover the opportunities in other
fields as well. I was asked to become a co-author of the 1984
edition, and have co-authored three editions since (the 5th
edition was published in 2007). Over the years, Nonlegal
Careers has become one of the most successful books in the
history of ABA Publishing, and has given me the opportunity to
speak and write about this topic in places too numerous to recall.
Many lawyers choose to pursue a nonlegal
career, either upon graduation or at some point in their career.
The success of my book is in large part a product of the vitality
of this career option. On April 1, 2008, the Center for Career
Devlopment will sponsor a program on Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers, and
I have agreed to participate, not only to share my insights as the
author of the book, but also to talk about my life as a
non-practicing lawyer. I have made available to the Center for Career
Development two articles
on the subject. The first is an
excerpt from the book, which I have used as a handout in other
programs; the second is an interview with co-authors, Bill Henslee,
Ellen Wayne, and me, which appeared in Student
Lawyer magazine in 2007. I hope to see you on April 1, but
even if you cannot make it, take a look at these articles and feel
free to contact me at gmunneke@law.pace.edu
if you have any questions.
--- Professor Gary Munneke
Upcoming
Deadlines for Academic
Career-Related Fellowships
Return
to top
3/1/08
Georgetown
Law School
Harrison
Institute for Public Law Teaching Fellowships.
Harrison
fellows supervise JD students enrolled in the housing and community
development clinic and the policy clinic, help teach clinical
seminars, directly serve Institute clients and conduct policy
research. Fellows are in residence year-round for a two-year
appointment, after which they receive an LL.M. degree. The Institute
seeks applicants who have several years of relevant post-JD experience
and who are eligible to become a member of the D.C. Bar within their
first six months by waiver application or passing the D.C. exam.
(http://www.law.georgetown.edu/clinics/hi/fellowship.html)
3/1/08
National Endowment for Democracy Reagan-Fascell Democracy
Fellows Program. Five
month fellowship program that enables democracy activists,
practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world to
deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to
promote democratic change. Fellows
maintain full-time residence at the International Forum for Democratic
Studies (the Forum), the research arm of the Endowment, located in
Washington
,
D.C.
The Forum hosts 12 to 15 Reagan-Fascell fellows per year.
The program offers two tracks, a practitioner track
and a scholarly track. (http://www.ned.org/forum/reagan-fascell.html)
3/4/08
Lewis & Clark Distinguished Environmental Law Scholar.
The Natural Resources Law Institute at
Lewis & Clark
Law
School
is accepting applications from law school faculty, graduating law
students and practitioners for this one-year position beginning in
late August. This position
provides the opportunity to research and write an article or other
scholarly piece on a topic in environmental or natural resources
fields to be published in Lewis & Clarks’ law review.
For further information or application details see law.lclark.edu.
3/15/08
Seton Hall Law School Urban Revitalization
Practitioner-in-Residence (PiR).
This is a one year position from July 2008-July 2009 with
expectation of renewal for one additional year.
The PiR will work with faculty in two sections of the Civil
Litigation Clinic within the Center for Social Justice; one section
focuses on improving urban education through empowering parents and
the other emphasized improving the availability and quality of urban
housing. The position
provides the opportunity for public interest attorneys with
significant experience working in these subject areas to gain clinical
teaching experience. Applicants
must be members of a state bar;
New Jersey
preferred. Annual salary
is $75,000 plus benefits. For
detailed application information see the posting on Symplicity or
visit the
Center for Career Development
.
3/24/08
The Center for Reproductive Rights –
Columbia
Fellowship. A two-year
fellowship, starting in July 2008, offered by the Center for
Reproductive Rights (“the Center”) and
Columbia
Law
School
(“the
Law
School
”) designed to prepare recent law school graduates for legal academic
careers in reproductive health and human rights. Fellows will be
affiliated with the Center and the
Law
School
and will participate in the intellectual life of both programs.
Fellows will pursue independent research and scholarship in
preparation for entering the legal academic job market at the
conclusion of their first Fellowship year.
Fellows are expected to produce a work of serious scholarship
during their Fellowship tenure. Fellows will also have responsibility
for the planning and hosting of academic conferences and/or roundtable
discussions. The Fellow will receive a stipend of $ 55,000 per
year for each full year in residence.
Applicants must show a strong interest in developing a research
agenda related to reproductive health and human rights and show
exceptional promise as a legal scholar.
For application form and information, see the posting on
Symplicity or visit the
Center for Career Development
.
6/30/08
Cousins Public Interest Fellowship.
Two-year fellowship with teaching and research phase and a
service phase. The Fellow will spend between one semester and one year
at the University of Georgia School of Law teaching and doing
research. The balance of
the two years the Fellow will work directly out of the host
organization providing civil legal services to indigent Georgians.
(http://www.law.uga.edu/academics/clinics/cousins.html)
Rolling
University of
Denver
Sturm
College
of Law Environmental Law Clinic Teaching Fellowship.
This is a three-year teaching fellowship designed for
experienced lawyers interested in exploring the possibility of a
career in law school clinical teaching.
The Fellow will supervise and train law students, teach
classes, attend workshops, and pursue scholarship.
Applicants must have at least five years of legal experience
(preferably litigation), demonstrated commitment to environmental
public interest law, strong academic credentials and must be admitted
to Colorado Bar or be willing to seek admission.
For detailed application information see the posting on
Symplicity or visit the
Center for Career Development
.
Rolling
Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program.
Two-year fellowship beginning July 1, 2008 to supervise
students in the Negotiation and Mediation Clinic and serve as a
Lecturer in Law. Ideal
for JD with one or more years of business or legal experience with a
focus on negotiation and dispute resolution and some experience in a
clinical legal setting or direct supervision and mentoring of young
attorneys or professionals. (http://jobs.harvard.edu/jobs/summ_req?in_post_id=35721)
TBA
National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS)
Fellowship Program. Sponsored
by the EPA for current undergraduate and graduate students to take
conduct research projects at EPA Headquarters or 10 branch offices and
laboratories. The 2007
deadline was January 30. (http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/NNEMS)
TBA
Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation
(CISAC) Pre- and Post-Doctoral Fellowships (http://cisac.stanford.edu/fellowships/
predoctoral_and_postdoctoral_fellowships_in_international_security/)
Various
American Association of University Women Fellowships.
Several domestic and international research and project
fellowships and awards are available from this organization generally
for work promoting education and equity for women/girls.
See the website for details of these fellowships and the
application deadlines. (www.aauw.org)
RESOURCES
ON ALTERNATIVE CAREER OPTIONS
Return
to top
FBI
Careers: The Ultimate Guide To Landing A Job As One Of America’s
Finest, 2002, Thomas Ackerman
This book contains: “specific guidance through the rigorous
selection process including tips on standing out from other
applicants; details on positions as special agents, computer
specialists, police officers, scientist, intelligence specialists,
financial analysts, electronic technicians, language specialists,
office and support positions; and overview of the FBI Academy and
training programs; tips on getting internships—an excellent way to
‘get a foot in the door;’ sample application forms-and tips for
completing them.”
JD
Preferred, 400+ Things You Can Do With A Law Degree,
1994, Federal Reports Inc.
A guide describing more than 400 currently active legal employment
opportunities
(other than practicing law) across all employment sectors--private,
public, and
nonprofit. There is now a JD
Preferred, 600+ Things You Can Do with a Law Degree that can be
found at www.attorneyjobs.com,
but it is not published in hard
copy.
The
Lawyer’s Career Change Handbook: More than 300 Things You Can Do
With a Law Degree, 1998,
Hindi Greenberg,
Avon
This book provides an excellent resource for those considering a
change within or outside of the legal profession.
It includes examples of lawyers who have made
effective job and career changes.
Non-Legal
Careers For Lawyers, 2006,
Gary A. Munneke, William D. Henslee
and Ellen Wayne, American Bar Association
This book will help you explore career alternatives to the traditional
practice of law
that will utilize your legal education.
The book demonstrates how your legal education can be a
tremendous asset in many other careers.
The
Non-Traditional Legal Careers Report
This report is now available
online at www.nontradlegal.com; (it was formerly
issued
in hard copy form approximately every two weeks).
The report contains job postings for a variety of
nontraditional legal positions such as: bar association positions,
business positions, positions with the judiciary, education positions,
government positions, law library positions, legal publishing
positions, policy/legislative positions, public interest positions and
international positions.
A user id and password are required to access the report.
You may obtain this information by emailing ethomas@law.pace.edu
to request the information. Please
provide Ellen with your full name and your date of graduation.
Running
From the Law, 1991, Deborah
L. Arron
After ten years of successfully practicing law, the author chose to
give it all up. Based on
her own dissatisfaction with the profession, she began to research and
explore why an increased amount of attorneys seem to be getting out of
the legal system.
"Running from the Law is primarily an anthology of
the insights and histories of courageous professionals whose choices
make a powerful statement about their
values.”
What
Can You Do With A Law Degree? A Lawyers Guide to Career Alternatives
Inside, Outside & Around the Law,
1999, Deborah Arron
This book contains a "compilation of career evaluation, planning,
and job-finding exercises and information for lawyers and law
students." There are
more than 500
job titles and many additional resources to explore openings in many
other areas of employment. The
chapters include, "Self- Assessment Tools and Resources",
"Job Option For lawyers", and " Job Search Strategies
and Tools."
A series of alternative career brochures are also available in the
Center for Career Development. These
include: Careers in Legal Publishing;
Careers in Financial
Services; Searching for an Alternative;
and Careers in Human Resources.
Additional
articles: http://www.law.pace.edu/files/careerdev/3.pdf.
INTERNET
RESOURCES
Nonprofit
management & development
www.idealist.org
www.philanthropy.com
www.chn.org/jobs/index.html
(Coalition for Human Needs)
http://us.oneworld.net/section/us/jobs
www.citylimits.org (See
“Jobs + Classifieds”)
Academic
institutions
http://www.chronicle.com
(Academic positions)
http://law.academickeys.com
(Academic positions)
www.nacua.org (National Association
of College & University Attorneys)
www.aals.org (Association of
American Law School)
www.nalp.org (Go to “Career
Paths” then “Job Listings)
www.saltlaw.org/jobs.htm
(Academic institutions)
Law
Firm
Administration
www.nalp.org (Go to
“Career Paths” them “Job Listings)
www.nycra.com (New York City
Recruitment Association)
www.pdclegal.org (Professional
Development Consortium)
www.wisnik.com (Wisnik
Career Enterprises)
Business
development/Marketing
www.lawmarketing.com
www.legalmarketing.org
www.nylma.org
GENERAL
www.abanet.org/careercounsel/students.html
www.michbar.org/journal/article.cfm?articleID=684&volumeID=53
www.vault.com/nr/hottopiclist.jsp?ch_id=242&cat_id=1184
http://www.law.arizona.edu/Career/Handbooks/alternativehb.pdf
Return
to top
|
Upcoming
Events and Programs
Tuesday,
March 4, 12:45-1:45pm, CCD (A-207)
Pizza Roundtable Lunch on Pursuing Careers in Academia
Join Prof. Leslie Garfield and Prof. Bridget Crawford in an informal
discussion on how one can break into the field of academia. Pizza
and salad will be provided, or feel free to bring you own lunch.
Thursday,
March 6, 5-8pm, Outside the Cafeteria
Evening Counseling Table
Tuesday,
March 11, 1-2pm, C-101
9th
Judicial District,
Unified Court Program Information
Session
Wednesday, March 26, 5:30-8:30pm, Tudor Room
Career Roundtable Pizza Party
Come meet practitioners in various fields of practice in an informal
"speed dating" format. This event is tons of fun and
very informative!
Monday,
March 31, 6-8pm, Tudor Room
IPSO Program on Careers in IP Law
Upcoming
Summer
Fellowship
& Internship
Deadlines
(See CCD Weekly email for complete list of Summer and
Post-Graduate Fellowships)
SUMMER
Friday, March 7, Resources
for the Future (RFF) Summer Internship Program.
RFF, an independent nonprofit organization specializing in
research, policy analysis, and public education on environmental,
energy, and natural resource issues, has established this summer
internship for graduate students to work with RFF researchers on a
variety of ongoing projects or assist in the development of new
areas of research and policy analysis. RFF will post a list of
anticipated research projects in January. Students work in
RFF’s
Washington
,
DC
office and receive a $375/week stipend. (www.rff.org)
Friday,
March 7,
Federal
Communications Bar Association Robert E. Lee Memorial Scholarship
and Internship Fund. Awards $4,000 stipends
to law students employed as unpaid summer interns in positions with
the FCC and other government agencies or entities with jurisdiction
over the communications industry (i.e., broadcasting, cable
television, telephony, satellite, wireless, and information
technology). (http://www.fcba.org/foundation/internship_stipends.shtml)
Friday, March 14,
Massachusetts
Bar Foundation Legal Intern Fellowship Program.
Open to all current law students. Awards
stipend of $6,000 to selected students who volunteer for ten weeks
during the summer at a nonprofit organization that provides civil
legal services to low-income clients in
Massachusetts
. (www.MassBarFoundation.org)
Saturday, March 15, J.W.
Saxe Memorial Prize for Public Service. A
prize of two thousand dollars awarded to one or more students
involved in public service. The award is meant to enable the student
to gain practical experience in public service by taking a no-pay or
low-pay job or internship during a summer or other term. Preference
will be given applicants who have already found such a position, but
who require additional funds. (http://www.jwsaxefund.org/index.php)
Monday, March 24,
ABA
John J. Curtin, Jr. Justice Fund Summer Legal Internship Program.
Managed jointly by the ABA Commission on Homelessness
and Poverty and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent
Defendants. Open to first and second-year law students.
Students must commit to no less than eight continuous weeks and will
work for a bar association or legal services program designed to
prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their
advocates. Early submissions welcomed. (www.abanet.org/homeless/curtin.html)
Monday, March 24, Equal
Justice
America
Legal Services Fellowships. A $4000 stipend
available for students who secure a full-time placement working at
least ten weeks for a legal services organization. Students
may work anywhere in the
United States
, provided that the hiring organization is a non-profit organization
providing direct civil legal services to the poor. Equal Justice
America
generally funds over 100 students per summer. Students
must work full-time (35-40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks.
To apply, applicants must send a cover letter describing their
commitment and interest in providing legal services to the poor, a
resume, two letters of recommendation, and an employment
confirmation letter from the hiring organization to Equal Justice
America
at the above address. All application materials must be sent
together. *You should already have your placement when
you apply and application deadlines for a sponsoring placement may
be earlier. (www.equaljusticeamerica.org)
(http://www.equaljusticeamerica.org/prev_applications
/ApplicationSummer2006.htm)
Rolling, Pennsylvania Legal Services Martin
Luther King Jr. Summer Internship Program. Each summer, the
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network awards 10 paid internships to current
first and second-year law students to participate in legal services
work over the traditional 10-week summer internship period. (http://www.palegalservices.org/mlk_about.htm)
Rolling, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
Summer Internships. CSPI is a national consumer organization
that focuses on health and nutrition issues. CSPI offers internships
for a small number of qualified students in undergraduate, graduate,
law, and medical schools each summer and during the school year.
Generally, an internship is for ten weeks. Graduate interns are paid
an hourly wage of $8.00/hour. The specific dates of an internship
are flexible and depend on our needs and the applicant's schedule.
If you are interested in obtaining a summer internship at CSPI
through the Everett Public Interest Internship Program, please
indicate this on your cover letter. (See entry for Everett Program
below.) (http://www.cspinet.org)
Rolling, Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship for
African-American LGBT Civil Rights. This fellowship will be
awarded to a law student or recent law school graduate to work in
any of Lambda Legal’s five offices during the summer of 2008. (www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=55
or visit the NALP website www.nalp.org
and see Resource Center – Diversity - Diversity Initiatives)
Various, Everett Public Service Internship Program.
The Everett Program funds summer internships at the Washington, D.C.
and New York City offices of the public service organizations listed
on their website. Applicants must be current undergraduate or
graduate students attending a United States university. Internships
are for ten weeks. Applicants apply directly to each organization;
there is no general application for the Everett Program. (www.everttinternships.org)
Various, Appleseed Fellowship Program. Appleseed, a
non-profit network of 16 public interest justice centers, is seeking
first and second year law student fellows for its national office in
Washington, D.C. as well as for its Centers for Law and Justice
located throughout the country. Summer fellows work full-time for
ten weeks. (www.appleseeds.net)
Various, Environmental Careers Organization. Visit
website to search for short- term internships at various
environmental organizations and government agencies. (www.eco.org)
POST-GRADUATE
March 2008, South
Asian Bar Association (SABANY) Public Interest Fellowship.
SABANY annually awards two to three fellowships to
outstanding law students who have demonstrated a commitment to
public service so that they may spend their summer working unpaid in
the
New York
area public interest sector. Fellowships are awarded to either
law students of South Asian descent working in an unpaid legal
internship or those spending at least six weeks of the summer in an
unpaid legal internship focusing on the needs of the South Asian
community. Was awarded in April last year. (http://www.sabany.org/)
Sunday, March 30, John
Heinz Senate Fellowship Program in Aging.
The John Heinz Senate Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for
mid-career professionals in aging to learn public policy as a member
of the U.S. Senate staff. Intended as a career development
opportunity for professionals in the field of aging, the program
will provide first-hand knowledge in the development and advancement
of public policy and legislation that will improve the quality of
life for older Americans. (http://www.heinzfamily.org/programs/senatefellowship.html#)
Rolling, National
Women’s
Law
Center
Health Law Fellow 2008-1010.
This Center, in
Washington
,
D.C.
, seeks a rising third-year law student, judicial clerk, or other
recent law school graduate to work on major health and reproductive
rights policy initiatives affecting women. This is a two-year
fellowship funded by the Center, available September 2008 and
lasting until August 2010. (http://www.nwlc.org)
Rolling, Draper
Richard Foundation Fellowships.
Funds six experienced, dedicated social
entrepreneurs with a developed idea for a non-profit organization
based in the
United States
each year. The organization is funded $100,000 for three
years. (www.draperrichards.org)
Rolling, State
PIRG Fellowships. PIRG is the federation of
state public interest research groups, a national network of
nonprofit organizations that advocate on behalf of the public
interest. As a PIRG Fellow, you'll build expertise on global
warming, campaign reform or another social problem. You conduct
research, make the case for solutions, act as a spokesperson to the
media, build diverse coalitions, write grants, and develop the kind
of politically powerful support you need to win. Fellowships
are generally for one year. (http://www.pirg.org/jobs/)
Rolling, Taxpayers
for Common Sense (TCS) Fellowships.
Politically independent, TCS, located in
Washington
,
D.C.
, works with members of Congress and the Executive Branch, along
with activists of all political philosophies, to cut wasteful
government spending and reduce federal subsidies. Fellowships
are open to recent college graduates. Fellows receive a stipend of
$1,250 per month and are usually assigned to work independently on a
short-term project. (http://www.taxpayer.net)
Various,
Media
Law
Resource
Center
(MLRC) Fellowship. MLRC is a nonprofit,
membership organization located in
New York City
, specializing in media and First Amendment law. MLRC does not
itself engage in litigation, but serves as a resource center for its
members, who include most major publishers, newspapers and
television networks, as well as the law firms that defend the media.
The MLRC Fellowship Program offers a recent law school graduate the
unique opportunity to join in all MLRC projects and to contribute to
and develop specific First Amendment research and/or writing
projects. (http://www.medialaw.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_MLRC/
Employment_Opportunities/Employment_Opportunities.htm)
Return
to top
|
