Saying I study law sometimes feels just as ambiguous and broad as if I were to say, “I go to school for science.” Well what does that mean? As lawyers, we could find ourselves practicing as a sports agent or working for the IRS or serving immigrants or drafting legislation. How can a person who defends doctors in mal-practice cases have the same degree as someone who helps legally divide a Fortune 500 company into two separate companies? How are we supposed to choose?
Well, the first way we find out about potential careers is through our classes and finding bodies of law and cases that interest us. Our first year is very structured. Over the summer before 1L year starts, the school sends us an email: please sign up for these classes, at these times, with these professors. These classes teach us the core principals of law and really start to give us a framework. Then in the spring semester, we get to select an elective course to start exploring our interests. (Stay tuned for some blog posts about the 1L Spring electives).
Another way I like to learn about potential fields are through panels, which are talks given by alumni and professionals that share information about their work. These are particularly helpful because they show us what the actual job would be like in any given field and help us find a field of interest. Even if we have a field of interest, it can help us narrow our focus. For example, I know I want to work with children, but it is almost as broad as saying I want to do adult law. Children interact with the law in many of the same ways adults do: as immigrants, as victims, as perpetrators, as consumers, as patients, as people with disabilities or other marginalized identities. I love attending panels, because they give me a practical picture of what I would be doing on a daily basis in any of these fields. The Career Services Office (CSO) and many other student groups are hosting panels all the time. CSO makes a commitment every month to hold a panel in public interest and one in traditional fields of law.
The panels are also helpful because even when we find a type of law that’s interesting, it isn’t exactly what we thought it was until we get into it. For example, my Constitutional Law professor’s first job out of law school was to work for a firm whose two biggest clients were the Chicago Tribune and Catholic Church. He was excited because what better way to get into constitutional law than by working for the press and a religious organization to invoke freedom of speech and religion issues? However, he was slightly disappointed when most of his work was focused on property and estates, managing the Catholic Church’s cemeteries and buildings. Going to the panels and hearing from professionals (and obviously listening to our professors) help give us the insight to pick a direction.
The other way to try out different careers is through internships. They obviously give us a look into different fields of law, but it’s a great opportunity to explore what we want our professional life to be like. Do I like to work in a big office or a small office? Do I need to have a lot of client-contact or would I prefer to do research and writing all day? Do I love to suit up daily or do I feel like a sell out? Is going to court exciting or an inconvenience? Do I want to work 60 hours a week or have a more flexible schedule?
One of my favorite pieces of advice from a panelist about choosing a career was that we should decide what we want our day-to-day to be like, and find something to match it. Working internships is a helpful way to answer this question. As mentioned in a prior blog, I am spending my Fridays volunteering at DVLC and it has allowed me to explore some of these questions and I have often been surprised what my answers are. For example, I found out I really enjoy preparing affidavits, or statements that present our clients’ stories. It is a powerful form of advocacy and it is really gratifying. I found though that I don’t love being on a courthouse schedule with early morning to early afternoon. I would be happy getting into the office a little later and staying a little later.
Through the classes, panels, and work experience I am slowly starting to find my way into a career. Look out for a follow up blog that talks about what to do once we have found a direction!
Questions for Amie? Email law-admissions [at] luc [dot] edu with the subject “Ask Amie” and she will make sure to answer them.