Law

 Get Started

Whether you are just starting to explore or have committed to a career in law, this track offers resources, tips, and action steps to move your career search and preparation forward. See instructions on how to join the Law Track from your Handshake account to receive periodic newsletters and notifications of relevant events and opportunities.​

The first step in beginning your career journey is to assess your interests, skills, strengths, goals, values and self to better understand you and your "story" thus far. Then, we can help you make sense of these reflections and create career exploration goals.

Interests:  Use the tools below to clarify your interests as they may help to align you with careers and possible job titles based on your likes/dislikes:

  • MyNextMove - Explore career options and interests by keyword or industry, or take the short assessment to find potential career matches based on your interests.
  • Strong Interest Inventory (SII) - Take this widely respected career interest inventory to find a fit between your personality and work. The SII compares your interests and preferences to people in general and to people who have been happy and satisfied in their chosen careers.

Values:  Have fun with taking some of these personality tests and work with a UCC Career Coach to reflect on the results and generate ideas to help you explore potential work environments and organizations that match your passion(s) and core belief(s).

Skills/Strengths:  Use the tools below to clarify your skills and strengths as they may help to align you with well suited job titles, work tasks and work environments.

  • Career Onestop - Take this short skills assessment to learn more about your skills and how they match up to potential career ideas.
  • Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - Take this self-report questionnaire designed to make Jung’s theory of psychological types understandable and useful in everyday life. The MBTI is one of the most widely used instruments for understanding personality differences and how they impact decision-making styles, preferences for communication, work environments and for career development/exploration.
  • CliftonStrengths - The CS helps you to discover your top talent themes. By becoming aware of these talents, you can grow them into strengths. Strengths can be utilized in all aspects of your life, including career planning and during the career search process. The assessment is all about focusing on your natural talents to maximize your potential.

Want some coaching on where to begin?  Not sure which Career Track is right for you?  Make an appointment on Handshake for “Exploring Career Options”. We will be happy to discuss your interests and skills in a coaching relationship.

Before Your Appointment:

  1. Explore the tools on the Assess You Interests/Values/Skills section above
  2. Create a LinkedIn account
  3. Create a profile on Handshake (to see what jobs and internships are available to you as a UM student and to find out when events and fairs are coming up).

 Explore Your Track

Law-related careers span a wide range of positions, requiring different combinations of education, training and work experience. Below is some information to get you started in your exploration.

There are three different types of law degrees a person can earn in the U.S.:

  1. A Juris Doctor (JD), which allows an individual to practice law within the U.S. and, with successful passing of the state bar, become an attorney;
  2. The Master of Laws (LLM), which is an advanced law certification particularly desirable for international students wishing to gain global credentials and for JD graduates interested in advanced legal study and specialization; and
  3. The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD), which is  particularly helpful to those wanting to work as law professors in academic settings.

Different from the Master of Laws (LLM) are Master of Studies in Law (MSL), Master of Science of Law or Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Juris Master (JM), which are master's degrees offered by some law schools to students who wish to study the law but do not want to become attorneys. See, for example, the MSL at Northwestern, Yale and Northeastern. MLS programs may focus on regulatory compliance, intellectual property, negotiation and advocacy, etc.

Keep also in mind that depending on your interests and focus, you may not need to obtain a JD to work in a law-related career. For example, a Master in Public Policy or Administration (MPP/MPA) or even a Master in Business Administration (MBA) may offer a more direct path for your specific goals. See, for example, questions to ask yourself when considering getting a Master's in Public Policy. Either degree (MPA and MPP) can prepare you for careers in government, associations and advocacy groups, the nonprofit sector, and the private sector. An MPP course of study will typically include more classes in economics and statistics and delve deeper into policy research and analysis whereas an MPA will include more classes in administration and leadership and focus more on management.

If an advanced degree is not in your (immediate) plans, positions as a paralegal or legal assistant may be an option. Paralegals provide support to attorneys in every area of the law in law offices, government agencies and corporations by researching legal precedent, performing investigative work on cases and preparing legal documents. Many UM graduates obtain this type of position without pursuing additional paralegal certification or paralegal studies.

As you consider the possibility of pursuing a legal career, reflect on how the following skills, values and experiences (as identified by the American Bar Association) match your profile and/or sound enticing to develop:

  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Reading
  • Writing and Editing
  • Oral Communication and Listening
  • Research
  • Organization and Management
  • Public Service and Promotion of Justice
  • Relationship-building and Collaboration
  • Background Knowledge
  • Exposure to the Law

How can you develop these skills and experiences?  Below are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Consult with your pre-law academic advisor to devise a relevant course of study, although no specific major nor classes will be required
  • Meet with a career coach in the UM University Career Center to discuss your preparation beyond the classroom
  • Join a pre-law or law-related student organization on campus or a service organization with a focus or cause you're passionate about
  • Reach out to UM departments in your major and beyond to engage in science or social science research opportunities, consider writing an honor thesis, or pursue other intellectually stimulating activities
  • Check with local organizations for volunteer or paid opportunities in a variety of settings during the academic year and, especially, during the summer. See these sites for possible local volunteer pre-law opportunities and paid UM Student Employment, and check Handshakes for internships and job postings nationwide.

The nature and titles of entry-level jobs vary greatly depending on whether you will be starting your career in a law firm, government organization, business, industry, education, etc. Historically, jobs for which bar passage is required make up the largest group of jobs for recent law graduates, followed by law-related jobs (these are commonly referred to as "JD Advantage" or "JD Preferred" jobs) that do not require bar passage.

At least within a Big Law firm:

  • Summer associates are current law students who have usually completed their second year of school and intern at a firm for the summer. They have not passed the bar exam and are not lawyers yet but, depending on their performance and the firm's needs, they may be recruited for full-time associate positions at the end of their term.
  • Associates may be junior or senior attorneys who do not hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been employed by the firm for a number of years. First-year associates are entry-level junior attorneys and are usually recent law school graduates in their first year of law practice. Generally, they aim to be made a partner in the firm within several years and, when it does not happen, they are likely to move onto other career opportunities.
  • Some firms will also have "non-partner-track" associates who, although performing satisfactorily as employees, will not be promoted to partner.
  • See What Law Firm Titles Mean: Of Counsel, Non-Equity Partner, Equity Partner Explained

According to the National Association for Law Placement, jobs in the JD Preferred/JD Advantage category may include, "a job as an alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI agent, and accountant. Also included might be jobs in personnel or human resources, jobs with investment banks, jobs with consulting firms, jobs doing compliance work for business and industry, jobs in law firm professional development, and jobs in law school career services offices, admissions offices, or other law school administrative offices. Doctors or nurses who plan to work in a litigation, insurance, or risk management setting or as expert witnesses could fall into this category, as could journalists and teachers (in a higher education setting) of law and law-related topics."  See, for illustrative purposes, current openings for JD Required Entry Level Jobs and  JD Preferred Entry Level Jobs on indeed.com.

Also, if you ever wondered  What It’s Actually Like Working at a Law Firm, you may enjoy this read. 

Trends in legal education: 

The class of 2024 is the most diverse in history, a trend that started a few years ago and has continued each year since. Applicant volume remains high, with 2024 currently being 5.3% above 2023. For the graduating class of 2022, employment rates are the highest they've been since 1987, with 2023 anticipated to be higher. 

In recent years, law schools have reduced their class size and tweaked their application processes. They adjusted their admissions standards and augmented their curriculum to better prepare their students. They beefed up their career services, creating more clinics, externships, and professional opportunities to produce practice ready graduates, and stabilized their tuition fees. As of August 2024, the Law School Admission Council made changes to the structure of the LSAT, and have moved their LSAT preparation materials to their LawHub resource hub. More law schools have started accepting the GRE--along with the LSAT--for admission purposes.

As you explore if a law degree is for you, it is of vital importance that you will eventually learn to:

  • clearly and convincingly articulate why you want to pursue a legal education;
  • spend time talking to professionals to educate yourself about the realities of law school and law practice;
  • research both legal and non-legal potential applications of the JD degree;
  • set specific criteria for targeting certain law schools; and
  • know how much the degree is going to cost you and what your financial options are.

Trends in legal practice:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of legal occupations is projected to grow through 2029, but the legal profession is experiencing great change. The emergence of global competition from legal service outsourcers, increasing domestic competition from non-lawyer professionals and corporations such as LegalZoom, and advances in information technology are impacting law schools and transforming the delivery of legal services.

Furthermore, Big Law in particular has continued to experience great changes, as Big Law Continues to Favor Transfers Over Entry-Level Associates and firms such as Cadwalader have laid off associate and staff jobs. If Big Law is ultimately your goal, you would be wise to research and track these trends moving forward as they may impact your current career decisions and preparation. If you wish to learn more about and better understand Big Law, please review this guide to get you started. 

For more information on the broader legal job market, please review this National Association for Law Placement (NALP) report on the class of 2022. 

Below are lots of ideas to tackle your exploration of legal education and practice, and prepare accordingly:

Get Help

Want some coaching around navigating your Career Track?  Interested in talking with a Career Coach about your goals and plans?

3,2,1 

You have been exploring your Career Track, and may be wondering “What Next?”  This short exercise will help you clarify your thinking and identify strategies to answer your career exploration questions:

  1. What are 3 take-aways from your exploration of this Career Track?
  2. What are 3 questions that you have?
  3. What is 1 specific action step you plan to take, to answer your 3 questions?

 Launch Your Preparation for Law School

TIP:  Maintain a spreadsheet of all your co-curricular involvements (not just those law related), keeping track of dates, number of hours, type of experience, the responsibilities you had, supervisor’s name and contact information, and especially your reflections on what you learned, how this experience may have affected your worldview, reinforced your interest in pursuing a legal career, etc. These records will be particularly handy in the short term to monitor your progress and identify areas for additional involvements. Later, they will be equally helpful for crafting your personal statement, completing your applications, and identifying possible sources for your reference letters.

Although academic prowess and performance on the LSAT continue to be the primary factors in law school admission, law schools are increasingly paying attention that admitted students possess and can demonstrate competencies and attributes that support their employability upon graduation from law school, such as:

  • Integrity
  • Trustworthiness
  • Diligence
  • Hard Work
  • Attention to Detail
  • Responsibility
  • Accountability
  • Courtesy and Respect
  • Teamwork

It will be important for you, as a prospective law school applicant, to demonstrate that you have had experiences that have allowed you to develop or enhance these abilities. The personal statement will be an excellent vehicle to discuss such experiences, ideally supported by the endorsement of a recommender in their letter of reference.

Whether you are looking for a local opportunity during the academic year, or a summer job to get some exposure to the legal profession, or a full time job during your gap year(s) prior to going to law school, you will probably have to take a multi-pronged approach of reaching out to people and organizations, responding to postings, submitting applications, and connecting with professional in the field to uncover leads to reach your goal. Remember that true "legal internships" are typically reserved for law students, but many opportunities exist for undergraduates as well. Start researching application timelines for organizations of interest to you in early fall, keeping in mind that, depending on the employing organization, hiring will be fluid and could very well extend through Winter and Spring. Check the law-related career guides in this collection.

Depending on your interests, goals and location preference, you may wish to explore opportunities in:

  • Government related settings such as congressional and state legislative offices; city, county, and state government offices; Public Defender's Office; State's Attorney Office; agencies such as the EPA, FBI, etc.
  • Political campaigns for national, state and local offices
  • Nonprofit organizations and agencies supporting causes close to your heart, whether it's children's rights, religious freedom, etc.
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGO) active at the local, national or international level around issues concerning human rights, environment, health, etc.
  • Private practice, in law firms big and small
  • Legal Departments of larger corporations/organizations (working with in-house attorneys)
  • Private sector/for-profit such as compliance work, risk management, cybersecurity, project management for insurance or health-care companies, lobbying groups, etc. 

Below are some helpful sites and resources for you:

Whether you are looking for an internship or gap year job prior to law school, a referral or insights from a personal contact will go a long way. Only a small portion of all available opportunities are advertised on job boards or filled through on campus interviewing, so checking job posting sites should only be a small component of your total job search, along with more proactive efforts to connect with people and organizations that may have the opportunities you are seeking:

  • Tap UCAN, the University Career Alumni Network to connect with Wolverines currently in law school or already in legal practice
  • Leverage your Handshake account for contacts in law related postings, fairs and events
  • Use LinkedIn to Find a Job and LinkedIn groups to expand your network
  • Find out about the next Legal Meet Up in your area.

For internship and job search:
A well-written resume connects your skills and experiences to the needs of an organization. The University Career Center’s Resume Resources will help you develop a strong resume. Check also these resources to help you craft targeted cover letters. Attend a UCC Lab to get a jump start on your resume and internship/job search with real-time, personalized help in a small group setting.

For law school application:
A resume written in support of your law school application needs to be academically focused since your audience will be admissions committees rather than a prospective employer. Thus, skip sections like  “Objective” and even  “Summary of Qualifications” since your audience clearly knows why you are applying. Law school resumes may be a little longer than traditional resumes and include more hobbies, activities, and experiences beyond the professional realm since, in the absence of an interview, they can help paint a picture of who you are as a whole person. Yet, you should always follow individual school's directions and focus mainly on education and academic performance, work experience, and community or campus involvement that can help you highlight relevant skills and personal traits. In particular, include and explain college honors if not intuitive; senior or honors thesis, research and other similar intellectual pursuits; study abroad; and language/s spoken with proficiency. When detailing co-curriculars and employments, highlight accomplishments vs. sheer "duties."  If you worked significant hours while pursuing your undergraduate education or were heavily involved in a group or sport that required a significant amount of time, it may be advisable to include the hours devoted each week or month, as this level of detail will provide helpful contextual information to the reviewers of your application when assessing your academic transcript. A few years ago, Harvard Law made available these examples:

Sample 1; Sample 2; and Sample 3.

See more Tips for Writing a Resume for Law School

Depending on whether you are applying for a summer job, a gap year position or a seat in an entering law school class, you will be exposed to various interviewing formats. A prepared interviewee knows the similarities and differences between the formats and has practiced appropriately.

Only a relatively small  number of law schools conduct interviews as part of their admission process. Of the schools that interview candidates, some do so in one-on-one interactions while others in a group format. Some schools allow applicants to request an interview while others conduct them on an invitation-only basis. Some schools will give you the option to conduct the interview in person vs. remotely, via phone or Skype/Zoom for example. Whenever feasible, always opt for visiting the school in person to better evaluate your fit with that program and community. Clarifying your interview format, duration, medium, etc. and thoroughly researching the school(s) and reflecting upon how to best discuss your qualifications will be great steps toward your successful preparation.

There is no "best" time to apply to law school. You have to look at your specific circumstances to determine what makes the most sense for you. There will be both academic and non-academic factors to consider:

  1. Your metrics (numerical academic performance in previous classes and your ability to pass standardized tests) will help admissions representatives determine if you can handle the rigors of the law school curriculum and pass the bar exam.
  2. Your experiences and attributes will help schools determine if you have invested time in researching and preparing for the field and whether your skills set and personality traits are a good fit with the legal profession.

In order to assess your application readiness, you may wish to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is my GPA competitive for the schools I want to target?
  • What about my LSAT (GRE) scores?
  • Have I engaged in substantive community and volunteer service and am I capable of reflecting on and discussing these experiences?
  • Did I take the time to understand the basics of how legal education and practice, opportunities in law related fields, the cost of going to law school etc. enough to make an informed choice?
  • Have I talked with lawyers and spent time in settings that helped me form a realistic view of the profession and current issues and trends in the field?
  • Do I have people in my corner that can vouch for me and address the strength of my candidacy for law school through their letters of evaluation/recommendation?  Do they know me well enough to address my intellectual ability, communication skills, time and project management, reliability and dependability, qualitative reasoning, etc.?
  • How have I demonstrated integrity and ethical responsibility to myself and others?  If there are any irregularities or misconduct issues in my profile, what have I done to address them/put time and distance from them to "redeem" myself?
  • Can I clearly articulate why I want to go to law school and what life experiences have led me to that decision?
  • Do I have time to prepare for the LSAT (GRE), put together a strong application, with thoughtful application essays, well researched schools, solid letters of recommendation, etc.?

It is important that you are able to step back and assess your profile prior to applying so that you can determine both your strengths and areas that need attention. If you find yourself falling short on several categories, consider taking a year or two off to bridge those gaps. Remember: a dream delayed is better than a dream denied. While the list below is not 100% inclusive, these could be sound reasons to delay application. Give yourself permission to wait to apply if you need or want to. After all, on any given year, applicants that took one or more years before attending law school greatly outnumber those who went straight through:

  • Travel/study/work abroad for a while
  • Take a reflective pause to ensure this is still the career you want
  • Show your senior year grades to demonstrate grade improvement
  • Make time to adequately prepare for the LSAT/GRE
  • Gain more exposure to the field to solidify your career choice
  • Repair your credit score by working and saving for a while so you can be eligible to borrow money to pay for your legal education
  • Take a rejuvenating break prior to diving in the books again
  • Tend to some health or other personal issue before embarking in law school as needed.

After realistically assessing your credentials you will be better positioned to decide whether you are truly ready to apply.

Ready to Apply?

Although the University Career Center staff is available to guide you through the exploration and preparation stages (beyond the classroom) of your Law Track, individualized assistance with your law school application is available through the Newnan Advising Center (call 734-764-0332 or go online to schedule an appointment) and possibly also through the advisors within your own School, College, Department or Program.

As you get involved in your classes and co-curricular engagements, start thinking about potential sources for reference letters. Keep these tips in mind when arranging for your letters:

  • Consider the range of possible writers, and which writers might best serve your purposes. Writers could include faculty, teaching assistants, past employers, or supervisors from volunteer and leadership experiences.
  • Request evaluations only from people who know you well enough to write strong letters of support; you may wish to arrange a meeting with the writers to discuss your future plans for an advanced degree.
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of requesting a confidential vs. a non-confidential evaluation, keeping in mind that most law school have a strong preference for confidential letters since they tend to be more candid.
  • Provide your writers with supporting materials (copy of your resume, transcript, personal statement draft, etc.) to help them compose a more informed narrative.
  • Ask for the letter shortly after the completion of your interaction with the author, when your work habits, skills and interests are fresh in their mind.
  • Allow enough time for the letter to be written, keeping in mind that you may be one of several applicants requesting a letter from a particular individual.
  • Utilize the LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation (LOR) service to manage your letters, which is included in your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration. This service allows you to manage your letters of recommendation through your LSAC.org account.

As part of your application process you will be asked to write various essays. Collectively, these reflections should capture why you are interested in law, what type of experiences led you to such a choice, why this field is a good match for your skills and talents, and any other information about you that an admission committee should be aware of to form an informed and accurate opinion about who you are. See these resources for writing your law school personal statement and to view a couple of essays from admitted applicants.

Register and thoroughly familiarize yourself with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service, its workings and timeline. Take advantage of individual schools’ information sessions and tours, open houses, law school forums like the UM Law Day, admissions webinars, and any opportunity you can get to understand their offerings, garner preparation and admissions tips, get a feel for their distinct  culture, speak with current students and faculty, and—when possible—experience the campus and community at large. Explore online and mark any relevant dates in your calendar. Instead of obsessing about U.S. News & World Report rankings, try some of these resources for a more judicious and comprehensive approach to building your list of schools, based on your own criteria and preferences:

Applying to law school is an expensive endeavor. The most significant expenses will include:

  • LSAT/GRE preparation materials and/or commercial preparation course
  • LSAT/GRE registration
  • LSAC Credential Assembly Service registration
  • School-specific application fees
  • Interview attire, transportation and accommodations when applicable
  • Deposits to hold seats in a class upon admission

All these costs and fees can add up so it is important that you plan in advance. If you have significant financial constraints, you may be eligible for fee waivers.

It is critical that you maintain a strong credit record as you prepare for and apply to law school. Do not let a poor credit history interfere with your ability to borrow money for law school.

As you learn about ways to finance your legal education, strive to become knowledgeable about repayment options and special programs and be sure to familiarize yourself with the AccessLex resources.

Get Help

Want some coaching around launching your Career Track?

  • Meet with a pre-law counselor in the University Career Center and/or the pre-law advisors in Newnan Advising Center for more individualized assistance
  • Before Your Appointment:  Explore and engage with the tools and links in Launch Your Preparation for Law School; complete the 3,2,1 reflection exercise

3,2,1

You have launched your preparation for law school, and may be wondering “What Next?”  This simple exercise will help you get started.

  1. What are 3 take-aways from exploring the resources in “Launch Your Preparation for Law School”?
  2. What are 2 questions that you still have/what are you questioning now?
  3. What is 1 specific action step you can take to help answer your 2 questions?