You have just finished law school and obtained your law degree. You know that several job opportunities are now available to you in different industries. The question is, what is the right field or sector for you to pursue? Although this comes down to a personal preference and your own life goals or ambitions, it can’t hurt to fully consider all of your options. Here are some things to consider when deciding where to go after obtaining your law degree.

Working in a Private Practice

After graduating from law school, some soon-to-be-lawyers will work on their own as solo practitioners. Others may find employment in a boutique or small law firm. Still, others work for private law firms that employ hundreds of lawyers in multiple cities worldwide. Lawyers will join the firm as an associate and then work to become a partner in the firm as they gain more experience and practical knowledge.

Working for the Government

Government lawyers can be found at every level and in every branch of government. Due to the nature of their work, the government is always looking to hire lawyers to do multiple tasks.

For example, most federal governments have some legal counsel they can go to. These include the Department of Justice, the SEC, Office of Homeland Security, Patent and Trademark Offices, and every military branch. Each branch of the military has a JAG Corps.

Some attorneys work in the DA's office as prosecutors and public defenders on state and local levels. Lawyers can represent the state's interests in the legislative and executive branches of the government.

An attorney recruiter can help you find employment in both the private and governmental sectors. They have access to job openings and resources that are difficult for newly graduated students to access.

Judicial Clerkships

Judicial clerks are government lawyers. However, what they do is different from what a prosecutor or defense attorney will do. Depending on the court system structure, a judicial clerk may work at a federal or state level. They are responsible for drafting memoranda and doing research for judges.

Judicial clerks have a challenging job that brings a level of prestige with it. Clerkships are typically short-term. Many law school graduates will spend a couple of years clerking for a prestigious judge before starting their legal careers.

Nonlegal Options

Lawyers may work in fields where they are not actively practicing law. For example, they may work in law administration, politics, academia, financial planning, or legal publishing and journalism. Some might even go into teaching, able to conduct classes related to law and whatever they may specialize in. You might even consider this option as a retirement job, where your past experience can give you an added advantage to getting your new job done right.

You have worked hard to get your law degree. Now, it is time to make it work for you. Take the time to research your options and work with a recruiter to find the legal profession that is right for you.