#GLI

Tag: #GLI

Being and Working for an Elected Attorney

Elected attorneys are everywhere and are necessary in every city and state, and there are only two ways to get the job: run for it or be appointed to it. There are two main types of elected attorneys: attorneys general, who oversee a state, and district attorneys, who oversee a county, city, or general area, depending on the state. If you are interested in both law and politics, then serving as (or for) an elected attorney could be a goal for you!

Here in Wisconsin, we have seventy-one district attorneys, or DAs (we have seventy-two counties, but Shawano and Menominee counties unite to elect one DA) and one attorney general, or AG. In Appleton (and Outagamie County as a whole), our DA is Mindy Tempelis, and she is responsible for three main things: prosecuting all criminal actions and asset seizure for the county, arguing her position in front of the appellate or supreme court if summoned by the Attorney General, and managing the prosecutorial unit (regarding budget and administrative issues). DAs also can issue subpoenas for a grand jury and oversee the proceedings.

The Wisconsin Attorney General, Josh Kaul, is in charge of answering questions about the law to officials, examining and certifying both bonds and trust funds, managing the state Department of Justice, and appointing people who can manage and represent the state as either defense or prosecution (depending on the case). Rarely ever do attorneys general prosecute cases, so it seems, at a first glance especially, that district attorneys have more power than attorneys general, but the state DOJ oversees more territory.

All district attorneys and attorneys general are Juris Doctors and have passed the bar exam, which you would need to do if you had interest in one of these positions. However, there are many appointed positions within both sectors. Most people they hire are law school graduates or paralegals, but there are positions (such as chief of staff and some directing posts) that may only require a bachelor’s degree. Students who have studied government/political science, history, and economics have the greatest likelihood of landing a job working for a DA or AG.

DAs and AGs are both vital to making law work. If you end up with a JD, have ideas you think would make the world a better place, and want to enter the political arena, throw your hat in the ring! With a cause people can get behind, you may have what it takes to win!

WORKS CITED:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/978/001

https://medium.com/durham-district-attorneys-office/explained-the-role-of-the-district-attorney-7dbebd69b132

https://www.zippia.com/attorney-general-jobs/what-does-an-attorney-general-do/

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/165/015

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/professional-profiles

Spencer R. Brown is a junior in their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a media and marketing assistant in the Career Center, and curates articles for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade and part-time mascot, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

International Trade

If you ask any child in fourth grade what kind of job they want to have when they grow up, no child would say they want to work in international trade, although maybe they should. These jobs are integral to making trade work across the world, and the industry is growing incredibly fast as our world gets more and more globalized, and wherever you live, there could be a job that pertains to the sector.

So, what is international trade? International trade is like a clock, where it looks so simple to define on the outside, but on the inside there are a lot of moving parts. International trade involves purchasing and selling goods and services between companies across different countries. However, the people who are in control of the process are like the cogs and springs, who keep it all together and keep the system moving. According to learn.org, there are three main career paths: global marketing, international trade law, and shipping logistics, and anywhere you look, their definitions are incredibly fuzzy. Jobs in global marketing are responsible for the home front: specifically to project their message and better their image towards other companies interested in doing business with them. After a company finds interest in another abroad, international trade lawyers step in and facilitate the trade through contracts and other legal documents. After the trade lawyers reach an agreement, logisticians take over and plan when and how to get the product from point A to point B. These jobs are vital to both nationwide and worldwide economies, since countries have realized that trade helps us consume more products than we would be able to produce without it.

Hypothetically speaking, let’s say you’re sold on working in international trade, and there’s absolutely no way you could live a happy life without working in the industry. What are the next steps? Jobs in international trade law require a law degree, and potentially a bachelors in government and/or international affairs. Jobs in global marketing usually require a bachelor’s degree in communications or business (related experience), and your chances of getting hired increase with an MBA. Logisticians’ chances of being hired stem from a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, logistics, or a potentially relevant field. It’s easy to find jobs in international trade anywhere in the world, especially in D.C., Virginia, New York, Arizona, Alaska, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Because of how much trade is on the rise internationally, there are many job and career opportunities. Since international jobs pay well, it might be a great option to consider! Plus, you sound really cool when you tell people you work in the international trade industry!

WORKS CITED:

https://www.investopedia.com/insights/what-is-international-trade/

https://learn.org/articles/Careers_in_International_Trade_Your_Job_Questions_Answered.html

https://www.dallascollege.edu/cd/credit/international-business-trade/pages/career-info.aspx

https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/business-administration/careers/international-trade-specialist/

https://www.zippia.com/international-trade-specialist-jobs/best-states/#

Spencer R. Brown is a junior experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a media and marketing assistant in the Career Center, and curates articles for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

How to Work for the Department of Defense

When most people think about jobs at the Department of Defense (DOD), they think that it involves very hands-on work for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard.  While that is true in some cases, the DOD is much more than that, and the jobs are too! The Department of Defense is a very big tent when it comes to employment.  The DOD mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.

If you work for the Department of Defense, you are somewhat limited to where you will work and live.  While DOD employees are stationed across the country, the vast majority work at Pentagon in Washington DC.  In fact, the Pentagon is the world’s largest office building, consuming 6.6 million square feet of floor space, with more than 25,000 employees working there on a given day.

Many positions with the DOD are very technical, like providing emergency services to areas in the US that need it most. They also hire maintenance workers, information security specialists, technicians, engineers and public affairs specialists (see the #CJW community resource section.  Given the size of the DOD, it is its own community, so every job you would find in civilian life can also be found in the DOD.  If there’s a field you’re interested in, the DOD is, more than likely, hiring for that position.

So, let’s say that you’re hooked, and there’s nothing that you would want more on this Earth than to work for the Department of Defense or any of its subsidiaries. There are a few websites that might have what you’re looking for, such as usajobs.gov (and if there’s a government job in general that you’re looking for, the first place to look might be usajobs.gov). Handshake has often has positions for the US Army and the NSA, but not directly the DOD. 

The Department of Defense and its subsidiaries provide good, government jobs for people who want to settle down in one of a few select parts of the country and get good benefits while doing serious, important, work. If this at all interests you, keep your eyes on usajobs.gov and see if there’s an opening for your skillset!

WORKS CITED:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-US-Department-of-Defense-EI_IE14798.11,35.htm

https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?k=defense

https://lawrence.joinhandshake.com/stu/postings?page=1&per_page=25&sort_direction=desc&sort_column=default&query=nsa

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/United-States-Department-of-Defense/reviews

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a media and marketing assistant in the Career Center, and curates articles for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

Legal Assistants and Paralegals

When people talk about the most popular and important jobs in the legal world, many might say lawyers and lawmakers. However, legal assistants and paralegals are necessary for lawyers and lawmakers to do their jobs.  While the terms paralegals and legal assistants are often lumped together, the two roles can have very different qualifications and tasks to complete. If you are interested in a legal profession that does not require a law degree, and keeps you out of the spotlight while still doing important, steady, well-paid work, then a paralegal or legal assistant job might be for you!

 Paralegals are specifically qualified, with most having an associate’s degree or certification in paralegal studies.  Some law firms will hire paralegals with a bachelor’s degree in a humanities program and then train you to get a paralegal certification while on the job. Paralegals are hyper-focused on getting everything ready for trials: drafting legal documents, researching laws, interviewing clients and generally helping lawyers prepare.

Legal assistants are less specialized, and usually carry the blunt of the administrative work around the firm; they help schedule and keep track of appointments and meetings, and manage the financial work such as billing of clients. However, their work may also encompasses plenty of tasks accomplished by paralegals, such as conducting legal research and creating and proofreading documents. Legal assistants usually only need a high school diploma to be hired, however there are legal assistant certifications that improve one’s chances of being hired.

The job market for legal assistants and paralegals has gotten increasingly competitive, and if you are at Lawrence, you might already be qualified for at least one of these positions! To be a paralegal or legal assistant, you should be organized, with great writing and communication skills alongside a great deal of tech savviness. It is also important to note that paralegals and legal assistants can be anywhere: in government, in law firms, and in businesses.  Therefore, if that interests you, being a paralegal or legal assistant might just be the job for you!

WORKS CITED:

https://www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/paralegal?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9fitmIHP_QIVkAytBh1V-Q8CEAAYAyAAEgKuF_D_BwE&aceid=&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm

https://onlinemasteroflegalstudies.com/career-guides/become-a-paralegal/paralegal-vs-legal-assistant/

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a Marketing and Media Assistant in the Career Center and creates content for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

Community Organizing

Perhaps the most famous community organizer was our 44th President, Barrack Obama.  While most community organizers do not become President, they can make a big difference in their community – no matter the size.

Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other or share some common problem come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest.  Community organizers generally believe that significant change often involves conflict or social struggle in order to generate power for the powerless. The goal of community organizing is to create enough power for a community so that it will influence key decision-makers (e.g. elected officials) on a range of issues over time. This can get community-organizing groups a place at the table before important decisions are made.  Community organizing is different than activism in that it has a coherent strategy for making specific social change, whereas activists often engage in unorganized social protest without a specific plan for achieving their goal –  or, in some cases, even knowing what their goal is.

There is no direct career path to being a community organizer.  Having a bachelor’s degree from a humanities program is helpful so one has a deep and detailed understanding of issues and the ability to problem solve and critically analyze an issue from all perspectives.  Most community organizers are volunteers or interns with individual political campaigns, political parties or grassroots organizations first.  It does not take any specific job training to become a community organizer, just a passion for an issue or issues, a strong understanding of that issue and the ability to advocate and argue for your group’s position.  Strong organizational and communication skills are a must.  The ability to fundraise may also be helpful.  As long as people feel underserved or ignored, there will always be a need for community organizers.

WORKS CITED:

https://books.google.com/books?id=cdcQvm4WkC8C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ViewAPI&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://archive.org/details/organizingforsoc00kimb

https://archive.org/details/rootsforradicals00edwa

https://www.zippia.com/community-organizer-jobs/

The Colin Powell Leadership Program

In late 2022, the U.S. State Department launched the Colin Powell Leadership Program “to further advance the Department’s commitment and efforts to hire a workforce representative of all segments of society and in support of the department’s modernization agenda.”  The program provides opportunities to pursue careers at the Department of State.

Named after the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Secretary of State, this program provides paid fellowships to recent college graduates and paid internships to students who enrolled at accredited institutions of higher education.  Both paths may lead to full-time employment opportunities at the State Department and will develop future leaders through training, mentoring, and on-the-job experience.

To be eligible for the Colin Powell Leadership Internship Program, applicants must either be an enrolled or current student, on a part-time or full-time basis, pursuing their bachelor’s degree in a qualifying post-secondary educational program.  A cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0 is required.  The duration of the internship program will be determined by the participant’s anticipated graduation date and may not exceed four years from the initial appointment to the program.

Applicants for the Colin Powell Leadership Fellowship Program must have received a baccalaureate or graduate degree within the last two years with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0.  The fellowship program is a one-year paid developmental program.

 Visit https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/civil-service-fellowships/colin-powell-leadership-program/ for more information and to apply during the next open application period.