legal

Tag: legal

Entry Level Jobs for the GLI Career Community

Graduating with a background in Government, Law, and International Affairs (GLI) opens various doors of possibilities – but figuring out which door to choose can feel overwhelming and confusing. Your time on campus debating about policy issues, discussing global development, leading the Model UN, or on LUCC has already built a foundation of experiences for a meaningful career. Now, let’s discuss what “entry-level” roles look like for GLI students and how to start navigating that first step after graduation. 

Where GLI Graduates Can Go 

Career options in GLI can be broad – and that’s a strength. Many students go on to work in public service, policy research, or international development, but those aren’t the only career options or routes you can take. Here are a few common paths for recent graduates:  

  • Government and Public Policy: As a recent graduate, you can start as legislative aides, policy analysts, or research assistants at the state and federal levels. Other government positions could also include working with city governments or nonpartisan research organizations to better understand policy creation. 
  • Law and Legal Fields: If you are planning to attend law school in the future, working as a paralegal or legal assistant can give you first-hand experience of the legal world while you build your valuable research and case management skills prior to attending law school.  
  • International Relations and Nonprofits: Organizations like the Peace Corps, UN and subsidiaries, AmeriCorps, and other international NGOs also seek graduates with an interest in diplomacy, cultural understanding, and global-problem solving. 
  • Think Tanks and Research Institutes: Entry-level research or project coordinator roles let you apply your analytical and writing skills while contributing to studies on political, social, or economic issues. 

Most of these paths value the same core traits that GLI students should work on, like critical thinking, communication, analytics, and an interest in understanding complex systems – things that a liberal arts education offers you. 

Skills That Set You Apart 

The flexibility that Lawrence students have is the ability and facilitation to connect ideas across disciplines. Employers in government and law highly appreciate candidates who can write clearly, analyse data, and communicate across cultures. If you’ve done a senior project, an internship, taken relevant coursework, or fieldwork abroad during your time at Lawrence, it is worth highlighting.  

Your skills and critical thinking abilities combined set you apart from other candidates and make your application stand out. 

Where to Start Looking 

Finding your first job comes down to using your networks and campus resources. 

Here are a few ideas: 

  • Career Center: The career center is the best resource Lawrence offers you when it comes to job hunting and applications. You can make appointments that include career advising, writing cover letters and resumes, looking for relevant jobs, etc. You can book appointments with CPEs and Career Advisors via Handshake. 
  • Handshake: Lawrence’s go-to job platform lists numerous opportunities in public policy, international affairs, and legal assistance. 
  • Alumni Connections (Networking):  You can use the Lawrence Alumni network, which has always been incredibly supportive. Reaching out to alumni in government or law can open doors for informational interviews, referrals, or even job leads. 
  • Career Center Events: Always keep an eye out for panels or virtual sessions with GLI alumni or employers. Also, be informed about the regular Career Fairs for GLI, NES, and CJW career communities. These events can help you network and also give insights into the requirements for a job application as you are directly in talks with the employer and industry professionals. 
  • Federal and State Job Boards: Websites like USAJobs.gov or Wisc.Jobs are great starting points for GLI-related roles. 
  • Newsletters: Add yourself to various career communities to get bi-weekly newsletters that include various relevant job postings and career updates. 

Building Early Experience 

It’s never too early to gain relevant experiences when you have the opportunity to do so. Internships with local government offices, research projects with professors, or campus leadership or government roles all build a resume that shows initiative and engagement with public issues. Even volunteering for community organizations can demonstrate a commitment to service and teamwork — qualities employers love. 

Conclusion 

Exploring a career in government, law, or international relations doesn’t mean knowing exactly what you want from the first day. Your success will be defined by your curiosity, flexibility, and positive attitude towards exploring new opportunities. Whether your path leads to Washinton D.C., Madison, or halfway around the world, your time at Lawrence prepares you to think critically and lead with purpose – and that’s what these fields need the most. 

Computer Science major and Data Science & Mathematics minor at Lawrence University, and the President of the Lawrence University Data Science Club. Connect with Sabin on LinkedIn

How to make your Law School application stand out

You are approaching the end of your junior year at Lawrence. You have already carefully chosen your major, taken rigorous, relevant courses, and earned a strong GPA. You have also completed several pieces of research, become an excellent writer, and accomplished a great deal in an internship, specific extracurricular activity, or on-campus job. Now you are ready to start seriously thinking about your law school applications. How will you stand out from all the other applicants?

To stand out in a competitive pool requires a multi-pronged approach. Here are some specific actions you can take:

Maximize your LSAT score: This often carries the most weight. While aiming for a top score is ideal, consider retaking the test if you think you can improve significantly.

Tell your unique story: The personal statement is an especially important part of your application. Do not just list achievements. Instead, highlight your motivations, experiences, and how they shaped your passion for law.

Highlight specific skills and qualities: Use your personal statement and CV to demonstrate strengths like analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership through anecdotes and examples.

Highlight relevant work experience and education: Your CV should also be used to highlight your academic achievements and any legal internships, or paralegal jobs you may have held. Unrelated jobs can also be included if they demonstrate responsibility, time management, and transferable skills.

Proofread meticulously: Eliminate typos and grammatical errors.

Get someone to review your material: Have someone with expertise in this area review your application material. Career Center staff and faculty members are extremely helpful in this regard.

Tailor your application to each school: Highlight features that align with their specific interests and programs.

Provide strong letters of recommendation: Choose faculty recommenders who know you well and can speak to your academic strengths and potential.

Consider optional essays: If offered, use them to address potential weaknesses or provide further context to your story.

Be genuine and authentic: Let your personality shine through, showing the admissions committee who you are beyond numbers and scores.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, by focusing on academic excellence, crafting compelling narratives, highlighting diverse experiences, and presenting a well-polished application, you can increase your chances of standing out in the competitive law school application pool.

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!

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!

American Bar Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship

Undergraduate students considering a career in law already know that it’s hard to get hands-on legal experience such as internships if you’re not in law school. Luckily, there are a few programs that are designed to provide undergrads with the experience they seek. One such program is the American Bar Foundation (ABF) Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship.

According to their web site, the American Bar Foundation (ABF) looks “for students students who demonstrate a strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity and who take initiative with mentors by asking questions and expressing a genuine interest in their research. Preference is given to candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to first-generation and low-income students and students of color.

This fellowship introduces undergraduate students to the rewards and demands of a research-oriented career in law and/or social science. It also provides guidance about the many career options under the umbrella of the legal profession. Each Fellow will be assigned an ABF Research Professor who will involve the Fellow in their research project and act as a mentor during the Fellow’s tenure. In previous years, Fellows have supported faculty members’ work by conducting archival research, creating literature reviews, and coding qualitative data collected from interviews and newspaper reports. In addition to partnering with a faculty mentor, Fellows will meet with other ABF faculty and affiliates.”

For more information, including pay, eligibility and the program application, visit the ABF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program web site. The annual deadline to apply is in late January or early February.