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Pre Law Jobs

Work you can do in law without being a lawyer. Either before school, or instead of school
Tags: summer, jobs, pre law
Apr 2, 2023

Why Consider PreLaw Jobs

Many students considering a legal career often wonder about the types of jobs they can do before attending law school. Pre law jobs can provide valuable experience and insights into the legal field, helping individuals make an informed decision about pursuing a law degree. This article discusses various pre law jobs, including their benefits and the skills they can help you develop. We will also provide a list of specific pre law jobs to help you find the right fit for you.

So-called 'pre law jobs' are also a great way to see if you think you would like being a lawyer. While the job itself will be different than after you get a JD (probably), you will likely work close with attorneys if you have these types of jobs, so you can see if you like the problems they solve, the work they do, the hours they keep, and other important aspects of their job.

A Few Different Types of Pre Law Jobs

There are several types of pre law jobs that can help aspiring law students gain valuable experience and develop essential skills. These pre law jobs can be broadly categorized into four groups:

  1. Legal Support Roles: Jobs in this category typically involve providing administrative or paralegal support to attorneys. These roles offer valuable exposure to the legal environment, processes, and terminology
  2. Policy and Government Roles: Jobs in government and policy often involve researching and analyzing legislation or public policies. These roles provide an understanding of how laws are created and implemented, as well as the broader social and political context in which they operate.
  3. Nonprofit and Advocacy Roles: Jobs in this category involve working for nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups. These roles often focus on social justice issues and can provide experience in legal research, policy analysis, and public relations.
  4. Business and Corporate Roles: Pre law jobs in the corporate world can offer a unique perspective on the legal aspects of business operations. Roles in human resources, compliance, or contract management can provide experience in managing legal risks and understanding the regulatory landscape.

A Few Specific Pre Law Jobs to Check Out

While I discuss these jobs using the term 'pre law jobs,' each of them can be a great career. Law school is not some necessary next step after any of these jobs. Instead, if you are thinking about law school, these can be great jobs to experience law and learn a little more about what the legal field is like, and by working with lawyers you can get a sense of what they do every day to see if you would like their job.

  1. Paralegal: As a paralegal, you will assist attorneys with case management, legal research, and drafting documents. Being a paralegal offers a close-up view of the legal process and can help you develop strong research and writing skills. Skills that are key to being a lawyer. You can check out our comparison of Lawyers and Paralegals here.
  2. Legal Secretary: Legal secretaries provide administrative support to attorneys and law firms. Responsibilities include scheduling appointments, managing files, and drafting correspondence. Working as a Legal Secretary or Executive Assistant can help you develop excellent organizational skills and a solid understanding of the legal environment.
  3. Court Clerk: Court clerks work in courthouses, managing case files, maintaining court records, and providing support to judges. Court Clerks have a unique perspective on the judicial system and the inner workings of a courtroom.
  4. Legislative Assistant: Legislative assistants work for government officials, researching and analyzing proposed legislation, tracking bills, and drafting policy briefs. Being a Legislative Assistant can help you develop strong research and analytical skills, as well as an understanding of the legislative process.
  5. Policy Analyst: Policy analysts work for think tanks, nonprofits, or government agencies, researching and analyzing public policies and their impact on society. Policy analysts have to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as expertise in specific policy areas.
  6. Nonprofit Program Coordinator: Program coordinators at nonprofit organizations manage and oversee specific projects or programs related to their organization's mission. This pre law job can provide valuable experience in project management, grant writing, and community outreach.
  7. Human Rights Advocate: Human rights advocates work for nonprofit organizations or NGOs, focusing on social justice and human rights issues. This pre law job can help you develop strong research, advocacy, and public speaking skills, as well as a deep understanding of human rights law.
  8. Compliance Officer: Compliance officers work for corporations or government agencies, ensuring that organizations comply with relevant laws and regulations. This pre law job can provide experience in risk management, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.
  9. Contract Administrator: Contract administrators manage and oversee contracts for businesses or government agencies. Working in contracts can help you get experience with a key component of being a lawyer, reading complex legal documents. Furthermore, you may just get a jump start on 1L Contracts class.

Why go to Law School if I do one of These Jobs and Love it?

You don't have to (says the person on the computer screen). Each of these jobs, and many others, can be just as rewarding as being an attorney. The related readings linked below give dive into why you should (or shouldn't) consider law school.

Related Articles

  1. How Much do Lawyers Make
  2. Law School Admissions Reddit
  3. Timeline for Applying to Law School
  4. Is Law School Worth It?
  5. How Do I Pay For Law School?
  6. Lawyer or Paralegal
  7. What law school should I go to practice _____ law?
Windsor MIT '22, Harvard College Advisor

I am the half of LSD that didn't take the LSAT, or go to law school (Sorry about that). But I did go to MIT business school while surrounded by law students and lawyers, so I am somewhat qualified to talk about the intricacies of law school apps and finances.

Windsor (the dog) didn't write this but he WAS a Resident Tutor and career advisor at Harvard College with me, so deserves some credit.

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DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:42
questioning whether i go to school for free at a lesser school or pay some out of pocket at a better name for the same degree at end of the day, the numbers don't lie
jb2028
18:54
@DisillusionedHomelessWalnut: The way the curve works is a below-median student at Tennessee (curves to a 3.1, so B/B+) can end up with a better GPA than an above-average student at Elon (curves to a 2.67/B-minus), so the student from Tennessee will have a better transcript *and* get better jobs on average than someone with the same class rank at Elon
jb2028
18:56
Your real alarm bell is Elon's curve (linked here, p. 70 https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/996/2019/07/2017-2018_Academic_Catalog-and-Student_Handbook.pdf) *requires* profs to give 20% of first-year students a C-minus or worse, when the school's bar for "satisfactory academic progress" is a C+ average
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:59
ooooffff. thanks. i mean, full ride is cool and all, but damn
jb2028
18:59
The only scenario where a school does something like that (curve to a 2.67, dismiss students below 2.25) is when they're admitting a lot of students who may not pass the bar, then flunking people out mercilessly so the school can keep its accreditation (ABA requires 75% of grads to pass the bar within two years, can't fail the bar if the school doesn't let you graduate)
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:59
the dean told me "no students had their scholarships reduced in the past three years, and to my recollection only one scholarship in 19 years has been reduced when a student was in good standing"
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:01
yeah, i get that and appreciate you validating that point. i like to think it really wouldn't apply to me and assume it happens due to the lower standards of admissions they utilize, but is it (full ride) worth the risk? that's the fly in the ointment
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:02
just trying to weigh all angles, seems like just biting the bullet and paying the modest amount to UTK is a smarter decision
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:04
end of cycle is for the birds, but i'm playing the hand i was dealt :)
jb2028
19:06
In general you are going to be better off at a school that wants its students to succeed. UTK seems to fit the description - they are not in any danger of losing their accreditation, don't need to force people out. Elon very much does not, if their bar passage drops 2% they'll be in violation of ABA requirements so they won't give students any leway
jb2028
19:06
*leeway
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:08
i appreciate your insight, friend
manifestmoreadmissions
19:11
im too lazy to provide the same level of detail as JB but I agree UTK seems like a better bet to actually achieve your career goals and set yourself up for success. I would understand being conflicted if it were like UTK vs Belmont or a lower ranked school that isn't considered predatory but because it's Elon that makes it more clear to me
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:15
thank you
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:17
the counterpoint bouncing around my head is basically "if i'm worth a damn, as i think i am, i'll be just fine no matter what the curve is" but you folks are nudging me in the direction of logic and common sense
manifestmoreadmissions
19:18
plenty of the people who fall behind are worth a damn it's just that some schools are basically set up to screw people over
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:19
yeah. fall behind as in....miss homework? can't keep up with readings? something else?
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:20
kinda nervous coming in as an untraditional guy around KJD's, billy madison vibes over here
jb2028
19:21
Re: costs, it's worth looking at costs all around, both schools cost (net tuition, $0 at Elon/$30K over 3 years if you're in-state at UTK) PLUS three years not earning money or advancing in your career, which is worth 6 figures if you make decent money now. $30K in tuition is a small share of total costs in this comparison
jb2028
19:24
"Fall behind" in this context means law school curves are rigid, no matter how hard everyone studies half the class will be below-median, 25% in the bottom quarter, etc. It's not super predictable either, so a student above GPA or LSAT median could still end up bottom half or 1/4 of the class
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:27
gotcha. predatory in that instance is certainly appropriate
manifestmoreadmissions
19:32
i am not kjd but im glad jb cleared that up for you lmao
jb2028
19:32
And assuming similar class rank, UTK grads tend to do better in public data. Top students at UTK have a shot at biglaw (pays $225K), top students at Elon end up at small/medium firms (worse pay). Average students at UTK can get jobs at small/medium firms, average students at Elon are on the bubble for any firm job at all. Below-average students at UTK have a shot at firm jobs or other work, below-average students at Elon might not get jobs (or pass the bar, or avoid academic dismissal). That's the major advantage of well-regarded schools - more upside, less downside
manifestmoreadmissions
19:32
but yeah just reiterating that you could be worth so many damns and still not do well because its set up for that
jb2028
19:37
(This is ignoring public service/government jobs, because the stats there don't tell us much about the type of job - "super competitive Department of Justice job in DC making $90K" and "local government job earning $50K" both get lumped together under the "public service" label, but say v. different things about a school's job placement
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:38
really appreciate all the insight
manifestmoreadmissions
23:07
for those going to school in fall 24 when did you add your school to your linkedin profile
MightyUnableSphinx
23:13
add as soon as you get in! :)
MightyUnableSphinx
23:13
it's like a little micro celebration!
[] SnoopShoe
23:15
Anyone else here plan on practicing around PDX?
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