Robert Half Legal specializes in filling the most desirable legal positions in law firms and corporate legal departments on a temporary, project-based, and full-time basis. A few of the roles we fill most frequently are listed below, along with job descriptions that describe each one’s duties, responsibilities, skills, experience, and educational prerequisites:
How to start a career in law
You can take the following actions to launch your legal career:
1. Earn a bachelors degree
The type of degree you earn can vary depending on the area of law you want to practice. For instance, you can major in almost any subject to become a paralegal. However, if you decide against pursuing a degree in paralegal studies, it may still be beneficial for you to obtain a paralegal certificate once you have graduated. This will prepare you for the position and demonstrate to potential employers your commitment to it.
The best degrees to pursue if you want to go to law school and become a lawyer could be those in philosophy, political science, English, or business. A mock trial or debate team are examples of relevant extracurricular activities that can demonstrate to law schools that you are committed to the field and have experience that will advance your career.
2. Take the LSAT
Your critical thinking, reading comprehension, and information management skills are tested on the LSAT. Your test results demonstrate to law schools how well you can apply these skills and your potential for future legal work.
Consider spending a lot of time studying for and comprehending the principles that the LSAT evaluates as the test can be difficult. This can be done by buying test preparation materials, taking practice tests, and working with a tutor.
3. Attend law school
There are many law schools in the nation to which one can submit an application, and some of them specialize in a particular area of law, such as criminal law or constitutional law. To learn more about the areas of law that different professors teach and the types of jobs that their graduates typically obtain after receiving their degree, consider speaking with them. Making the right choice about which law school to apply to after graduation can be aided by doing this.
Searching for internships and other opportunities that can give you relevant work experience for upcoming job applications can be helpful while you are in law school.
4. Pass the bar exam
You will take the bar exam through the bar association of the state or jurisdiction in which you plan to practice. For instance, you must pass the New York Bar Exam in order to practice law in the state of New York. This implies that if you relocate to a different state, you might need to retake the bar exam for that region.
5. Decide on a specialty and gain experience
It’s crucial to acquire the pertinent experience required to launch those specific careers, whether you want to practice entertainment law, criminal defense, or corporate law. Consider applying for entry-level positions in the field of entertainment law, for instance, if you want to begin a career in that area. Paid or unpaid internships can also provide you with beneficial experience that you can highlight on your resume.
6. Apply for law firm positions
An associate attorney position is frequently the first entry-level position to be obtained after law school. Consider looking for jobs at law firms that practice your preferred area of the law after gaining some experience. This can assist you in developing your legal career, whether it be at the same law firm or at others you can apply to after gaining more relevant experience.
What are law firm positions?
A person fills a position at a law firm when they work there to assist the firm in carrying out its obligations. A person can work in a variety of positions at a law firm, some of which do not involve actual legal work. For instance, you can look for employment as a clerk if you want a position supporting the attorneys you work for, or you can train to be an accountant if you want a position managing the business operations of the company.
Types of law firm positions
Here are ten different positions in law firms and what they do most of the time:
Record clerks’ main responsibilities include collaborating with lawyers and paralegals to make sure that files are arranged, identified, and put away correctly. Additionally, record clerks transport documents to various locations and other law firms while ensuring that proper confidential protocol is followed. A records clerk must be extremely organized and detail-oriented so that a paralegal or lawyer can quickly locate a file they need.
Legal secretaries’ main responsibilities include assisting attorneys and paralegals with clerical tasks. A legal secretary may send and receive emails and other types of correspondence, speak with clients and other attorneys over the phone, and file or retrieve case files and other paperwork as needed.
Primary responsibilities: Paralegals draft legal documents, conduct legal research, and summarize relevant laws to assist attorneys in preparing for trials, hearings, and other necessary meetings.
Primary responsibilities: An accountant makes sure a business or law firm is operating to the best of its financial ability using their knowledge of finance. These experts manage payroll and salaries, balance budgets, and notify any higher-level executives or partners of potential overspending.
Primary responsibilities: A staff attorney provides legal assistance and counsel on cases to associate attorneys and law firm partners. These attorneys frequently conduct in-depth research but don’t frequently communicate with clients.
A human resource manager’s main responsibilities include managing payroll and benefits, as well as all facets of hiring new employees. They can also serve as a neutral third party when communicating with and resolving workplace conflicts, and they can assist current employees with questions or concerns about their position.
The main responsibilities of an associate attorney at a law firm are to assist the partners of the firm. These lawyers assist clients with legal matters and collaborate with other professionals at the firm, such as paralegals, to carry out their duties more effectively.
An information technology manager’s main responsibilities include supervising all facets of communication technology and assisting businesses and law firms with their computers, phones, and networking. Information technology managers may work alone or in charge of a small team of IT personnel.
The primary responsibilities of a senior associate attorney are similar to those of a regular associate attorney, but they are paid more. Senior associates may also supervise the work and projects of junior associates and offer support as needed.
Primary duties: A litigation attorney represents clients in civil lawsuits. These attorneys have in-depth knowledge of trial law, including how to represent both the plaintiffs and defendants in civil lawsuits and how to effectively argue a point or idea on behalf of their client. Smaller private law firms and larger corporate law firms both employ litigators.
What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do & Do You Need One?
FAQ
What is the structure of a law firm?
Partners, who are co-owners and business managers of the legal operation, associates, who are employees of the firm with the potential to become partners, and a variety of staff members who provide paralegal, clerical, and other support services, make up the typical structure of law firms.
What is the highest position in law firm?
In a law firm, the managing partner is at the very top. She oversees daily operations as a senior lawyer or founding member of the firm. She frequently serves as the chair of an executive committee made up of other senior partners, and she aids in developing and directing the firm’s strategic vision.
What is the lowest position in a law firm?
Principal responsibilities: An associate attorney is a junior attorney at a law firm who collaborates with the partners of the firm. These lawyers assist clients with legal matters and collaborate with other professionals at the firm, such as paralegals, to carry out their duties more effectively.
What type of people work in a law firm?
Law firms employ more than 100 different professions in addition to lawyers. These careers range from those you might expect, like paralegals and legal assistants, to those you might not have considered, like bookkeepers, computer support specialists, and general and operations managers. This article is a snapshot of work in law firms.
