Career and Job Search: Annotated Guide
Technical Note: Some of the links in this research guide will only be active when launched from a computer within the Washington University School of Law.
Introduction
The legal job seeker faces a seemingly daunting task in finding a job. Fortunately, there are a wealth of resources to use in his or her search for a professional position. This guide is designed to help that individual law student navigate through the many types of books, newspapers, web sites and commercial databases that provide useful information. As such, it reflects the combined research expertise of the reference librarians of Washington University School of Law in the area of career resources, including numerous annotations designed to advise of appropriate and useful information, in all media, about positions, employers and various work paths. It is not a substitute for the expertise of the Law School's Career Services Office and its professionals and should be used in conjunction with the existing materials in the Career Services Office, many of which are referenced in this guide. The organization is based on geography, subject specialization, and employer types with the last two sections discussing alternative career paths outside the traditional realm of legal practice as well as outlining methods of researching potential employers. A mix of sources are discussed and annotated including traditional print based directories, databases contained within the online services (WESTLAW and LEXIS/NEXIS) and sources exclusive to the World Wide Web. This guide will be updated regularly so should be reviewed periodically for new information. Please remember that the reference department (935-6459) is always available to assist job searchers with any aspect of their research.
- Job Search by Subject Specialty
Admiralty, Bankruptcy, Employment Law, Entertainment/Sports, Environmental, Estate, Immigration, Intellectual Property, International Law, Litigation, Tax
- Job Search by Employer (Non-Firm)
I. Job Search by Location
A. General Sources for All U.S. States
The following Sources are general directories that list legal employers throughout the United States. For additional sources that are not location specific, see entries under "Job Search by Subject Specialty" and "Job Search by Type of Employer."
American Lawyer Media Attorney Positions & Legal Jobs
Online: http://www.lawjobs.com/
Want-ads from American Lawyer Media’s newspapers: California (The Recorder) Connecticut (Connecticut Law Tribune) Florida (Miami Daily Business Review) Georgia (Fulton County Daily Report) New Jersey (New Jersey Law Journal) New York (New York Law Journal) Pennsylvania (The Legal Intelligencer) Texas (Texas Lawyer) Washington, DC (Legal Times)
America's Greatest Places to Work with a Law Degree : and How to Make the Most of Any Job, No Matter Where It Is! / by Kimm Alayne Walton. Published Chicago, IL : Harcourt Brace Legal and Professional Publications, c1999.
Paper: CSO References -- General; Law Library Reserve KF297 .W35 1999
Profiles employers judged to provide a "great place to work" based on a survey of law school administrators who were asked to list places where their graduates have had a positive working experience. Includes a chapter on factors to look for when evaluating the work environment of any legal employer.
The Insider's Guide to Law Firms
Paper: CSO References -- General;
Firm Profiles based on information provided by students and associates who have worked at the firm, rather than by the firms themselves. Includes "insider's" tips on the recruiting process at each firm.
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Published Summit, N. J. [etc.] Martindale-Hubbell, inc
Paper: CSO; Law Library KF190 .M35 (Current Edition on Reserve, Previous Edition in LC Collection)
Online: LEXIS-NEXIS or search the Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator on the Web at http://lawyers.martindale.com/marhub
See Also: Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory
The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory consists of more than 900,000 lawyer and law firm listings. It is organized by city and state, and includes indexes to lawyers and law firms by area of practice and alphabetical listing. Firm listing includes areas of practice as well as individual attorneys' biographical information. Keep in mind that attorneys must pay Martindale-Hubbell for the privilege of being listed in their directory, so if you don't find what you are looking for, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.
Vault Reports Guide to America's Top 50 Law Firms
Paper: CSO References -- General
The top fifty firms ranked by the "perceived prestige" of the firm. Provides a profile of each firm, including descriptions of the working environment, and quotes about firm life from attorney employees.
West's Legal Directory
Online: WESTLAW database WLD
West Legal Directory contains over 1,000,000 profiles of law firms, branch offices, and biographical records of lawyers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, Canada, England, and Europe. A document is a profile of a lawyer law firm, government office, or corporate law office.
See Career Services Office page (see CSO for login and password)
B. Selected States
Introduction
There are two problems when researching a question. The first is the identification of those resources which answer the question and the second is locating those resources. There are a number of resources which a job seeker will wish to locate and there are distinct approaches to identifying those resources. The point of access to a library's collection is its catalog. http://catalog.wustl.edu/search~b1o1c1i1a1/. Use this catalog to search the holdings of the Law Library. For the most part the type of resource a job seeker would be using is a 'directory.' The official subject heading is 'directories.' If you were to search the catalog using the subject headings 'directories' and 'Illinois,' you would see a listing of seven different subjects: Directories Illinois; Directories Illinois Commerce; Directories Illinois General Assembly; Directories Illinois Manufactures; Directories Illinois Officials And Employees; Directories Illinois Politics And Government and Directories Illinois State Bar Association.
The World Wide Web is an extraordinary resource for those individuals who are looking for a job in a particular city or area of the country. There are a number of directories that list those newspapers that are accessible via the web. One directory is ‘NewsDirectory.com’ at http://www.ecola.com/. Click on ‘United States newspapers’ which brings you to a directory of newspapers arranged by state, by area code, by the ten largest cities, and also a listing of business newspapers. Then look for the classified adds.
If you were looking for job listings in St. Louis, for example, you can access the St. Louis Post Dispatch at http://www.stltoday.com/jobs/. Click on ‘Classifieds’ and then enter the term ‘attorney’ in the employment search box, and you will retrieve advertisements for attorneys.
Legal newspapers have also found a home on the World Wide Web. They are a very useful source of information for an individual seeking a job. They allow you to become more familiar with the legal community in the city you are interested in. Using a search engine such as Metacrawler at http://www.go2net.com/search.html, and enter the search terms legal newspapers or law newspapers. Of course you can be more specific and enter Akron legal newspaper and you will retrieve the cite listing for Akron Legal News at http://www.akronlegalnews.com/.
Missouri
Alumni Bulletins binder - announcements from other school's career offices. Emphasis on jobs requiring some experience but not exclusively. Binder is arranged by state.
Alumni Jobs binder- although many of these positions require some experience, many are from Missouri employers.
MO BAR/CLE binder - includes placement bulletin from the Missouri bar. The Placement bulletin is also available online. They also offer a placement service.
Part-Time Jobs binder and Summer Jobs binder - these announcements are all from local employers.
The Bulletin binder contains job Announcements from the Missouri State Public Defender System.
The St. Louis Countian and St. Louis Daily Record - These daily newspapers, available on Reserve in the Library, contain job announcements.
St. Louis Post Dispatch Employment Guide. An online way to search the Post Dispatch Classifieds.
Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Weekly newspaper available in the CSO Office and on Reserve in the Library. Online version.
Illinois
Illinois Legal Times. Monthly news publication available on Reserve in the Library, on WESTLAW and on LEXIS (Library: LEGNEW, File: ILT). Contains job announcements.
Chicago Tribune Classified Ads
New York
Martindale-Hubbell law digest. Summit, N.J. : Martindale-Hubbell, 1990-
Paper: Law Library Reserve KF190 .M352, CSO
Online: Lexis (Library: CAREER File:MARHUB)
State of New York, excluding New York City in volume 11.
New York City in volume 12.
New York Law Journal
Online: Westlaw (NYLJ); Lexis (Library: NEWS File:NYLAWJ)
Paper: CSO; Law Library Reserve
The New York Law Journal is the daily newspaper for New York Lawyers.
Other States
Washington, D.C.
Congressional Directory. Washington, DC: U.S.G.P.O., Supt. of Docs.
Online: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cdirectory/index.html
Paper: Law Library Govt. Docs. Y4.P93/1:1
The Congressional Directory is the oldest handbook for the US Government. It contains a list of congressional members and committees, executive offices and departments, judicial branches, international organizations. In addition there is a name index as well. In addition to the addresses (including www addresses), there is also biographical information. Also available through GPO Access.
Congressional Staff Directory. Indianapolis, Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1959-
Paper: Law Library [JK1012 C65]
The Congressional Staff Directory is published yearly to provide information regarding congressional members, committees, and staff. It contains detailed contact information on the members of US Senate and House of Representatives. Also included are biographies of members and staff, photographs, committee, subcommittee assignments.
Congressional Yellow Book: Federal Careers for Attorneys : a guide to legal careers in over 80 practice fields.. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Federal Reports, Inc.
Paper: Law Library [JK1083 .B55]
Federal Yellow Book. Washington, D.C.: Washington Monitor, inc., 1976-
Paper: Law Library JK6 .F45
The Federal Yellow Book contains information on the Executive Office, Executive Departments, and Independent Agencies. Information is indexed by subject, by organization name, and by name. Brief biographical information regarding heads of departments or agencies.
Federal careers for attorneys : a guide to legal careers in over 80 practice fields. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Federal Reports, Inc., c1991.
Paper: CSO
Federal Careers for Attorneys is a guide to those careers with the Government. Each agency is discussed, the division or structure of the agency is detailed, and hiring procedures are explained. There is also a subject index as well as a geographic index.
Federal Staff Directory. Mount Vernon, VA: Congressional Staff Directory, Ltd., c1982-
Paper: Law Library JK723 E9 F44
The United States Government manual. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1974-
Paper: Law Library AE 2.108/2:
Online: Westlaw (US-GOVMAN)
Newspapers:
Legal Times
Online: http://www.americanlawyer.com/
Paper: CSO; Law Library Reserve
Legal Times is part of is part of American Lawyers Media, Inc. Job ads are posted for the Washington, D.C. area through their web site.
Washington Post
Online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ |
Positions are listed under 'Classified,' then click on 'CareerPost.' Among a welter of career related features, which includes international job listings in the International Herald Tribune, there '27,000 job listings, including jobs from the previous two Sunday editions of The Washington Post.'
Washington Times
Online: http://www.washtimes.com/
In the top right hand corner there is a pull down menu. Click 'classifieds,' and then search the classified by job title, experience and area code.
II. Job Search by Subject Specialty
Many students know the area of law in which they want to practice. For those students, the directories listed below (in conjunction with the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory) are a good place to begin identifying employers.
For students who are still exploring their options, background material on the practice of many specialties is listed below. A general Guide to Law Specialties (National Association for Law Placement, 1996) is available in the CSO, which profiles a wide variety of practice areas.
General Sources
- WESTLAW andLEXIS provide general search sites for job hunting. WESTLAW's Legal Directories and LEXIS' Career Library both provide access to information about jobs, firms, and public positions.
- The CSO has many books that provide information about employers. The National Directory of Legal Employers lists law firms alphabetically by state. The Legal Directory series (the light blue books), with Missouri, California, Colorado, D.C. Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and the DC area titles, is also handy. It covers smaller firms than the National Directory. CSO also has Yellow Books, which cover almost every imaginable area of employment for attorneys--Non-Profit, News Media, Law Firms, Judicial, Financial, Federal, State, Corporations, and Associations. These list title and phone number of the staff who work in the institutions.
- University of Denver Law Library's General Law Jobs Search Page http://www.law.du.edu/library/guides/01findingajobgeneralsources.pdf
A handy starting place. - The Wall Street Journal's Career page http://www.careers.wsj.com/
A comprehensive site with quite a few postings for attorneys.
B. Admiralty
I. Background Information
Careers in Admiralty and Maritime law / Robert M. Jarvis ; edited by William D. Henslee, Sara Vlajcic. Published Chicago, IL : American Bar Association, Law Student Division, c1993
Paper: Law Library KF1104 .J37
C. Bankruptcy
Law and Business Directory of Bankruptcy Attorneys 1995, Clifton, N.J. : Prentice Hall Law & Business, 1987-
Paper: CSO, Law Reference KF195.B35 L38 1995 ed
NALPacket: Law Specialties - Bankruptcy by NALP (National Association of Law Placement)
D. Employment Law
How To Build And Manage An Employment Law Practice
Paper: Law Library KF299.L3 .F37 1997
E. Entertainment/Sports Law
Entertainment Law Careers William D. Henslee ; edited by Sara Vlajcic.
Chicago, Ill. : American Bar Association, Law Student Division, c1998.
Paper: CSO
Describes the work of an entertainment lawyer, including building a practice. Covers the issues regarding representing various types of entertainers. Also lists entertainment law firms.
The Sports Business Directory
Bethesda, MD : E.J. Krause & Assoc., 1998.
Paper: CSO
Although not directed at attorney, provides useful information on sports agents and almost any imaginable business that relates to the sports industry.
Law & Business Directory of Entertainment and Sports Attorneys
Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall Law & Business, c1994-
Paper: CSO
Lists firms and attorneys in the firm that practice entertainment and sports law. Gives detailed biographical information on the attorneys.
F. Environmental Law
I. Directories of Employers
Amazing Environmental Organization Web Directory
Online: http://www.webdirectory.com/
Follow the "employment" link to a list of environmental employers, and other web sites listing environmental employers.
Conservation Directory. Published Washington, DC: National Wildlife Federation
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law
Organization and attorney profiles are listed geographically. Indexes include: Law School Alumni Index, Areas of Concentration Index, Regulatory Agency Experience Index, Attorney Index and Firm and Organization Index.
Directory of National Environmental Organizations. Published St. Paul, MN: US Environmental Directories.
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law
Includes a brief description of the mission of each listed organization.
Environmental Law Careers Directory. Berkeley, CA:Ecology law quarterly.
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law; Law Library KF299.E6 E58
This directory, produced by the Ecology Law Quarterly at Boalt Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley, includes listings for nonprofit organizations, government offices and private firms. A geographic index is included.
Law and Business Directory of Environmental Attorneys. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice Hall Law & Business.
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law
People of Color Environmental Groups. Atlanta, Georgia: Environmental Justice Resource Center, Clark Atlanta University.
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law
Includes lists of groups that provide legal assistance as well as an annotated bibliography of environmental justice literature.
II. Internships
Green Law: Public Interest Environmental Internships. Winston-Salem, NC: Career Education Institutes.
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law
Lists internships for law students at environmental organizations and government agencies.
III. Background Information
Careers in Natural Resources and Environmental Law / Percy R. Luney, jr. ; edited by William D. Henslee, Gary A. Munneke, Theodore P. Orenstein. Published Chicago, Ill. : American Bar Association, c1987
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law; Law Library KF299.E6 L86
Includes an overview of specific practice specialties within the field of natural resources and environmental law. Includes a description of employment options as well as employer reference lists.
Environmental Law Institute's Web site
Online: http://www.eli.org
For a quarter century, the Environmental Law Institute has played a pivotal role in shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically and abroad. Today, ELI is an internationally recognized independent research and education center. ELI advances environmental protection by improving law, policy, and management. ELI researches pressing problems, educates professionals and citizens about the nature of these issues, and convenes all sectors in forging effective solutions.
A Guide to Environmental Law in Washington, DC / Charles Openchowski. Published Washington, DC : Environmental Law Institute, c1991
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law; Law Library KFD1554 .O64
Although slightly dated, this book provides good background information on US government agencies as well as public interest groups and trade associations that work in on environmental law. Includes a chapter of essays that consist of "personal perspectives and observations on the overall process of creating, directing, and implementing environmental policies."
The New Complete Guide to Environmental Careers / Bill Sharp ; Published Washington, DC: Island Press, 1993
Paper: CSO Job Search - Environmental Law;
Provides background information about various environment related career options. Includes a section on job search and interviewing strategies.
G. Estate Planning
Estate Planning as a specialization intersects with the general areas of tax, real estate, personal property and family law. A good source of background information is the ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law. Other useful organizations include the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Estate Planning Alliance. See the Web page titled Law & Estate Planning Sites on the Internet by Mark J. Welch for additional links to information on the Web. A variety of related discussion boards and listservs are listed at the ABA site. These are a good source for networking and learning who some of the prominent firms are in the area. Because Estate Planning is most commonly handled by attorneys in private practice and firms, the Martindale Hubbell Areas of Practice Index is a good source although Estate Planning is not a discrete category. In spite of this many of the attorneys listed under taxation and related fields would be involved in estate planning. The Firm profiles are also indicative of whether or not a particular firm practices in that area.
H. Immigration
The Department of Justice's Immigration and Naturalization Service (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/) hires attorneys to manage cases arising under the laws and regulations governing immigration and naturalization. Their employment division is on the World Wide Web at http://www.usdoj.gov/06employment/.
Attorneys representing clients before the INS, or assisting clients with immigration/naturalization procedures, typically fall within two broad categories, private practitioners, and attorneys working for public interest/charitable organizations. Both types of practice are represented by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) "...is a national bar association of over 5,200 attorneys who practice and teach immigration law." (see http://www.aila.org/ ) Their website also provides a Job Center. The American Immigration Law Foundation is an example of this type of organization.
For a list of book titles in Washington University Libraries describing other types of careers with the INS, click here.
For general information about locating jobs in the Federal Government and Public Interest organizations, see the section below titled 'Job Search by Employer'
I. Intellectual Property
IP Profiles: A Guide to the World's Leading Intellectual Property Practices. Published Hong Kong : Asia Law & Practice
Paper: Law Library K1401.A13 I7 1998
Includes a "Year in Review" summary of IP law developments in Asia and the United States, as well as firm profiles for Asia, Europe, and North America.
Directory of Intellectual Property Attorneys. Published Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall Law & Business
Paper: CSO Job Search - Patent/Intellectual Property
Entries are listed geographically. Indexes include: Law School Alumni Index, Foreign Language Index, Special Knowledge Index (i.e. copyright, patent, trade secrets, trademark, unfair trade practices), Attorney & Patent Agent Index, and Firm & Organization Index.
Patent Law Job Fair Materials
Paper: CSO Job Search - Patent/Intellectual Property
This collection of resources includes a list of intellectual property law employers, their NALP listings and a substantial collection of individual firms' promotional material.
J. International Law
I. Directories of Employers
Asialaw Profiles. Published Hong Kong : Asia Law & Practice Pub. Ltd. : Euromoney Publications PLC, c1996-
Paper: CSO Job Search -- International; Law Library Reference KM35 .A84 1999
AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers. Published Hong Kong : Asia Law & Practice Publ., c1997-
Paper: CSO Job Search -- International; Law Library Reference KM35 .A841 1998
Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory
Paper: CSO; Law Library KF190 .M35 (Current Edition on Reserve, Previous Edition in LC Collection)
Online: LEXIS-NEXIS, or search the Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator by country on the Web at http://lawyers.martindale.com/marhub
Public Service and International Law: A Guide to Professional Opportunities in the United States and Abroad. Published New Haven, Conn.: Yale Law School, 1998
Paper: CSO Job Search -- International
This directory includes contact information and Web site addresses for employers at intergovernmental organizations, the United States government agencies, and International Non-Profit Organizations.
II. Internships
Careers in International Law: Your Indispensable Guide to Career Paths and Internships in International Law.
For more information, see entry below
III. Background Information
Careers in International Law / edited by Mark W. Janis Published Washington, DC : American Bar Association, Section of International Law and Practice, c1993
Paper: CSO Job Search -- International; Law Library JX1291 .C372
Careers in International Law: Your Indispensable Guide to Career Paths and Internships in International Law. Published Washington, DC : American Society of International Law, c1998.
Paper: Law Library Reserve K115 .I58 1998
Includes "practice area summaries" that discuss different types of international law practice, as well as an extensive listing of internship opportunities. This edition updates The 1997 International Law Career Guide: a Guide to Career Paths and Internships in International Law (Law Library Reference K115 .I58 1997). You may want to look at both editions since not all of the practice area summaries listed in the 1997 edition are reproduced in the 1998 volume.
ILSA Guide to Education and Career Development in International Law / editors, Jonathan Clark Green, Denise M. Hodge, Robert F. Kemp Published [Washington, DC] : International Law Students Association, c1991
Paper: CSO Job Search -- International; Law Library Reserve K118.I5 I47
Includes tips for career development, essays on opportunities in international law, and a country-by-country survey of professional qualifications desired by foreign law firms.
K. Litigation
Litigation as a practice area transects with most other legal specialties and thus can involve a wide variety of subject matter, civil and criminal. Similarly the type of client can range from a governmental agency, corporation or private firm. Nonetheless, litigation is characterized as a specific practice area because it encompasses a common body of strategic and procedural knowledge. Despite this, the professional organizations tend to focus on a particular area of law, i.e. criminal litigation, personal injury, intellectual property, etc., so a job searcher might want to begin by considering which subject specialty attracts him or her, and begin exploring the materials unique to that area of specialization. The American Bar Association's Section on Litigation is the largest of the ABA sections and provides a good source of background information, including an ongoing listserv.
Careers in Civil Litigation. Monica Bay. Published by the American Bar Association. 1990.
Paper: Law Library KF299 .C4B39 1990
How to Build and Manage a Personal Injury Practice. K. William Gibson. American Bar Association, Section of Law Practice Management.
Paper: Law Library: KF8925.P4 G52 1997
Litigation (a periodical) American Bar Association
Paper: Law Library Reserve
Law & Business directory of litigation attorneys / in cooperation with the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation. Published Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall Law & Business, c1989-
Paper: SLU Law Library KF195.L53 L39
L. Tax
Ford's national referral directory of law firms by specialties. New York, N.Y.: Institute for Office Management & Administration, c1987-
Paper: Law Library KF190 .F66
The Lawyer's almanac. New York, N.Y.: Law & Business, Inc., c1981-
Paper: Law Library KF297 .L3
Lawyer's register by specialties and fields of law including a directory of corporate counsel. Solon, Ohio : Lawyer's Register Pub. Co., 1983-
Paper: Law Library KF190 .L36
Martindale-Hubbell law directory. Areas of practice index. New Providence, NJ : Martindale-Hubbell, c1993-
Paper: Law Library KF190 .M3513
Tax Directory. Arlington, Va.: Tax Analysts. 1985-.
Paper: Law Library HJ9 T39
III. Job Search by Employer (Non-Firm)
A. Clerkships
I. Directories of Employers
Almanac of the Federal Judiciary. Published Chicago, Ill. : LawLetters
Paper: CSO Job Search -- Judiciary; Law Library Reference KF8700.A19 A4
Federal and State Judicial Clerkship Directory. Published New Orleans, La. : National Association for Law Placement.
Paper: CSO Job Search -- Judiciary
Want's Federal-State Court Directory. Published Washington, DC : WANT Pub. Co.
Paper: Law Library Reference KF8700.A19 F42
II. Background Information
Chambers Handbook for Judges' Law Clerks and Secretaries / Federal Judicial Center. Published [Washington, DC] : The Center ; [St. Paul, Minn.] : Distributed as a public service by West Pub. Co., 1995.
Paper: CSO Job Search -- Judiciary; Law Library LC KF8807 .C52 1995
This handbook provides an overview of chambers operations and the work of the federal court. It includes a list of "Selected Supplementary Reading for Law Clerks" (p. 6) that lists several journal articles on the clerking experience.
Court Web Site Links maintained by the National Center for State Courts
Online: http://www.ncsc.dni.us/court/sites/courts.htm
LegalTrac SearchBank
Online: http://find.galegroup.com/menu/commonmenu.do?userGroupName=wustl_law
Search for journal articles on the clerkship experience. Some useful subjects to search are "Law Clerks" and "Judges."
B. Corporate/Business
Business and Finance Career Directory. Hawthorne, NJ: Career Press. 1st ed. (1989)-
Paper: CSO
Ennico, Clifford. Business Lawyer’s Handbook: What Business Lawyers Do. Deerfield, IL : Clark Boardman Callaghan, 1992.
Paper: CSO
Corporate yellow Book: Who's Who at the Leading Listed US Companies. New York, NY : Monitor Pub. Co., Winter 1999.
Paper: CSO
Directory of Corporate Counsel: Metropolitan St. Louis. St. Louis, Mo.: House Counsel Committee, Business Law Section. 1997
Paper: CSO
Law and Business Directory of Corporate Counsel. Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall Law & Business 1992-93
Paper:CSO
Law Firms Yellow Book: who's who in the management of the leading US law firms. New York, NY : Monitor Pub. Co. Winter 1999.
Paper: CSO
Martindale-Hubbell law directory. Corporate Law Departments, volume 17. New Providence, NJ : Martindale-Hubbell, 1997.
Paper: CSO, Law Library KF190 .M3513
National Trade and Professional Associations. Washington, DC : Columbia Books 1998
Paper: CSO
State and Regional Associations of the United States. Washington, DC: Columbia Books. 1998
Paper: CSO
Directory of Corporate Counsel. Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall Law & Business. 1997.
Paper: Law Library KF195 .C6 D57, CSO
Directory of Corporate Counsel: Metropolitan St. Louis. St. Louis, Mo.: House Counsel Committee, Business Law Section. 1997
Paper: Law Library KF195 .C6 D57, CSO
Lawyer’s Register International by Specialties and Fields of Law: Including a Directory of Corporate Counsel. Solon, Ohio : Lawyer's Register Pub. Co.,
Paper: Law Library KF190 .L36, CSO
Martindale-Hubbell corporate law directory. New Providence, NJ: Martindale-Hubbell. 1994-
Paper: Law Library KF190 .M3495, CSO
Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives. New York : Standard & Poor's Corp, 1975-
Paper: Law Library HG4057 A4, CSO
Government
CSO has a large collection of Yellow Books, which list the title and phone number of staff members in State and Federal Government. These are a useful place to start from when attempting to locate a position ina geographic region or in a particular agency. The Law Library and CSO also have some general guides to government positions for attorneys. The Law Library holds Now Hiring : Government Jobs for Lawyers on Reserve.
LEXIS and WESTLAW also have information available for those searching for positions in government. LEXIS has the Government Job Sources file. WESTLAW has Government Legal Directory (WLD-GOV).
Federal
- Department of Justice's Vacancies http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html
The DOJ's site for jobs. - FedWorld Federal Government Job Site http://www.fedworld.gov/jobs/jobsearch.html.
Search using the term attorney. Can limit by State or States. - Federal Government's Office of Personnel Management http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Another official site for federal jobs. - Federal Jobs Digest http://www.jobsfed.com/
They claim to have more federal vacancies than any other source. Lacks an overarching search mechanism. - CQ's Federal Staff Directory, available in Career Services. It contains executive biographies, includes independent agencies, quasi-official, international, and non-governmental organizations.
- Washington Representatives, available in Career Services.
Compilation of Washington, DC representatives of the major national associations, labor unions, and corporations, as well as registered foreign agents, lobbyists, lawyers, law firms, and special interest groups. Details clients for firms and areas of legislative and regulatory concern. - Invest in Your Future: Legal Opportunities at the SEC.
Gov't Docs SE 1.2:L 52/3/996 (Level 2)
State & Local
Career Services has binders with job announcements from local organizations. This includes state and local government positions--so don't forget to check there, too.
- Missouri Legal Directory.
Los Angeles [etc.] Legal Directories Pub. Co
Career Services and Law Library Reference
Detailed guide to attorneys and mediators in Missouri. More detailed information than available in the National guides, providing access to small and medium-sized firms.
- America's Job Bank http://www.ajb.dni.us/html/seekers.html
Allows searching of a national database. Also provides links to classified ads in various locales.
- Government Jobs http://www.govtjobs.com/
A list of city, county, and State positions in various fields. - Missouri Works http://www.works.state.mo.us/index.htm. Select "Job Search" enter "attorney" or relevant term in the search box.
- Jobs listed by the Missouri Attorney General's Office www.ago.state.mo.us/jobs.htm
- Missouri Judiciary Web page: http://www.osca.state.mo.us/. Select a court from the top of the page, and look for a link to "Job Announcements"
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch classifieds http://www.stltoday.com/jobs
Public Interest
- National Association for Public Interest Law: http://www.napil.org/HOME.html
NAPIL's web site lists internships and job openings. - Idealist http://www.idealist.org/
Over 16,000 organizations represented. One can search by geography, type of organization, or position. Also has email list that one can subscribe to, which will email recent job openings or internships at non-profits. - The University of Michigan's Public Service JobNet.
Lawful pursuit : careers in public interest law / Ronald W. Fox; edited by William D. Henslee and Sara Vlajcic.
Paper: Law Library KF 299 .P8 F59 1995]Materials in Career Services:
NAPIL Directory of Public Interest Legal Internships (A compilation of public interest internship opportunities for lawyers working for social change).
Paper: CSO
Public Service Employer Directory.
Paper: CSO
NAPIL Postgraduate Fellowships Guide.
Paper: CSO
Public Interest Job Search Guide.
Paper: CSO
The Insider's Guide to Private/Nonprofit Legal Employers in the Washington, DC Metro Area.
Paper: CSO
IV. Non-Legal
A. Introduction/General
More than a few law students experience a realization sometime in their academic careers, some sooner, some later. This epiphany of sorts leaves them with a sense that a traditional legal career will not suit them, temperamentally, intellectually, spiritually, or otherwise. Those individuals often find themselves casting about for alternatives. Fortunately, there are a growing number of alternative work paths, in which a law degree is a definite advantage, in some cases even a requirement. These go beyond the traditional options of government and corporate careers, to include social work, teaching, international and national business, information sciences, public interest, all amid a host of other possibilities. The resources outlined here are starting points for your exploration of non-legal career paths. This guide will be expanded over time, so check back frequently to see any recently added information. Please do not hesitate to contact a reference librarian for additional assistance in researching your career path. A word on locations; the following resources are located in several different libraries and offices, including the Law Library, Olin Library, SLU Law or SLU Pius or the Career Services Office. Those residing in local libraries are labeled with a location and classification number. Those available in the Career Services office will be labeled 'CSO'.
Getting started: Know Thyself
Finding yourself and a good job: Guides to self-evaluation
What color is your parachute? : a practical manual for job-hunters & career changers / by Bolles, Richard Nelson. / Berkeley, Calif. : Ten Speed Press, c1971-.
Paper: Olin Library,Olin Reference,Social Work Library : HF5382.7 B64
The three boxes of life : and how to get out of them : an introduction to life/work planning / Richard Nelson Bolles
Paper: Olin Level 1 Stacks HF5381 B63512 1978
Bolles was one of the original "career planning" gurus. These titles date back to the 1970s but are regularly updated and remain highly recommended sources to spark thinking about life and work in innovative ways.
Do what you are: discover the perfect career for you through the secrets of personality type / by Tieger, Paul D. and Barbara Barron-Tieger
Paper:SLU Pius : BF698.9.O3 T54 1995
Self-Assessment tools for practicing attorneys and law students contemplating alternative careers / by Share and Alexander (1994)
Paper: CSO
This is a compilation of quizzes, and bibliographic information on other self-assessment tools.
The Kiersey Temperament sorter - This popular personality profiler is available on the Web at
Web: http://www.keirsey.com/cgi-bin/keir sey/newkts.cgi
Myers Brigg Personality Types and Careers
Web: http://www.keirsey.com/cgi-bin/keir sey/newkts.cgi
Myers Brigg is another popular personality profiling device. This site provides information about the test and its relationship to career choice.
Step Two: Read a good book
Books in our Collection
Beyond L.A. Law : break the traditional lawyer mold / compiled by Janet Smith for the National Association for Law
Placement
Paper: Law Library KF297 .A2 B41998 (3rd Floor)
Breaking traditions: work alternatives for lawyers / Donna M. Killoughey, editor ... [et al.]
Chicago, Ill. : American Bar Association, Section of Law Practice Management c1993
Paper: CSO, Law Library KF297 .B67 1993
This title is geared toward lawyers seeking flexibility within traditional practice, as well as those pursuing alternative forms of work. It is well-written with extensive discussions. It is NOT a directory or employer listing.
Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers, Third Edition by Gary A. Munneke and William D. Henslee (ABA Law Student Division)
Paper: Law Library KF297 .U83 1994 (3rd Floor)
Alternative Careers for Lawyers / Hillary Mantis New York : Random House, 1997.
Paper:CSO
This short guide is wholly advice oriented. It contains short profiles of individuals who have chosen alternative paths. Although not a comprehensive discussion by an means, it is easy to read and a good place to begin a review of career goals.
Nonlegal Careers: New Opportunities for Lawyers by the Standing Committee on Professional Utilization (ABA)
Paper: CSO
Turning points : new paths and second careers for lawyers / George H. Cain. Chicago, Ill. : Senior Lawyers Division, American Bar Association, c1994.
Paper:CSO
This book is geared toward the mature lawyer making a mid- to late- life career change. It includes chapters on moving from private practice into other areas of law and other types of quasi-legal work (such as ADR).
Changing jobs : a handbook for lawyers for the 1990s / Heidi L. McNeil, editor Chicago, Ill. : American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division and Section of Law Practice Management, c1994.
Paper: CSO
This highly recommended title contains a comprehensive discussion of self- and career- analysis in addition to practical advice on job hunting techniques, salary, and negotiations. It is enhanced by profiles of different types of employers and geographical areas.
What can you do with a law degree? : a lawyer's guide to career alternatives inside, outside, & around the law / Deborah Arron Seattle, WA : Niche Press, c1999.
Paper: Law Library, Olin Library KF297 .A875 1999 (3rd Floor)
Judgment reversed : alternative careers for lawyers / Jeffrey Strausser. Hauppauge, NY : Barron's, c1997.
Paper: CSO
Subtitled "an attorney's advice on how to use your legal skills successfully in another field," this book contains chapters on making contacts, networking strategies, and finding your way to a new career path. It is very pragmatic in its orientation.
Lawful pursuit : careers in public interest law
Chicago, IL : American Bar Association, Law Student Division, c1995.
Paper: Law Library KF299.P8 F59 1995 (3rd Floor)
by Grant and Welper for the National Association for Law Placement, 1991
Paper: CSO
This looseleaf binder doesn't list jobs or resources, but does discuss the mechanics of finding and seeking jobs, i.e. constructing resumes, etc.
Running from the law : why good lawyers are getting out of the legal profession by Arron, Deborah L., 1950- Berkeley, Calif. : Ten Speed Press, c1991<br /> Paper: CSO, Social Work Library, KF297 A87 1991
This title features a thoughtful discussion of problems in (and with) law practice as traditionally conceived. There are numerous profiles of those who have left the profession to pursue other kinds of work.
JD preferred! : legal career alternatives. Washington, DC : Federal Reports, c1995.
Paper: CSO, University of Missouri - Columbia KF297.Z9 F44 1995
This is an excellent looseleaf binder with examples and description of a wide range of options. It is organized by industry categories, e.g. Media/Technology, Internation, insurance, etc.
Books in other Collections
Careers in secret operations : how to be a federal intelligence officer / by David Atlee Phillips
Bethesda, Md. : Stone Trail Press, c1984
Paper: Olin Level 4 Stacks UB251 U5 P45 1984
JD preferred : 400+ things you can do with a law degree (other than practice law) / Federal Reports Inc.
Washington, DC : Federal Reports, c1994.
Paper: SLU Law Library KF297 .J39 1994
Full disclosure: do you really want to be a lawyer? / American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides, 1989.
Paper:SLU Law Library KF300 .F85 1992
Federal law-related careers directory : a guide to over 150 law-related careers / editors, Richard L. Hermann, Linda
P. Sutherland, Jeanette J. Sobajian Washington, DC : Federal Reports Inc., c1994 3rd ed
Paper: Social Work Library, KF299 .G6 F43 1994
Useful Web Sites for exploring career alternatives:
CareerBuilder (http://careerbuilder.com) - Basic, corporate oriented
CareerPath (http://careerpath.com) - Informal, but contains useful employer lists
Career Mosaic (http://www.careermosaic.com/) - Includes a jobs database with searchable fields
Online Career Center (http://www.occ.com/) - Job database and a career assessment test are several of the features at this informal site
Recruiters Online Network (http://www.ipa.com/) - A self-described "worldwide virtual community of employment firms":
Step Three: Who will hire you?
Private Sector:
Many organization and associations value the JD even in positions which do not involve the practice of law. To learn more about the variety of non-governmental organizations in existence, see the:
Encyclopedia Of Associations. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1961. AS 22 .Ea. .
Paper: Law Library, Reference Desk
This reference work is also available in WESTLAW, database identifier EOA.
Public Sector:
Positions at government agencies also vary greatly. Some require JDs but not the practice of law. For many, the degree is an advantage, if not a requirement.
Contact names and human resources officials within departments of the federal government are described in the annual publication:
The United States Government Manual. Washington, DC: Office of the Federal Register, et. al., 1973/74. AE2.108/2
Paper: Law Library, Reference Desk
Online: Westlaw (US-GOVMAN)
Another good source is the:
Federal Yellow Book. Washington, DC: Washington Monitor, Inc., 1976. JK 6 .F45
Paper: Law Library, Reference Desk
If you're interested in the DC area this is a source of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of members of Congress and officials of federal departments and agencies as well as private, nonprofit groups in the Washington area.
Washington information directory. [Washington] Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
Paper: Olin Library Reference F192.3 .W33 1998-99 ed
Public Interest:
The Public Interest Employer Directory
Paper: Law Library, Reserve Desk KF299.P8 P8 1993
This resource lists available public interest positions across the U.S.and is updated each academic year.
Academic Institutions:
Teaching is another option to be considered. Opportunities exist in both traditional law schools, as well as other types of academic institutions.
AALS Placement Bulletin -
Paper: Law Library Reserve Desk
Lists and describes law school job opportunities for professors, administrators & instructors. The AALS web site features a recruitment section with some excellent information.
The Chronicle of Higher Education -
Paper: Law Library Reserve Desk
Weekly publication listing current academic positions available. Job listings are also available in the Web version at http://chronicle.com. A password is required to view the most current edition's job listing. That is available from a reference librarian (935-6459).
Directory of Law Teachers - AALS
Paper: Law Library KF266 .D552
Libraries:
The most direct use of a law degree in a library setting is, of course, in a law library. The degree is now typically an entry level requirement in many academic law libraries and a desirable one for other types of law libraries (county, state, law firm). This field, however, requires an additional professional credential, the Master's in Library or Information Science Degree. With the advent of digital information, a Master's in a computer science-related field, is slowly being accepted as a substitute in the case of positions dealing with electronic resources, but the MLIS is still a baseline requirement for most professional positions. The American Association of Law Libraries is the professional association for law libraries. A law degree is not as directly applicable to work in other types of library, but can be valuable nonetheless. A few years ago a lawyer was appointed to head the public library system of one of America's largest cities. The general professional organization for libraries is the American Library Association.
AALL directory and handbook Chicago : Published for the American Association of Law Libraries with the compliments of Commerce Clearing House, Inc., c1987-
Paper: Law Library Reserve Desk Z675.L2 A2 1998/99
AALL spectrum: American Association of Law Libraries magazine
Chicago, Ill. : The Association, [1996-
Paper: Law Library Reserve Desk
And finally: Back to School
Official Guide to Financing Your MBA / Bart Astor
Princeton, NJ : Graduate Management Admission Council, 1994
Paper: Social Work Library LB2337.4 b A78 1994
Information and descriptions on more than 600 graduate management programs can be found in:
The Official guide to MBA programs
Princeton, NJ : Graduate Management Admission Council, c1986-
Paper: Olin Library, Business Reference HD30.42 U5 O37 1994
In pursuit of the PhD / William G. Bowen and Neil L. Rudenstine
Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, 1992
Paper: Olin Library, Level 2 Stacks LB2371.4 B68 1992
V. Employer Background Information
This section provides information on how to find background information on specific firms or people who have granted you an interview.
A. Information about a Person
There are a number of resources available to find information about an individual with whom you are interviewing. One way is to search for newspaper articles about the individual. There are a number of directories that list those newspapers that are accessible via the web. One directory is ‘NewsDirectory.com’ at http://www.ecola.com/. Click on ‘United States newspapers’ which brings you to a directory of newspapers arranged by state and by area code. When you locate the newspaper check to see if there is an archives. For example, if you were to interview in Chicago, you could look at the Chicago Tribune via their website at http://chicagotribune.com/. You would then click on the icon for the archives which brings you to a screen where you can search for information on the individual with whom you are to interview. You should be aware that on some site, while searching is free, a charge is assessed to print the articles.
Individual Attorneys
Law reviews, legal newspapers and newsletters are an excellent source of information. There are two indexes of legal periodic literature. The first is the Index to Legal Periodicals is WilsonWeb. From the Law School’s Homepage, click on ‘Information Resources,’ then on ‘Law Library,’ and then on the icon ‘Web Subscriptions.’ The icon is located among the gold toolbars on the left hand side of the page. When you click on the link to the ‘Web Subscriptions,’ the resulting window will have two frames. Scroll down in the left hand frame until you see ‘Index to Legal Periodicals.’ Click on ‘Index to Legal Periodicals.’
The second is the LegalTrac. In addition to the periodicals indexed, LegalTrac also indexes legal newspapers and newsletters. From the Law School’s Homepage, click on ‘Information Resources,’ then on ‘Law Library,’ and then on the icon ‘Web Subscriptions.’ The icon is located among the gold toolbars on the left hand side of the page. When you click on the link to the ‘Web Subscriptions, the resulting window will have two frames. Scroll down in the left hand frame until you see ‘LegalTrac SearchBank.’ Click on ‘LegalTrac SearchBank.’
Who’s Who in American Law. Chicago, IL: Marquis Who's Who [KF372 .W48] Provides information regarding education, vital statistics, career history, awards, publications and memberships.
Judges
Almanac of the Federal Judiciary. Chicago, IL: LawLetters.
Paper: Law Library KF8700.A19 A4, CSO
American Bench: Judges of the Nation. Minneapolis, MN: Reginald Bishop Forster & Associates
Paper: Law Library, Reserve and at KF190 .A54, CSO
Confirmation Hearings. US Congress
To locate confirmation hearings, use the CIS Congressional Universe. It is available through the Law School's web site, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp. Click on Congressional publications and then enter the name of the individual with whom you have the interview as a subject. The hearing is held by the Law Library in microfiche and/or paper in the Government Documents and Microfiche Collections on the Second Floor of the Library.
Federal Judges and Justices, a Current Listing of Nominations, Confirmations, Elevations, Resignations Retirements. Littleton, CO: Fred B. Rothman & Co.,
Paper: Law Library KF8776.A15 F43, CSO
B. Information about a Firm or Company
There are a number of resources available to find information about a firm or company. As with searching for information about an individual attorney, one way is to search for newspaper articles about the firm. Westlaw and Lexis have databases of newspapers and of legal newspapers. Via the web, try ‘NewsDirectory.com’ at http://www.ecola.com/ (see above section on individuals). Findlaw.com also has links to newspapers, business periodicals and legal newspapers. Search for the firm name. Additional sources are individually listed below.
- NALP Directory of Corporate Listings. (on LEXIS :Career;NALPCO)
- Martindale Hubbell. Search corporations or law firms on the web or on LEXIS (corporations -Marhub;corp or firms - Marhub;usprof).
The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory consists of more than 900,000 lawyer and law firm listings. It is organized by city and state, and includes indexes to lawyers and law firms by area of practice and alphabetical listing. Firm listing includes areas of practice as well as individual attorneys' biographical information. Keep in mind that firms must pay Martindale-Hubbell for the privilege of being listed in their directory, so if you don't find what you are looking for, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.
- Yahoo has a directory of law firms and legal offices. Not complete but nice long alphabetical list.
- The American Lawyer. On Reserve in the Library and on LEXIS. Every other October a Summer Associates Survey surveys the reactions of previous summer associates. The other October issues contain a survey from 3rd and 4th year associates and their opinions about their firms.
- National Law Journal. Search on WESTLAW (NLJ) or LEXIS for information about a firm. Web version They publish a survey of starting salary information for the 250 largest US firms; a salary survey for attorneys working in different types of practices; and information about corporate legal departments.
- Search the newspapers (LEXIS/NEXIS: News;Currnt or in WESTLAW: Majpap) and the legal newspapers(Lexis: Legnew;allleg or WESTLAW: legnewsl)
- Job Seeker's Guide to Private and Public Companies.
Paper: Business Library, HF5382.75 U6 J634.
Information on over 15,000 corporations. - Associates at prominent firms in major cities rank their level of satisfaction on a range of criteria at the American Lawyer Associate Survey 2001 Web page at http://www.law.com/career_center/lists_rankings.html
