Transcript Santa Clara University School of Law

Santa Clara University
School of Law
Choosing a
Practice Area
Presented by:
SCU Law Career Services
Getting on the Path
• How Do You Know
How to Get to Your
Destination if You
Don’t Have a Goal?
Employment Trends
• 40% of law graduates in legal positions
will leave their 1st job after 3 years
• Most law school graduates will change
jobs at least 7 times during their
professional careers
• Conclusion: a lot of movement within
(and sometimes out of) the legal
profession. What could have ensured
more satisfaction?
Common Practice Areas
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Intellectual Property
Family Law
Employment
Insurance
Criminal
Corporate
Civil Litigation
Intellectual Property
Family Law
Employment
Insurance
Criminal
Corporate
Civil Litigation
Questions to ask yourself when
choosing a practice area
• Who do you want to represent?
• What type of relationship do you want to
have with your clients?
• Do you mind facing emotionally or morally
charged issues?
• Is important for you to be in court?
• Do you like to work on your own or in teams?
• Are you comfortable with being adversarial?
• Is it important to have a predictable schedule
and reasonable hours?
Who do you want to represent?
• Individuals
• Businesses
• Government
Practice Areas Representing
Individuals
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Estate Planning
Employment – plaintiff
Consumer Protection
Personal Injury / Torts - plaintiff
Family Law
Criminal Defense
Public Interest – direct services
Immigration
Practice Areas Representing
Businesses
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Banking & Commercial Finance
Bankruptcy
Commercial Litigation
Contracts
Corporate / M&A / Securities
Insurance
Construction Defect
Intellectual Property
Commercial Real Estate
Practice Areas Representing
Government
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Antitrust
Criminal Prosecution
Municipal Law
Government Contracts
Legislative Practice
Tax
Immigration
Military
What type of relationship do you want
with your clients?
Outside Advisor
Commercial Litigation
Employment Defense
Insurance Defense
Banking & Finance
Patent Prosecution
Integrated Advisor
Estate Planning
Corporate
Research Attorney
Insurance
Tax
Contracts
Do you mind facing emotionally or
morally charged issues?
Yes
Corporate
IP
Real Estate
Tax
Contracts
Municipal
No
Employment
Family
Healthcare
Estate Planning
Product Liability
Insurance
Class Action Litigation
Is important for you to be in
court often?
Yes
Criminal Defense
Criminal Prosecution
Military
Judicial (clerk or court
research attorney)
No
Transactions
Commercial litigation
IP
Banking & Finance
Insurance
Do you like to work on your own
or in teams?
Teams
Commercial Litigation
Corporate / M&A
Criminal Law
Contracts
Banking & Finance
Solo
Estate Planning
Family Law
Patent Prosecution
Research Attorney
Insurance
Tax
Are you comfortable with an
adversarial practice?
Yes
Litigation
Criminal
Bankruptcy
Family Law
Insurance
No
Estate Planning
Patent Prosecution
Research Attorney
Tax
Land Use
Corporate
Contracts
Is it important to have a predictable
schedule & reasonable hours?
Yes
Patent Prosecution
Tax
Estate Planning
Land Use
Municipal
Government
Criminal
No
Bankruptcy
Corporate / M&A
Contracts
Litigation
Insurance
Commercial Real
Estate
How to Learn More
• LCS Library
“The Official Guide to Legal Specialties”
“Careers in Law”
also see other practice-area specific books
• Talk to lawyers in different practice areas
• Talk to your professors about their experiences
• Book a counseling appointment with LCS