The Law Track is designed for students interested in the diverse and impactful world of law and legal careers. Here, you’ll find resources and guidance to help you explore law-related opportunities, prepare for law school, and build the foundational skills for success in the legal profession.
Necessary Skills
Success in the legal profession requires a diverse set of skills and personal qualities, both inside and outside the classroom. Building a strong foundation in research, analysis, communication, and ethical judgment will position you for law school and beyond. Review these core skills and attributes to understand what law schools and employers value most in future legal professionals.
- Core Skills for Legal Careers (from American Bar Association):
- Problem solving
- Critical reading
- Writing and editing
- Oral communication and listening
- Research
- Organization and management
- Public service and promotion of justice
- Relationship-building and collaboration
- Background knowledge
- Exposure to the law
- Additional Competencies Valued in Law School Admission:
- Integrity, trustworthiness, diligence, attention to detail, responsibility, accountability, courtesy, respect, teamwork.
What to Do Now to Prepare
Preparing for a career in law involves thoughtful self-assessment, building valuable experiences, and making informed academic choices. Take proactive steps now to explore your interests and strengths, connect with the pre-law community, and gain exposure to law-related coursework and activities. These efforts will help you clarify your goals and position yourself for law school and future legal careers.
- Assess Interests, Values, and Skills:
- Take career assessments (MyNextMove, SII, MBTI, CliftonStrengths, Career Onestop).
- Reflect on passions and core beliefs via personality tests and advisor conversations.
- Get Connected:
- Create Handshake & LinkedIn accounts.
- Subscribe to UCC’s Law Track newsletter.
- Attend UM Law Day, LSAC Law School Forums, law-related UCC programs/events.
- Explore Academics:
- While there’s no required majors/classes, law-adjacent courses can help explore the field and develop necessary skills (consult your pre-law academic advisor to explore options).
- LSA Newnan Academic Advising has a page on pre-law classes to consider
- Engage in research and/or advanced writing/analysis courses.
- While there’s no required majors/classes, law-adjacent courses can help explore the field and develop necessary skills (consult your pre-law academic advisor to explore options).
- Engage Beyond the Classroom:
- Join a pre-law student organization, service group, Michigan Debate program
- Find volunteer or paid work in law-related, and non-law-related, environments.
- Attend law school info sessions, open houses, sit in on classes.
- Reach out about job shadowing, conduct informational interviews, use UCAN/LinkedIn for networking.
- Consider academic programs like the UCC’s Public Internship Program and Michigan in Washington (College of LSA)
- Track Your Activities:
- Maintain a detailed spreadsheet of experiences (dates, hours, duties, reflection).
- Familiarize yourself with the LSAT (and GRE):
- Use the LSAC’s LawHub for free (and paid) LSAT preparation resources.
- Explore Law Degree Types:
- JD, LLM, SJD, MSL/MLS/JM.
- JD is the only degree that confers eligibility to sit for the bar and practice as a US attorney.
- LLM and SJD are post-JD advanced degrees, mainly for specialization or scholarship.
- MSL/MLS/JM are not intended for bar practice but provide legal literacy for professionals in other fields.
- Consider other grad degrees (MPP, MPA, MBA) as pathways to certain law-adjacent careers.
- JD, LLM, SJD, MSL/MLS/JM.
- Explore the fields of law:
- Financial Planning:
- Learn about costs, repayment, and special programs (e.g., AccessLex regularly holds webinars on financial planning and also have programs like MAX Pre-Law).
- Explore AccessLex's Law School Scholarship Databank.
| Degree | Full Name | Intended Audience | Outcome/Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD | Juris Doctor | Aspiring attorneys | Practice law after passing the bar |
| LLM | Master of Laws | JD/international lawyers | Specialization; sometimes US bar eligibility |
| SJD | Doctor of Juridical Science | Legal academics/research | Research, teaching, law professor |
| MSL/MLS/JM | Master of Legal Studies, etc. | Non-lawyers | Legal literacy for other professions |
Internship and Job Essentials
Gaining practical experience is a vital step on your path to a legal career. Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer roles can help you develop key skills, explore different areas of the legal field, and expand your professional network. Use this section to understand typical hiring timelines, discover top job and internship search resources, and learn which search terms and strategies will help you find the right opportunities.
- Hiring Timelines for Pre-Law Opportunities:
- Government, campaign, and policy positions: Post as early as September/October for summer.
- Nonprofit & public interest: Many deadlines late fall to early spring; some rolling.
- Law firms/corporate legal: Postings for paralegals, legal assistants frequent and rolling; larger firms often post gap year programs in late fall.
- Political campaigns: Rolling as election cycles ramp up.
- Academic research, honors programs: Applications usually in winter for fall starts.
- Job/Internship Search Sites:
- UCC Resources - Handshake and Local Opportunities
- Forage - Showcase your skills through a law-related virtual experience
- USAJobs.gov - Official site for government jobs
- Government Jobs - Look for federal, city and state jobs at all levels.
- Department of Labor - Learn about wages and find postings
- Career One Stop - Great source for career exploration, training and jobs.
- Political Job Hunt - A collection of politically centered jobs and careers
- Federal Agency Job Vacancies - Look for listings for each agency and department
- NALP Directory of Legal Employers - Provides information on law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and corporations
- iHireLegal - For paralegal jobs
- idealist - Helps people move from intention to action all over the world
- indeed - A broad, searchable posting site
- Networking/Connections:
- Example Keywords for Search:
- "Legal assistant", "Compliance", "Paralegal", "Policy analyst", "Government affairs", "Legal research", "Legal operations”
Typical Entry-Level Jobs
The legal field offers a wide variety of entry-level career options, both for those holding a Juris Doctor (JD) and for those pursuing law-related roles outside of traditional legal practice. Understanding the different types of positions—and whether they require a law degree—can help you clarify your goals and chart your path forward in the legal profession.
Law jobs are often categorized as “JD Required,” “JD Advantage,” or “Other Professional.” Depending on your planned career pathway, this can also help determine whether law school and obtaining a JD is right for you.
- JD Required:
- Summer associate (for law students)
- First-year associate
- Non-partner-track associate
- JD Advantage/Preferred:
- Alternative dispute resolution specialist
- Regulatory analyst, compliance professional
- FBI agent, federal/state/local government roles
- Human resources, personnel, or consulting
- Law firm professional development, law school admin roles
- Risk management, insurance, legal journalism/teaching
- Paralegal/legal assistant
- 600+ Things You Can Do with a Law Degree
Industry Trends
The legal profession and law school landscape are continually evolving in response to changes in society, technology, and the job market. Staying current with industry trends, employment data, and shifts in legal education will help you make informed decisions as you plan your path to—and through—law school.
- Legal Practice:
- Legal Education:
- Law School Transparency
- American Bar Association Statistics – Enrollment, bar passage, and employment data
- American Bar Association Required Disclosures and 509 Reports – A 509 report is a standardized disclosure document that every ABA accredited law school is required to publish annually and provides detailed, transparent data about each law school's most recent entering class and other important information
- LSAT news and updates
- GRE news and updates
- Law School Rankings – While not an advocate of law school rankings for targeting, this resource can help you find the median GPA and LSAT scores of accepted students.