Alternatives to a JD

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If law school is not right for you or you’d like to gain experience before pursuing law school, consider some of these opportunities. Some example duties and responsibilities are listed below:

Law, Government & Policy:

  • Legal Assistant roles at Law Firms
    • Support attorneys by managing client communications and customer service, conducting legal research for cases, and drafting or proofreading legal documents and correspondence.
  • Political Associate for political strategy and political media firms or at organizations such as the Public Affairs Council
    • Work with political staff to research and analyze elections across the country. Conduct background research on key issues and candidates in support of critical political programs. Manage the digital facets of a candidate’s campaign.
  • Research Associate at a Think Tank or Consulting Agency
    • Review dense academic material, analyze quantitative and qualitative data and communicate findings in a succinct and digestible manner to different audiences to influence public policy and public opinion.
  • Policy Specialist for Legal Policy at a tech company
    • Work with law enforcement and government agencies on criminal investigations such as cybercrime, domestic/international terrorism, organized crime, mis/disinformation, and election interference, while protecting user privacy and freedom of speech. Investigate global legal requests and determine actions based on jurisdiction and company policies.

Fellowships & Other Opportunities 

  • San Francisco Fellows Program – The Fellows program is a unique opportunity to learn about public administration in local government while working full time as a City employee. Fellows work on various programs and projects that have a direct impact on City operations. Projects span a broad range of City functions and departments, involving analysis, planning, and program development.
  • Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs – develops emerging leaders to work and lead across different sectors by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and networks to accelerate positive change. Throughout the nine months, each Fellow participates in a series of full-time projects across a variety of sectors in public affairs, including a final independent project of the Fellow’s choosing. Sectors may include: Government, Business, Electoral Politics, Organized Labor, Media , and Non-profit/Philanthropy
  • PPIA Junior Summer Institute – The PPIA Junior Summer Institute at UC Berkeley offers student participants a rigorous seven-week program of coursework designed to improve the participants’ analytical and quantitative skills vital to success at top-level graduate programs in public policy and international affairs as well as law school.
  • Partners for Justice – PFJ hires Public Defender Client Advocates in ten public defender offices across the country. This is an in-person, full-time, entry-level position that requires a two-year commitment (further employment beyond the two-year period is at the discretion of the public defender’s office). Advocates are employees of a public defender office and participants in the PFJ program, a fellowship that provides supplemental benefits in addition to the benefits of their full-time employment. 

Online Resources