Courses
Voices of the Law: Exploring Legal Careers One Story at a Time
About the course
Take a deep dive into the diverse career paths in the legal field. You'll hear from experienced lawyers who'll share firsthand accounts of their careers, giving you a clearer picture of what it's like to work in different legal roles. By the end of this course, you'll have a better understanding of your legal career options and be equipped to make an informed decision about the path that aligns with your personal and professional goals.Drawing insights from LawHub's popular I Am The Law podcast, this exploratory course will give you the flexibility to explore legal professions at your own pace. Whether you're drawn to a specific practice area or still figuring out where your interests lie, this course allows you to navigate through lessons in any order.
Syllabus
- M1Not completed
Introduction
In this course, you'll have the opportunity to explore many career paths you might pursue as you consider a profession in the legal field. Let's set the stage for the exciting career exploration ahead! - M2Not completed
Explore and reflect on legal career paths
As you explore the legal career paths highlighted in this course, take time to reflect, record what you learn, and identify which areas of law feel like they could be a good fit for you. We'll provide an activity designed to help you record your thoughts as you explore a variety of law careers. - M3Not completed
School yourself on education law
In this lesson, you'll meet Hannah Wagner, an attorney for Legal Aid of Southeast Ohio, as we break down the field of education law. - M4Not completed
Public defenders: A commitment to justice
According to the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, people accused of a crime have the right to "assistance of counsel," or the right to an attorney, at no cost. This is where a public defender's work begins. In this lesson, attorney Matt Skinner, assistant deputy public defender in the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, describes what it's like to do this work. - M5Not completed
Now, there's an idea: Working as a patent lawyer
Getting and protecting a patent is complicated, and that's where a patent lawyer comes in. In this lesson, Allan Carlsen describes his path to becoming a patent lawyer and the opportunities and challenges he's experienced along the way. - M6Not completed
Who's to judge? Understanding life on the bench
In this lesson, the Honorable Elizabeth Rohl, of Pierce County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, will discuss her journey to becoming a judge, what types of cases she hears, and what her job entails. - M7Not completed
'In our defense': Working as a private criminal defense attorney
Individuals, groups, and organizations charged with a crime have the right to an attorney. As access to a free criminal defense attorney is restricted to people with limited financial means, many people, groups, and organizations charged with crimes turn to private attorneys to handle their cases. In this lesson, Rob Alexander, founding partner of Vanguard Advocates, shares what it takes to research and prepare for a criminal defense case. - M8Not completed
Elected attorneys: Leadership, politics, and the public
District attorney, state attorney, attorney general, county attorney ... these legal titles often require a lawyer to win an election to hold the position. One such lawyer is Christian Menefee, the Harris County attorney in Houston, Texas. In this lesson, Menefee describes the hats he wears and the types of cases his office takes on representing the people who live in a major metropolitan area. - M9Not completed
Serving communities: Working in a public prosecutor's office
All criminal prosecutors are public lawyers whose clients are the members of the public they represent. State prosecutors enforce state laws, and U.S. attorneys enforce federal, or nationwide, laws. The head of a state prosecution office can be elected or appointed. The head of a federal prosecution office is appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. All the lawyers who work for these heads are deputies or assistants. This lesson focuses on the deputy and assistant prosecutors. - M10Not completed
It pays to be civil: The lawyers who work non-criminal cases
When a person says they're going to sue someone, or a business, or the government, they're usually talking about starting a civil lawsuit. The process of pursuing or defending a civil lawsuit is called civil litigation, and the lawyers who represent clients involved in civil lawsuits are called civil litigators. In this lesson, attorney Nathania Reyes, an associate at Sherman Atlas Sylvester & Stamelman, shares about her work handling commercial disputes as a civil litigator. - M11Not completed
Weathering the storm: Attorneys who practice environmental law
One of the more specialized branches of the legal profession belongs to those who practice environmental law. In this lesson, Pilar Thomas, a partner at the Tucson, Arizona, office of the Quarels and Brady law firm, shares how she practices environmental law with regard to energy and economic development. - M12Not completed
Dealmaking: Working as a corporate transactional attorney
The world of business can often seem like a whirlwind of deals, many of them corporations buying and selling smaller companies or organizations and merging to consolidate production. In this lesson, Eric Lauria-Banta, senior counsel at Foley and Lardner LLP, describes the work of a transactions lawyer and the joys and challenges he faces in his career. - M13Not completed
In-house counsel: The"go-to" lawyer on the inside
Businesses around the world require legal advice and representation on the products and services they create and offer, as well as how they are organized and work with their employees, government agencies, and other businesses and financial institutions. This lesson explores the role of in-house counsel. - M14Not completed
Reflect on legal careers
As you explore the legal career paths highlighted in this course, take time to reflect, record what you learn, and identify which areas of law feel like they could be a good fit for you. We'll provide an activity designed to help you record your thoughts as you explore a variety of law careers. - M15Not completed
Review: Voices of the Law
This lesson recaps of what you've learned and provides additional resources to explore.