How to Launch Your Public Interest Career with Equal Justice Works

By Sarah Jasper, program specialist at Equal Justice Works

Interested in pursuing a career in public interest law but don’t know where to start?

We get it—the field of public interest law can feel a bit overwhelming. There are so many possibilities, as the field spans a wide array of issue areas including domestic violence, racial equality, veterans’ rights, disaster recovery, housing and evictions, immigration, and much more. Public interest lawyers also work in a variety of practice settings­—at legal services organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and other institutions that help low-income and marginalized populations with their civil legal needs. The field is complex and there are many ways you can have a career in public interest law. Both your law school and Equal Justice Works can help you figure out what type of path you would like to take as a public interest lawyer.

As a law student, you can get started in the field of public interest law through on-campus programs, clinics, pro bono projects, courses, student organizations, internships, externships, and, of course, Equal Justice Works programming. Check out this webinar, which discusses all the ways we can help you launch your public interest law career, below.

This fall, Equal Justice Works will host its annual Conference and Career Fair from October 21 –23, 2021. It is the largest national public service legal career fair in the country, bringing together hundreds of public interest employers, law school professionals, law students, and recent graduates from across the United States and its territories to network, participate in interviews, and attend substantive conference sessions and workshops.

This year’s fair will take place virtually, and registration for law students and law school graduates opens August 11. Attending the Conference and Career Fair is a great way to build your network and secure either summer or full-time opportunities. And, even if you are not ready to apply for interviews just yet, we encourage anyone who wants to get involved in public interest law to attend the fair and see the myriad ways you can work in public service within the legal community!

Visit here for more information about the 2021 Conference and Career Fair.