Public Service
Career Roadmap
Public Service Career Roadmap: Government Attorney
Government Attorneys work for a local, state, or federal government.
Public Service Career Roadmap: Public Defender
A Public Defender is a lawyer appointed by the courts and provided by the state or federal government to represent individuals charged with a crime.
Public Service Career Roadmap: Prosecutor
A Prosecutor (Assistant District Attorney, Assistant County Attorney, Assistant Attorney General, or Assistant U.S. Attorney) is a lawyer who represents the government in civil and/or criminal cases.
Public Service Career Roadmap: Legal Aid/Legal Services Attorney
A legal aid or legal services attorney is a lawyer who works for a non-profit law firm, providing free or low-cost legal help to low-income clients on various civil legal matters.
Public Service Career Roadmap: Government Attorney
Government Attorneys work for a local, state, or federal government.
Government attorneys might defend the government in civil lawsuits, ensure that outside entities or the government entity itself are complying with government regulations, assist the government in entering into contracts, assist with public information requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act or Texas Public Information Act, or perform many other roles.
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Academic Courses: State and Local Government, Administrative Law, Advanced Constitutional Law, Policy Making, Regulatory Law, Contracts, Torts, Election Law, Employment Law, National Security Law, Property Law, School Law, Securities Regulation, Healthcare Compliance, Child Welfare Law, Land Use, Tax Law, and Consumer Law.
Practicum Courses: If you want a government job that involves litigation, take classes like Civil Trial Advocacy and Evidence. If you’re interested in a transactional government job where you will be negotiating government contracts, you may want to take courses such as Negotiation and Contract Drafting.
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Attend panels and job fairs featuring government lawyers, including those from the Attorney General’s Office
Network with alumni working in government positions.
Seek out mentorship from a government attorney.
Spend summers interning at various government agencies to gain skills and connections.
Apply early for summer internships; competitive internships will start interviewing as early as Fall of 1L year.
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Law School Clinics – Handle cases under the supervision of your law school’s clinical faculty.
Internships and Externships – Spend the semester or summer interning at a government agency.
Pro Bono Projects – Pro bono work can be a great way to gain practical experience.
3L Bar Card – Ask a local mentor to sponsor you for a 3L bar card (a supervised bar card that allows you to engage in limited legal practice and get real experience).
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Strong oral and written advocacy
Strong understanding of the systems of government and how the various systems and agencies interact
Quick thinking and composure under pressure
Negotiation skills
Ability to juggle multiple priorities
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The DOJ and other federal agencies offer Federal Honors Programs for new attorneys.
The Federal Bar Association, Southern District of Texas Chapter – Blask Fellowships offers grants to a limited number of law students to serve as legal summer interns.
Other Resources
Read about Careers in Federal Government at www.PSJD.org.
Learn about Jobs on Capital Hill
ABA Section for Section of State, Local, and Tribal Government Law.
Public Service Career Roadmap: Public Defender
A Public Defender is a lawyer appointed by the courts and provided by the state or federal government to represent individuals charged with a crime.
Public Defenders are a pillar in our legal system to ensure quality representation to those who cannot afford a private attorney.A Public Defender is a lawyer appointed by the courts and provided by the state or federal government to represent individuals charged with a crime. Public Defenders are a pillar in our legal system to ensure quality representation to those who cannot afford a private attorney.
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Criminal Law – Understand criminal offenses and defenses
Criminal Constitutional Law – Learn the fundamental rights of an accused and limitations on government power
Criminal Procedure – Discover the rules and steps the government must follow in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of crimes
Evidence – Master the principles and rules for admitting and using evidence in trial
Trial Advocacy – Build courtroom skills
Possible Electives: White Collar Crime, Capital Punishment, Juvenile Law, Sentencing, Wrongful Convictions
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Join your law school’s Criminal Law Society or Public Interest Law Association
Network with alumni working in public defense and seek out mentorship
Volunteer with your local public defender’s office
Attend career panels and public interest job fairs
Apply early for summer internships
Try out for the mock trial or moot court teams
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Public Defender Internship/Externship – Apply classroom learning to real-world cases by working with the federal public defender or local public defender’s office in your county.
Judicial Internship/Externship – Work with the criminal court to learn the “behind-the-scenes” and inner workings of the judiciary
Legal Clinics – Gain hands-on, practical experience under the supervision of your law schools’ clinical faculty
Innocence Project – Work with The Innocence Project, a nonprofit that uses DNA testing to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals
Attend Trials – Call the local court coordinators to get the dates and times of upcoming trials to watch.
3L Bar Card – Ask a local mentor or the public defender’s office to sponsor you for a 3L bar card and get real trial experience.
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Strong oral and written advocacy
Strong understanding of the systems of government and how the various systems and agencies interact
Quick thinking and composure under pressure
Negotiation skills
Teamwork with investigators, social workers, and experts
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Federal Defender Fellowship Program
Law School Fellowships – Some law schools will also provide fellowships or stipends for graduates working with the public defender’s office. Check with your law school to see what opportunities are available.
Job Banks
Public Service Career Roadmap: Prosecutor
A Prosecutor (Assistant District Attorney, Assistant County Attorney, Assistant Attorney General, or Assistant U.S. Attorney) is a lawyer who represents the government in civil and/or criminal cases.
These attorneys may serve at the local level (city or county), state level or even the federal level. Civil prosecutors defend and prosecute cases like employment discrimination, torts, health care fraud, government fraud, bankruptcy and Social Security fraud. Criminal prosecutors are responsible for seeking justice—not merely convictions—by enforcing the law, protecting public safety, and ensuring the accused receive fair process.
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Criminal Course Track – Criminal Law, Criminal Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, White Collar Crime, Capital Punishment, Juvenile Law, Sentencing, Wrongful Convictions
Civil Course Track - State and Local Government, Federal Courts, Administrative Law, Advanced Constitutional Law, Policy Making, Regulatory Law, Contracts, Torts, Election Law, Employment Law, National Security Law, Property Law, School Law, Securities Regulation, Healthcare Compliance, Child Welfare Law, Land Use, Tax Law, and Consumer Law
Evidence – Master the principles and rules for admitting and using evidence in trial
Trial Advocacy – Build courtroom skills
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Join your law school’s Criminal Law Society or Public Interest Law Association
Network with alumni working in public defense and seek out mentorship
Volunteer with your local public defender’s office
Attend career panels and public interest job fairs
Apply early for summer internships
Try out for the mock trial or moot court teams
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Prosecutor Internship/Externship – Work with the District Attorney, County Attorney, Attorney General, or U.S. Attorney to help prepare cases, draft motions, and observe trials. You can intern in their civil or criminal division
Judicial Internship/Externship – Work with the civil or criminal court to learn the “behind-the-scenes” and inner workings of the judiciary
Legal Clinics – Gain hands-on, practical experience under the supervision of your law schools’ clinical faculty
Attend Trials – Call the local court coordinators to get the dates and times of upcoming trials to watch.
3L Bar Card – Ask a local mentor or the City Attorney, District Attorney, County Attorney, or U.S. Attorney to sponsor you for a 3L bar card and get real trial experience.
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Ethical decision-making and commitment to justice
Strong oral and written advocacy
Case organization and attention to detail
Courtroom confidence and quick thinking
Working with law enforcement and forensic experts
Trauma-informed communication with victims and witnesses
Negotiation and plea-bargaining skills
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U.S. Department of Justice – Honors Program
Law School Fellowships – Some law schools will also provide fellowships or stipends for graduates working in public service. Check with your law school to see what opportunities are available.
Job Banks
Public Service Career Roadmap: Legal Aid/Legal Service Attorney
A legal aid or legal services attorney is a lawyer who works for a non-profit law firm, providing free or low-cost legal help to low-income clients on various civil legal matters.
Legal services attorneys help vulnerable clients, from survivors of domestic violence seeking protective orders and/or divorce to tenants facing eviction and homelessness. Other top areas of need include consumer law, probate, public benefits assistance, education law, and immigration.
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Academic Courses: Family Law, Poverty Law and Policy, Employment Discrimination, Housing, Immigration, Probate and Estate Planning, Consumer Law, Child Welfare Law, Tax Law, Bankruptcy, Federal Courts, Texas Civil Procedure, Administrative Law, Civil Rights Litigation, Health / Insurance Law
Practicum Courses: Pretrial Procedure, Pretrial Advocacy, Civil Trial Advocacy, Evidence, Client Interviewing and Counseling, Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation
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Join your law school’s Public Interest Law Association and attend public interest career panels and job fairs.
Connect with the public interest career services counselor at your school for guidance.
Network with alumni working in legal aid and other legal services providers.
Seek out mentorship from a public interest attorney.
Spend summers interning at various legal services providers to gain skills and connections.
Apply early for summer internships. Competitive internships will start interviewing as early as Fall of 1L year.
Volunteer for nonprofit clinics—one-day opportunities to work with low-income clients.
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Law School Clinics – Any clinical courses your law school offers will provide invaluable experience on how to work with clients and many clinics will allow you to work directly with low-income clients.
Internships and Externships – Spend the semester or summer interning at a legal services provider. You’ll gain practical experience with low-income clients and demonstrate your commitment to the field when seeking a position after graduation.
Pro Bono Projects – Many law schools offer both short and long term pro bono projects, and the Texas Access to Justice Commission offers the opportunity to do pro bono over spring break. You can also reach out to various legal services providers to see what projects they might need your help with.
3L Bar Card – Ask a local mentor to sponsor you for a 3L bar card and get real world experience. Your law school clinic may make you eligible for a 3L bar card too.
Pro Bono Certification – Many schools offer a formal certificate to recognize your pro bono work, which can strengthen your resume for fellowship and post-grad jobs.
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Empathy and client-centered communication
Quick thinking and composure under pressure
Cultural awareness and trauma-informed practice
Ability to handle high caseloads and balance multiple priorities
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Project-Based Fellowships – Fellowships let students pursue innovative solutions to challenges in the justice system. Some allow you to design your own project, while others place you in a pre-existing one. In either scenario, you’ll work closely with a host organization for 1–2 years, gaining experience and building expertise in the field.
Fellowship Programs - Equal Justice Works
Fellowship Application Information | Skadden Fellowship Foundation
Soros Justice Fellowships - Open Society Foundations
Law School Fellowships – Some law schools will also provide fellowships or stipends for graduates working at legal services non-profit organizations. Check with your law school to see what opportunities are available.
Other Resources
Advice about pursuing a public interest career: PSJD | Explore Advice
