Santa Clara UniversitySchool of Law

Choosing a Practice Area

Presented by: SCU Law Career Services

Getting on the Path

• How Do You Know How to Get to Your Destination if You Don’t Have a Goal?

Employment Trends

• 40% of law graduates in legal positions will leave their 1st job after 3 years

• Most law school graduates will change jobs at least 7 times during their professional careers

• Conclusion: a lot of movement within (and sometimes out of) the legal profession. What could have ensured more satisfaction?

Common Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property• Family Law• Employment• Insurance • Criminal• Corporate• Civil Litigation

Intellectual Property

Family Law

Employment

Insurance

Criminal

Corporate

Civil Litigation

Questions to ask yourself when choosing a practice area

• Who do you want to represent?• What type of relationship do you want to

have with your clients?• Do you mind facing emotionally or morally

charged issues?• Is important for you to be in court?• Do you like to work on your own or in

teams?• Are you comfortable with being adversarial?• Is it important to have a predictable

schedule and reasonable hours?

Who do you want to represent?

•Individuals•Businesses•Government

Practice Areas Representing Individuals

• Estate Planning• Employment – plaintiff• Consumer Protection • Personal Injury / Torts - plaintiff• Family Law• Criminal Defense• Public Interest – direct services• Immigration

Practice Areas Representing Businesses

• Banking & Commercial Finance• Bankruptcy• Commercial Litigation• Contracts• Corporate / M&A / Securities• Insurance• Construction Defect• Intellectual Property• Commercial Real Estate

Practice Areas Representing Government

• Antitrust• Criminal Prosecution• Municipal Law• Government Contracts• Legislative Practice• Tax• Immigration• Military

What type of relationship do you want with your clients?

Outside AdvisorCommercial LitigationEmployment DefenseInsurance DefenseBanking & FinancePatent Prosecution

Integrated AdvisorEstate PlanningCorporateResearch AttorneyInsuranceTaxContracts

Do you mind facing emotionally or morally charged issues?

YesCorporate IPReal EstateTaxContractsMunicipal

NoEmploymentFamilyHealthcareEstate PlanningProduct Liability Insurance Class Action Litigation

Is important for you to be in court often?

YesCriminal DefenseCriminal ProsecutionMilitaryJudicial (clerk or court research attorney)

NoTransactionsCommercial litigationIPBanking & FinanceInsurance

Do you like to work on your own or in teams?

TeamsCommercial LitigationCorporate / M&ACriminal LawContractsBanking & Finance

SoloEstate PlanningFamily LawPatent ProsecutionResearch AttorneyInsuranceTax

Are you comfortable with an adversarial practice?

YesLitigationCriminalBankruptcyFamily LawInsurance

NoEstate PlanningPatent ProsecutionResearch AttorneyTaxLand UseCorporate Contracts

Is it important to have a predictable schedule & reasonable hours?

YesPatent ProsecutionTaxEstate PlanningLand UseMunicipalGovernmentCriminal

NoBankruptcyCorporate / M&AContractsLitigationInsuranceCommercial Real Estate

How to Learn More

• LCS Library“The Official Guide to Legal

Specialties”“Careers in Law”also see other practice-area specific

books

• Talk to lawyers in different practice areas

• Talk to your professors about their experiences

• Book a counseling appointment with LCS