As mentioned, some public interest legal jobs include positions as administrative assistants, paralegals, investigators, and, of course, attorneys. Often, law students intern with these groups with great results for both parties. The students are allowed real life work experiences while the groups are able to take advantage of the knowledge gained from these students as they pursue their educations. Although these positions rarely grab the glory, they are indeed needed and in high demand. If you're looking for a glamorous career along the lines of Gloria Allred or Rusty Hardin, public interest might not be for you. Some unique positions can be found in the government (local, state, and federal) and in domestic violence centers, since many not for profit centers are seeking the services of low cost representation for battered spouses who are attempting to remove themselves from abusive relationships and require legal representation and for projects such as the "Innocence Project," which seeks to have innocent victims released from prison. These are noble fields and require a high level of dedication and commitment.
Public defenders are overworked but are often prevented from adding additional legal services by state budgets. Many believe this is a huge disservice to the legal system in this country, since everyone is supposed to be afforded competent legal services. Although public defenders are very well qualified and dedicated to their clients, they are often overwhelmed and some admit they are not able to properly defend their clients since judges continue to place more cases upon their shoulders. Paralegals are excellent resources for gathering evidence and researching case law, but they are as overworked as the lawyers who they work for.
Program director jobs in the legal field often serve as points of contact for clients, the courts, and witnesses. They are needed as much as the lawyers they work for. They work from a different perspective, since they are able to see the whole picture and can discern when one lawyer is more overburdened than another, and have the skills required to not only recognize but to shift cases to more even proportions. This is a stressful position and, again, requires dedication and commitment. They often work closely with office managers, paralegals, and administrative support to alleviate issues before they become problems. They stand ready to provide assistance to all members of the staff, whether it's typing a brief for an assistant who has fifteen others awaiting preparation or helping with the discovery phase as lawyers prepare for trial.
After having worked in the public interest arena, many are better positioned to transition into court positions or private practices. Many of the most successful district attorneys began in public interest and therefore are better prepared to remain aware of the dynamics and circumstances behind many crimes they prosecute.
As one might expect, the pay one receives in the public interest arena isn't any more glamorous than the work itself. People who enter into these fields certainly don't do so expecting six-figure incomes. It's important work, though, and it's very needed in our society. Some say it should be a requirement for all law students so that they can remain flexible as they move through their careers and encounter people from all income levels and societal environments.
The availability of these positions is predictably high, but even when people choose public law to begin their careers they often stay far longer than they had anticipated due to the passion that develops towards doing the right thing and fighting for the victims. Many will tell you they could have gone into private practice years earlier, but felt their work wasn't completed in the public interest arena. As such, paralegals, secretaries, and investigators tend to form teams with these lawyers and, as such, are able to create tight dynamics of loyalty and dedication that many private practices aren't capable of building.
