Private Firm Jobs
Law firms provide a wide array of public interest opportunities. Listings of law firms in California:
Lobbying/legislative advocacy - Some firms do this exclusively. Others do it as a department within a larger law firm. In either event, these firms employ many lawyers to advocate for different interests. The work involves constant contact with legislators and the client group, and drafting and commenting on legislation and regulations. Many of these jobs are located in Sacramento, and many have Pacific McGeorge alumni contacts.
Law Firm Practice Areas - A number of different types of practices within private law firms involve government and public lawyering. One of the most common is the municipal law department. Applicants should carefully review each firm's website or promotional materials to ascertain whether the firm's practice includes public law.
Political, lobbying and election law - Activities include: providing advice and systems to comply with election statutes and regulations, representing clients in elections and ethics enforcement matters before government commissions, advising political parties and opponents or proponents of ballot measures.
Municipal law/public law - This area involves a broad array of practice areas representing government entities, such as cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, special districts and local and state government agencies like water boards and school boards. Activities include preventative counseling, negotiation, advocacy in court, to legislators, or before administrative agencies and financial guidance.
Areas of practice include: land use and environmental issues, education or school law, employment disputes, conflicts of interest, affirmative action controversies, public contracts and contract bidding, public finance, fees and taxes, redevelopment and housing, labor relations, and eminent domain.
Government and administrative law - This is a general grouping that involves representing mostly private clients in a wide variety of subject areas in which interpreting and advising about statutes and regulations, and advocating before administrative agencies is a substantial part of the practice.
Subject areas include: Bankruptcy, Eminent Domain, Energy Law, Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Land Use and Planning.
Specialized, often small firm, administrative law practices - These practices involve representing individual clients in hearings before an administrative law judge.
Practice areas include: Immigration and Naturalization, Social Security, Worker's Compensation.