The Legal Profession: Careers, Institutions, and the Contemporary Legal Industry

3 credits · Undergraduate

This course introduces undergraduate students to the American legal profession as a broad professional ecosystem rather than a field composed only of licensed attorneys. Students examine traditional lawyer career pathways alongside careers in courts, law firms, corporations, government, compliance, contracts, legal operations, mediation and dispute resolution, investigations, policy, legal technology, e-discovery, nonprofit advocacy, and related fields that do not necessarily require a J.D. Guest experts will be invited to share perspectives on their current practice areas. The course combines career exploration with an introduction to legal education, professional responsibility, the organization and economics of legal services and law firms, access to justice, and technological changes that may disrupt this industry. Students will evaluate the costs and benefits of legal education for different career goals, analyze real job postings, meet and interact with legal-industry professionals, conduct an informational interview, and develop an individualized career portfolio and career development plan. [3]