Category: Articles

Okay, bear with me on this one.  I have an idea that, to the best of my knowledge, has never been formally recognized or tested.  But just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try it.

I have recently been fielding calls from established practitioners who want to shift into a civil rights career.  The callers practice in all sorts of areas, from criminal defense to immigration to family law to corporate law.  For them, the concern is that they’ve already been practicing too long to suddenly be hired at a firm and trained up – so to speak – in civil rights law.  So how do they learn and grow?  Well, what about building a legal co-op?

Continue reading “Expand Your (Civil Rights) Practice Through Building a Legal Co-Op”

I have been receiving lots of calls lately from young lawyers seeking to enter the field of civil rights who are having a hard time finding a supportive work environment.  I am saddened to say that lately, many of the firms I see hiring are ones that have developed some big red flags.  They are known for working their associates to the bone while simultaneously failing to provide them the training and support they need to succeed.  Of course, this is not universally true.  But it is far too widespread in every niche of our industry, and the civil rights field is not immune from it.

It also seems like no matter the amount of turnover at those firms, nothing ever changes.  Why not?  Because there will always be a law student or recent graduate willing to go through the gauntlet for the opportunity to break into the practice.

So, what should you do if you want to break into the field but are unwilling to put yourself through the ringer?

Continue reading “How to Build Your Civil Rights Career Without Subjecting Yourself to a Toxic Work Environment”

Let’s face it, this year’s graduating class did not expect a worldwide pandemic just months before graduation.  Nor did they expect that their state bar exam might get pushed back well into the fall.  None of us could have foreseen this.  But it’s time for us to face it and figure out how to navigate this new terrain in which we have found ourselves.

Continue reading “How to Weather the Storm – Finding a Legal Job During a Pandemic”

As many of you are well aware, we are in the midst of a global health crisis due to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19.  For many industries, this has meant unprecedented layoffs as companies are being forced to shutter.  Civil rights attorneys are needed now more than ever.

Many people think there is nothing we can do until this passes.  But if you are looking to get your foot in the door, this is the precise moment where you can do some good while making a name for yourself.

Continue reading “Practicing Civil Rights Law During a Global Health Crisis”

As we all know, many people who go to law school interested in a career in civil rights end up leaving the field before they even enter it.  Whether it’s because their student loan debt was too crushing, the stress of waiting to apply to jobs was too great to handle, or they just could not land a civil rights job straight out of law school, there are many valid reasons why someone does not immediately enter the civil rights field.

The hard part, however, is transitioning from a non-civil-rights career into the profession.  Especially considering that you will be competing against “lifers” for that coveted position.  The key to ensuring success is taking certain steps now that will pay off down the road.

Continue reading “Taking Steps Now to Transition into Civil Rights Later On”

We all have heard the adage about first impressions: You never get a second chance to make a (good) first impression.  It’s true.  While you can certainly rehabilitate a bad first impression, it’s far more of an uphill battle than if you had simply put your best foot forward to begin with.

Because we have all been there, here are some tips for how to rehabilitate a bad first impression.

Continue reading “Small Mistakes Can Impact Your Reputation and Opportunities – Here’s How to Fix Them”

For those of you reading this who are already civil rights attorneys or well on your way to becoming one, a question you may be wondering is how to expand your practice and knowledge base outside of litigation.

Personally, I’ve found that while litigation can be incredibly impactful on your client and sometimes more systemically, there are limitations to what you can accomplish through a lawsuit.  That’s when it may make sense to turn to public policy.

Continue reading “Expanding Your Civil Rights Career Into Public Policy”

Law school is the perfect time to try out as many different practice areas as possible.  But keep in mind: the legal experiences that you pursue will shape your resume, impact your references, and ultimately determine which doors may be open to you upon graduation.

As such, if you know that you want to pursue a career in civil rights, you should be taking steps to position yourself for it while you’re still in law school.  There are many ways to go about this, but here are my primary pieces of advice.

Continue reading “Positioning Yourself for a Civil Rights Career While in Law School”

As you already know, civil rights attorneys are generally not the people making the big bucks in law.  At least not the younger civil rights attorneys just starting out in their careers.

Being able to live off the salary of a civil rights attorney is difficult enough without having to factor in student loan payments.  For tips on living on a budget as a civil rights attorney, click here.

But what if after you budget it all, your salary is still not enough to make ends meet?  Sounds like it’s time for a salary negotiation.

Continue reading “Negotiating Your Salary and Benefits as a Civil Rights Attorney”

For those of you utilizing these resources as you consider whether or where to go for law school, this post is primarily for you.

There are several key factors to consider when determining whether a law school will help you further a career in civil rights.  Let’s get right to them.

Continue reading “Choosing a Law School that Supports Your Career in Civil Rights”