Career Strategy

Practice Specialties

Attorneys practice in a dizzying array of substantive areas of law: admiralty, business, child advocacy, criminal, employment, family, health care, intellectual property, land use, litigation, products liability, real estate, securities, utilities, workers compensation…just to name a few.

Many lawyers and legal organizations hold themselves out as "specialists" in particular fields. Should law students do the same thing? Should law students "declare" practice specialties the way college students declare a major?

Identifying with a specific practice area-like any career planning strategy-comes with its own set of pros and cons. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Here are tips and principles to consider to decide whether this strategy is right for you.

Assess your own priorities, strengths, & weaknesses.

For example, if you absolutely detest confrontation, conflict, and adversarial situations, then you may be frustrated as a trial lawyer. If your passion is counseling, then you may find greater happiness by working with individuals than by representing companies. If you spent 3 years prior working in a mortgage company, you may be suited for a niche in real estate or banking. Knowing yourself is the first step in knowing where you'll fit best.

Develop as a lawyer first, specialist second.

Passion for a particular practice area is no substitute for a rock solid foundation in the core functions lawyers must perform in the "real world." Core functions include, but aren't limited to: legal analysis, legal writing and research, oral communication, factual investigation, serving clients ethically and with great care, negotiation and advocacy skills, and problem solving. You must first develop yourself into a good lawyer-the specialty niche will evolve with time and planning (and sometimes happenstance).

Identify practice areas that interest you, but be open-minded.

There's no magic formula to determine what practice areas may be right for you. But here are some ideas to help spark your thinking:

• Coursework you've enjoyed (or not!)
   
• Volunteer activities that spiked your adrenalin.
   
• Topics covered in moot court or legal writing.
   
• Outside reading (i.e., periodicals or books) that spark your interest.
   
• Attorneys you've met.
   
• Organizations you respect.
   
• Values you hold dear.
   
• Client populations you'd like to serve.
   
• Prior work experience you'd like to enhance.

Balance focus with flexibility, especially in a competitive job market.

It's very wise to develop practice area interests. However, it takes most attorneys several years after law school to develop a bona fide practice niche.

Be flexible! Most successful attorneys maintain flexibility in their skills and goals so they can evolve with the needs of the market. For example, there was a litigator who transitioned from asbestos cases in the early late 70's, to environmental / toxic tort litigation in the 80's, to patent litigation in the 90's. His flexibility ensured his prosperity through 3 decades of market change. His focus on science and technology positioned him effectively in 3 different legal niches.

Balance your preference with the employer's needs. Candidates who demonstrate basic forethought in career planning are usually much more attractive to employers than those who convey "I have no clue what I want to do, I'm hoping you'll figure it out for me." However, keep your plan flexible where appropriate and remember that there are risks associated with being very narrow and rigid in your practice goals. If you declare a practice preference, an employer will usually take you at your word-so speak wisely. If you tell a general practice firm, "I really want to do sports law," and that firm handles 1 sports client every time the summer Olympics roll around, you may have aced yourself right out of a job.

Learn the nuts & bolts of different practice specialties.

It's surprising, but some people put more effort into planning their next vacation than they put into planning their career goals. Don't make this mistake! Research the practice areas that interest you and learn what they're about-in "real world" terms, not just law school academics. Here are some tips for investigating practice specialties and considering the options.

• Attend programs and panel discussions featuring people in different fields. (Like the "Career Exploration Series" each fall and "Practice Specialty Expo each spring.)
   
• Make contact with lawyers practicing in fields that interest you. Bar Associations provide excellent opportunities for networking & education.
   
• Talk with experienced attorneys here at VLS, in Career Strategy and on the Faculty.
   
• Volunteer or work part-time in diverse practice settings.
   
• Read helpful books like "The NALP Guide To Practice Specialties" (available at the Career Strategy Library).
   
• Use internet portals like "FindLaw" and "Law.Com" to learn the "lingo" and basic concepts for different practice fields.
   
• Read what lawyers read: check out periodicals and other publications read by lawyers in different specialties.

When you communicate preferences, know your audience and your timing.

Two factors impact how much an employer will care about whether you can articulate a defined practice preference: (1) whether the market requires the employer to be more or less specialized itself and (2) your stage of professional development.

For example, say you're a first year law student. You're targeting a small, general practice firm that handles bread and butter matters for varied clients. You may shoot yourself in the foot by proclaiming your passion for practicing international human rights law because that's not what the firm does. The employer will likely question your judgment and thought process in making the decision to apply to this firm.

Conversely, employers expect third to articulate at least broad practice preferences. Accordingly, a third year law student should be able to articulate convincingly why they seek a position in a particular practice area, even if the preference is as broad as "litigation of any variety" or "transactional work of any type." A third year who tells the employer "I don't care what I do, as long as it pays" will not inspire as much employer confidence as one who says "I enjoy commercial transactions most, but would also be happy litigating commercial disputes."

Other things to keep in mind when developing practice specialty goals.

• Your aptitudes & priorities. Does the day-to-day life in this field match your core values & strengths?
   
• Market realities. What challenges await you in the job market? Will employers be receptive to your label?
   
• Long term prospects. What doors can this specialty open down the road?
   
• Practice specialties take time to develop-they don't happen overnight.
   
• Do not gear your career to the "flavor of the month." The best insurance against market changes is an excellent foundation of core legal skills. Your core legal skills-not a fancy specialty label--will be the keystone of your professional success in any field.

Back to the Top