Table of Contents: About this Book Introduction: First Things First Chapter One: Social Justice Ideals: From Theory to Law Practice Chapter Two: Lawyers as Stewards of Justice: Our Professional Ethic to Serve Chapter Three: Understanding Current Models for Social Justice Lawyering and Considering Alternatives Chapter Four: Bibliography
Many lawyers use their legal education as a tool to promote social justice and impact society or their community. Perhaps you are reading this guide because you are interested in social justice and you are considering a law degree. You may even have well-defined interests and know exactly the group or issue you want to advocate for as a lawyer. Or you may have more general notions of using your legal education to “do good” and perhaps have greater economic opportunities. Whatever your interest in pursuing social justice work, you are now considering law school. Deciding to become a lawyer is a serious commitment that requires years of hard work and perseverance. While it is not an easy or inexpensive proposition, there is a large and increasing need for more social justice lawyers. 1
Becoming a social justice lawyer requires much persistence, flexibility, and creativity. While a small percentage of lawyers will work full-time jobs in the public sector in pursuit of their social justice interests, others committed to particular social causes or populations may create their public interest employment by starting their own law practices. Since not every lawyer who hopes to do social justice is equipped to start their own law practice or can obtain social justice employment, many lawyers contribute to social justice by occasionally taking on a case without charging the client for their services (which is called pro bono work) or making financial contributions to social justice causes. There are many paths to advance social justice and ultimately you will decide which one to follow based on your own financial and personal considerations.
Elie Wiesel Quote Social Justice Wall Art Poster Social Worker
To give you a better perspective about how you may want to think about your social justice career in the legal profession, this section offers a general overview of where lawyers work. It provides brief descriptions of the practice settings where lawyers advance social justice work and gives you a better sense of the availability of opportunities in those sectors. This section also introduces you to a few alternatives to law school that may allow you to advance social justice in the legal profession if you choose not to become a law student. There are many challenges and opportunities for social justice lawyers. Understanding more about where lawyers practice may help you determine whether law school is right for you.
According to the American Bar Association, there were 1.3 million lawyers in the United States in 2015. Despite the outcry about too many lawyers, that figure represents only 4% of the United States population. Nevertheless, there media has properly reported the difficulty new lawyers have in finding jobs in today’s market. It is very competitive. But the practice of law is varied and diverse. Not all lawyers have the interest or the opportunity to devote their professional careers to advancing social justice. Approximately 75% of all lawyers work in private law firms; 8% work in private industry; 8% work in government jobs; 3% are judges; 1% work in education; 1% work in private nonprofits; and 1% work as public defenders or legal aid lawyers.
“If a student is contemplating going to law school, I would definitely recommend it as the legal hiring market is beginning to bounce back. Law is still one of the most fulfilling positions in the United States.” – Alberto, 2L
Chicago Social Worker License Defense Lawyer
Much of what determines where a lawyer works depends on that individual’s personal preferences. A lawyer’s social and professional network is what largely determines the lawyer’s field of practice. Social and professional networks are largely influenced by where a lawyer attended law school, the socio-economic status of the lawyer’s spouse or family members, and the lawyer’s work experience. Lawyers interested in using their degree to advance social justice often have to weigh their professional passion against financial obligations to their family, education debt, employment prospects, and geographic preferences.
The personal considerations of a career as a social justice lawyer must be balanced with the professional fulfillment that accompanies social justice work. While there are opportunities to make a good salary doing social justice work, attorneys beginning their careers in social justice usually have smaller paychecks than their counterparts. Depending on your needs and your passion for social justice work, you may not consider it a sacrifice to earn a lower income to do the work you love. To help you determine what type of work you would feel comfortable undertaking, and to get a sense of the salary range that may help you meet your financial obligations, here we describe several social justice practice scenarios.
Much social justice lawyering can be traced to attorneys who work as civil legal aid lawyers or public defenders. These lawyers are funded by government and other public sources to represent indigent individuals and vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the disabled and veterans. Legal aid lawyers address civil legal matters including housing, employment, domestic relations, public benefits, and consumer issues. Public defenders work to fulfill the indigent population’s constitutional right to counsel in criminal cases.
Lawyer Well Being While Social Distancing
Only 1% of all lawyers have the opportunity to work in these positions. They are highly coveted and difficult to secure given the few positions available. Their salaries start at about $40, 000 but can grow to over $100, 000. Since the primary funding source for legal aid and public defender offices is the government, there are many restrictions regarding the causes and clients that these lawyers can serve. For example, public defenders and legal aid attorneys are not permitted to file class action lawsuits because of governmental restrictions on the use of public funds. Additionally, and for the same reasons, legal aid and public defender lawyers are, with some exceptions, not permitted to provide assistance to individuals without legal immigration status.
Despite the governmental restrictions on the work, the need for public defenders and civil legal aid lawyers is great. Civil legal aid organizations receiving federal funding report turning away approximately 50% of the individuals who qualify for their free services. Public defenders report overwhelming caseloads and an inability to devote significant resources to their cases. Despite these challenges, lawyers who work in legal aid settings report high job satisfaction because they are able to assist those without any ability to hire a lawyer. If your vision of social justice is to help the most economically disenfranchised, working in civil legal aid or as a public defender may be the right path for you.
Aside from civil legal aid lawyers and public defenders, nonprofit organizations also hire lawyers to engage in social justice work. Nonprofit organizations are funded through grants, private donations and often some limited government money. They are generally focused on one particular social justice issue such as education, health care, AIDS, etcetera. Nonprofit models are extremely diverse. Some nonprofits are very similar to government-funded legal aid organizations, providing free legal services to people in their target population (those living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, immigrants, etc.). Some non-profits do very little direct client work and instead engage in policy-advancing activities such as impact litigation, lobbying, outreach and education. The range of nonprofit organizations that employ lawyers is too numerous to list but it includes entities that advocate on behalf of civil liberties, human rights, the environment, LGBT rights, immigrant rights, and a multitude of other social justice causes. Many of these organizations are located in larger cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
All Work And No Play
The salaries of lawyers’ who work in these organizations range from $40, 000 to $90, 000 and are primarily subsidized by foundations and individual donations. Executive directors and other high level administrators may earn above $100, 000. The salaries and availability of employment in these types of organizations depend on each organization’s donor base. Lawyers who work in these settings should expect to engage in fundraising activities and donor solicitation as a component of their jobs. Only 1% of all lawyers work for private nonprofit organizations. These lawyers similarly report finding great fulfillment in their work.
Some lawyers find opportunities to engage in social justice work in the government sector. While not all government jobs for lawyers advance social justice, there are many opportunities in this field to advance public policy interests. Federal, state, and municipal governments all hire attorneys to develop and implement laws that preserve the safety and well-being of our society. Government offices employ lawyers to enforce laws in the offices of the state attorney general, the county district attorney and the city attorneys. Government lawyers also include policy makers, legislative aides, lobbyists and politicians. Administrative agencies similarly involve lawyers who investigate cases, represent families that come into contact with the foster care system, assist the elderly as conservators, and advocate for workers for fair wages.
Many social justice advocates find meaningful careers in the government sector. Government lawyer
Forensic Social Work (criminal Justice): A Guide For 2022
Only 1% of all lawyers have the opportunity to work in these positions. They are highly coveted and difficult to secure given the few positions available. Their salaries start at about $40, 000 but can grow to over $100, 000. Since the primary funding source for legal aid and public defender offices is the government, there are many restrictions regarding the causes and clients that these lawyers can serve. For example, public defenders and legal aid attorneys are not permitted to file class action lawsuits because of governmental restrictions on the use of public funds. Additionally, and for the same reasons, legal aid and public defender lawyers are, with some exceptions, not permitted to provide assistance to individuals without legal immigration status.
Despite the governmental restrictions on the work, the need for public defenders and civil legal aid lawyers is great. Civil legal aid organizations receiving federal funding report turning away approximately 50% of the individuals who qualify for their free services. Public defenders report overwhelming caseloads and an inability to devote significant resources to their cases. Despite these challenges, lawyers who work in legal aid settings report high job satisfaction because they are able to assist those without any ability to hire a lawyer. If your vision of social justice is to help the most economically disenfranchised, working in civil legal aid or as a public defender may be the right path for you.
Aside from civil legal aid lawyers and public defenders, nonprofit organizations also hire lawyers to engage in social justice work. Nonprofit organizations are funded through grants, private donations and often some limited government money. They are generally focused on one particular social justice issue such as education, health care, AIDS, etcetera. Nonprofit models are extremely diverse. Some nonprofits are very similar to government-funded legal aid organizations, providing free legal services to people in their target population (those living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, immigrants, etc.). Some non-profits do very little direct client work and instead engage in policy-advancing activities such as impact litigation, lobbying, outreach and education. The range of nonprofit organizations that employ lawyers is too numerous to list but it includes entities that advocate on behalf of civil liberties, human rights, the environment, LGBT rights, immigrant rights, and a multitude of other social justice causes. Many of these organizations are located in larger cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
All Work And No Play
The salaries of lawyers’ who work in these organizations range from $40, 000 to $90, 000 and are primarily subsidized by foundations and individual donations. Executive directors and other high level administrators may earn above $100, 000. The salaries and availability of employment in these types of organizations depend on each organization’s donor base. Lawyers who work in these settings should expect to engage in fundraising activities and donor solicitation as a component of their jobs. Only 1% of all lawyers work for private nonprofit organizations. These lawyers similarly report finding great fulfillment in their work.
Some lawyers find opportunities to engage in social justice work in the government sector. While not all government jobs for lawyers advance social justice, there are many opportunities in this field to advance public policy interests. Federal, state, and municipal governments all hire attorneys to develop and implement laws that preserve the safety and well-being of our society. Government offices employ lawyers to enforce laws in the offices of the state attorney general, the county district attorney and the city attorneys. Government lawyers also include policy makers, legislative aides, lobbyists and politicians. Administrative agencies similarly involve lawyers who investigate cases, represent families that come into contact with the foster care system, assist the elderly as conservators, and advocate for workers for fair wages.
Many social justice advocates find meaningful careers in the government sector. Government lawyer
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