1. Santa Clara University School of Law Choosing a Practice Area Presented by: SCU Law Career Services

2. Getting on the Path How Do You Know How to Get to Your Destination if You Don’t Have a Goal?

3. Employment Trends 40% of law graduates in legal positions will leave their 1st job after 3 years Most law school graduates will change jobs at least 7 times during their professional careers Conclusion: a lot of movement within (and sometimes out of) the legal profession. What could have ensured more satisfaction?

4. Common Practice Areas Intellectual Property Family Law Employment Insurance Criminal Corporate Civil Litigation

5. Intellectual Property

6. Family Law

7. Employment

8. Insurance

9. Criminal

10. Corporate

11. Civil Litigation

12. Questions to ask yourself when choosing a practice area Who do you want to represent? What type of relationship do you want to have with your clients? Do you mind facing emotionally or morally charged issues? Is important for you to be in court? Do you like to work on your own or in teams? Are you comfortable with being adversarial? Is it important to have a predictable schedule and reasonable hours?

13. Who do you want to represent? Individuals Businesses Government

14. Practice Areas Representing Individuals Estate Planning Employment – plaintiff Consumer Protection Personal Injury / Torts - plaintiff Family Law Criminal Defense Public Interest – direct services Immigration

15. Practice Areas Representing Businesses Banking & Commercial Finance Bankruptcy Commercial Litigation Contracts Corporate / M&A / Securities Insurance Construction Defect Intellectual Property Commercial Real Estate

16. Practice Areas Representing Government Antitrust Criminal Prosecution Municipal Law Government Contracts Legislative Practice Tax Immigration Military

17. What type of relationship do you want with your clients? Outside Advisor Commercial Litigation Employment Defense Insurance Defense Banking & Finance Patent Prosecution Integrated Advisor Estate Planning Corporate Research Attorney Insurance Tax Contracts

18. Do you mind facing emotionally or morally charged issues? Yes Corporate IP Real Estate Tax Contracts Municipal No Employment Family Healthcare Estate Planning Product Liability Insurance Class Action Litigation

19. Is important for you to be in court often? Yes Criminal Defense Criminal Prosecution Military Judicial (clerk or court research attorney) No Transactions Commercial litigation IP Banking & Finance Insurance

20. Do you like to work on your own or in teams? Teams Commercial Litigation Corporate / M&A Criminal Law Contracts Banking & Finance Solo Estate Planning Family Law Patent Prosecution Research Attorney Insurance Tax

21. Are you comfortable with an adversarial practice? Yes Litigation Criminal Bankruptcy Family Law Insurance No Estate Planning Patent Prosecution Research Attorney Tax Land Use Corporate Contracts

22. Is it important to have a predictable schedule & reasonable hours? Yes Patent Prosecution Tax Estate Planning Land Use Municipal Government Criminal No Bankruptcy Corporate / M&A Contracts Litigation Insurance Commercial Real Estate

23. How to Learn More LCS Library “The Official Guide to Legal Specialties” “Careers in Law” also see other practice-area specific books Talk to lawyers in different practice areas Talk to your professors about their experiences Book a counseling appointment with LCS