Attorneys are employed at all levels of government, from a small city all the way up to the federal government, and in a variety of roles. Some attorneys work in a traditional legal role, serving as the attorney for the city, state, agency, etc. Other attorneys work in legislative affairs, compliance issues, or other law-related specialties.
Government employment also encompasses attorneys working as prosecutors, as clerks or staff attorneys in judges’ chambers, as well as attorneys serving in the military as JAG officers.
Government salaries for entry-level graduates have remained relatively constant over the past several years. Salaries tend to be lower at the local and state government levels than at the federal level, though this is not always the case. According to the NALP Publication Jobs & JD’s: Class of 2008, the national median salary for 2008 graduates entering government practice was $52,500. The median salary for federal government attorneys was $58, 206; the median salary for state government attorneys was $46,000.
The following is an introductory list of resources the CSO recommends to students who are interested in pursuing employment in the government sector. This is not a comprehensive list, but simply a starting point for research: