Public service practice takes place in legal services and law reform organizations, as well as in government agencies at all levels. It encompasses charities, educational and public international organizations, private public interest law firms and private law firms performing pro bono work. Learn about the different environments public service legal work can take place.

For some people, the type of work they do is one of the most critical components of job satisfaction. Some lawyers are born litigators while others find trial work unpleasant. You may enjoy transactional work, which can be found in the public sector as well as the private sector. Explore the various types of public interest legal work.

Many students come in to law school with a passion for a particular issue or set of issues, such as education or civil rights. Others develop a strong interest for a substantive area during law school. Explore the huge range of issue areas that public interest work covers.

International law is one of the fastest growing legal fields and the types of public service work and practice settings vary widely. Read more about the different aspects of public international law.

There are lots of opportunities to gain public interest experience, including clinical and pro bono programs, student practice organizations, and journals. Discover how you can get involved in public interest opportunities on campus.

Many public-service minded students and alumni spend part of their careers in the private sector. Private public interest firms, split summers, and law firm pro bono programs are just some of the ways to gain experience in both sectors. Find out more about how to combine the public interest and private sectors.