Student Services

Legal Careers in Social Justice

 

Give me the low-down on a career in social justice work.

Does any of this sound familiar to you, “I came to law school because I wanted… to make my community a better place; to use the tools of law to make a positive difference; to be involved in public interest advocacy? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then it is in your interest to research a potential career in social justice. Social justice work can give you the opportunity to connect your career goals with your values, beliefs and concerns. This will enable you to immerse yourself in work you are passionate about and you find fulfilling.

A burning question asked often is if spiritually fulfilling work necessarily correlates with a salary cut? Traditionally, careers in social justice pay less than careers in corporate firms. The measure of success, however, is a personal value, one estimate of which may be the opportunity to do legal work in areas that you really care about. This by no means insinuates that lawyers who work for the public good will have less than comfortable financial circumstances. Although hourly pay rates may not be on par with lawyers who work at corporate firms, work in public interest law gives lawyers more flexibility in the amount of hours they work and hence a more flexible lifestyle choice.

One reason law students feel compelled to work at a corporate firm is because these jobs are advertised so widely. This does not mean that there are not an equal number of available jobs in the social justice sector. These jobs are usually publicized in arenas where like-minded advocates are to be found and through word of mouth. So yes, to find them does take a little more digging. An important tip given to students is to volunteer in organizations that deal with your interests and this way you can both learn more about how law intersects with your interest and also network with people who share your interests.

The social justice area employs lawyers who are committed to a cause they personally believe in which makes it an excellent environment for students and new lawyers to develop lawyerly skills, training and practical experiences from these passionate and driven individuals.

If you are a person who is interested in a wide variety of areas of law and work environments, working in social justice areas gives you the opportunity to keep yourself challenged by the career flexibility offered.

Show me resources to determine if a career in social justice work is right for me. 

Public interest law encompasses a diversity of interests thus giving lawyers the opportunity to find work in an area that specifically appeals to them. However committing yourself to a particular interest does not lock you into it for a lifetime. In fact lawyers who work in social justice are often more mobile than lawyers in private firms. Whatever area you end up working in, it is vital to position yourself in a work environment that harnesses your own strengths and abilities. You are encouraged to consult career development resources that will help you collect the information that will define this for you.

Career Resource Guides:

  • Advancing Women & Advancing Your Career
  • Career Forward
  • Human Resources & Skill Development Canada (HRSDC) (Occupational & Career Development)  
  • N. Thomas, A Guide for Law Graduates Seeking to Create Non-Traditional Articling Experiences (Ottawa: Law Union of Ontario, Ottawa Chapter, 1999).
  • P. Bhatia, Beyond Expectations: Exploring and Creating Alternatives to Legal Practice (Ottawa: Student Services Office and the Career and Professional Development Centre, University of Ottawa, Faculty of law, Common Law Section, 1999). 
  • Planning Your Strategy: A Guide to Conquering the Articling Process and Constructing a Legal Career (Career and Professional Development Centre of the University of Ottawa, 2005). 
  • Changing Jobs: A Handbook For Lawyers for the 1990's, 3rd ed. (American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section and Young Lawyers Division, 1999). 
  • J. Verrier, "Work in the Non-Profit Sector", NALP Bulletin , February 1999 (not on reserve).

What kind of skills and experience do I need to work in social justice law?

What do public interest organizations look for? You need to demonstrate an interest, commitment to and/ or experience in social justice whether it is working or volunteering for an organization in the social justice area. Get involved with public-interest related student group such as LEAF or CLAIHR or volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada  to be placed in an organization of your interest. It is important to attend talks, conferences, lectures to explore your interests and put you in touch with people working in the area.

It is a good idea to take a broad selection of courses to gain an idea of the wide legal framework and to develop valuable legal research and writing skills that will be invaluable in any future work you do. Make sure to take courses in negotiation and dispute resolution as these are cost and time efficient tools upon which non-profit organizations depend to solve legal disputes. It is also recommended that you do clinic work as that will put you in touch with the larger community you live in and take you out of your law school bubble and face to face with the reality of what lower income persons need from the law. It is also important to gain an understanding of the financial running of non-profit organizations.

Your resume should be specifically tailored to reflect the public interest volunteering and work you have done and the applicable skills you have acquired. Include all research and legal skills you have acquired, as well as all responsibilities you took on during you volunteer or work experience. Your cover letter should include your knowledge, experience and interest in the area of the employer’s organizations.

What do I do if I am searching for a summer job in social justice?

Most summer job postings for public interest organizations are advertised later in the winter semester than the postings for firms. This is not because there are fewer opportunities for summer work in the area, but because it usually takes a longer time for these organizations to secure funding for their summer placements. However there are always exceptions so keep an eye out for postings early on in the Fall.

Many of the jobs in social justice are not advertised widely so use your entrepreneurial skills to create an opportunity to work in an area that is perfect just for you. Although it does take a little leg-work it will be worth the effort! Researching and gaining contacts might even be an enjoyable experience for you since you will be learning more about how the law is involved in the cause you are passionate about. To get your job hunt started find out about the opportunities that exist in legal clinics, internships, government jobs and in research positions with professors.

What do I do if I am searching for an articling position in social justice?

The articling positions for the social justice sector will occur during the summer after second year. But you can also create your own articling position by maintaining strong relations with prior workplaces where you have volunteered and apply for funding to work at the organization. Make sure to also check out Quicklaw’s National Articling database to view a listing of public interest firms and government ministries that are hiring articling students.

If you are interested in creating your own articling position, at the latest begin your research after the summer of your first year or/ and during your second year. Go to www.lsuc.on.ca for the guidelines on creating your own articles. Here is a summary:

  • Determine the organization with which you wish to article and the type of work they do.
  • Find out whether they are interested in hiring you as an articling student. 
  • Find a lawyer in the province in which  you want to work to act as your Principal.
  • To get your articles approved submit an Education Plan through your Principal to the LSUC (requirements listed in LSUC’s articling handbook). 
  • Acquire funding for your articling position. Look to government, law firms, private foundations and other resources.

What do you do once you're done your articling term? If your current place of work cannot keep you, use the network you have made among the social justice community during your articling term to assist your employment search.

Public Interest Articling : This guide describes the different fields in which a student can article and directs students in their search for public interest articles.

Resources regarding specific areas of social justice work

How do I select a career path in social justice? There are so many! Yes it does take more time to research a career in social justice. But if you have made it to law school you must have the smarts to carry out such a task. The benefits of finding a career path in which you are truly happy in largely outweigh the work required to find this direction.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the resources that exist...

Job Databases:

Aboriginal Issues:

Activism:

Children's Rights:

Civil Liberties and Free Speech:

Criminal Law and Social Justice:

Disability Rights:

Dispute Resolution:

Elderly Rights:

Environment:

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered/Transsexual:

Health Activism:

Humanitarian Relief:

Human Rights:

Immigration and Refugee:

Information and Research for Social Justice:

International Law:

International Affairs:

Legal Aid:

Media and Civil Liberties:

News on Social Justice:

Poverty Issues:

Volunteering:

Women's Rights:

Workers' Rights:

Firms and Public Interest Work

Law firms in Toronto that have opportunities to work in the public interest sector:

  • Aird & Berlis 
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon 
  • Borden Ladner Gervais 
  • Cassels Brock and Blackwell 
  • Fasken Martineau 
  • Fraser Milner Casgrain 
  • Goodman and Carr 
  • Goodmans 
  • McCarthy Tétrault 
  • McMillan Binch 
  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt 
  • Stikeman, Elliott 
  • Torys

 

 

 

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Last updated: 2009.12.15