Government Careers Overview
Attorneys work in government because they believe in the values of public service and view their role and responsibilities as: defending the government, advancing government initiatives and having great impact on the community they serve. Government lawyers often feel very connected to the mission of the work that they do. Many young attorneys who pursue government work immediately or soon after graduation report that they value government work because they were given real responsibility very early on in their careers.
Government attorneys, including many YLS alumni, work in a multitude of different practice settings across all three branches of the federal, state, and local government. Yale Law School students have an opportunity to try out government work during their summers to see if they like the environment, subject matter and to develop skills.
There are many resources available to you at Yale Law School to learn more and to explore government careers including: attending career and other programs focused on government, accessing the vast network of Yale alumni in government, through coursework, clinic work, summer internships, speaking with faculty and much more.