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What are common career paths for people interested in national security law? Is it sort of like the elusive "international law" that people always talk about? Also, are there any schools that particularly stand out in the field (someone told me Georgetown and UVA, but idk how reputable he was on the subject...) Thanks in advance and mods feel free to move if this isn't the right forum

I believe the FBI takes JDs for entry level agent-type positions. Not sure about actual law-related stuff though.

retake wrote:I believe the FBI takes JDs for entry level agent-type positions. Not sure about actual law-related stuff though.

They do. But they require two years of relevant experience, so you can't go straight out of law school.

NZA wrote:

retake wrote:I believe the FBI takes JDs for entry level agent-type positions. Not sure about actual law-related stuff though.

They do. But they require two years of relevant experience, so you can't go straight out of law school.

It's harder to get in as a lawyer than a local cop. DO NOT go to law school wanting to be an agent. Also, all the DOJ agencies as well as many of the intelligence agencies hire general counsel positions but they are prestigious and hard to get.

ivantheterbl wrote:What are common career paths for people interested in national security law? Is it sort of like the elusive "international law" that people always talk about? Also, are there any schools that particularly stand out in the field (someone told me Georgetown and UVA, but idk how reputable he was on the subject...) Thanks in advance and mods feel free to move if this isn't the right forum

FBI; Homeland Security; ICE (which is subdivision of Homeland Security) all hire JDs. Also, military JAG positions could have a lot to do with national security in some cases I think. DOJ also has a lot to do with national security in terms of prosecutions of those who threaten national security. And I am fairly sure CIA and State Department have plenty of attorneys working for them, though I imagine some of those slots are pretty tough to get. I think another of other federal agencies or departments also concerned with national security hire JDs.

might want to put an app in to fringe division, too

In a nutshell I would say if your interest is doing work related to national security you will want to target federal government jobs. I think there are certain schools that feed into federal jobs more than others. Georgetown actually has a whole program (apart from law school) for national security related work. You might want to look into that if national security work is your passion. In terms of getting a relevant legal job, probably the better school you go to the better your chances will be of getting the job you want (with the exception that there are some schools that will probably place into these slightly disproportionately to overall rank); federal jobs are competitive. I don't know that 'national security law' would be considered a distinct area of law, but but I think a lot of attys working for the fed govt in various agencies do work on issues directly related to nat. security, and I don't think aiming for this type of legal career is by any means far-fetched or impossible to achieve.

Lawquacious wrote:In a nutshell I would say if your interest is doing work related to national security you will want to target federal government jobs. I think there are certain schools that feed into federal jobs more than others. Georgetown actually has a whole program (apart from law school) for national security related work. You might want to look into that if national security work is your passion. In terms of getting a relevant legal job, probably the better school you go to the better your chances will be of getting the job you want (with the exception that there are some schools that will probably place into these slightly disproportionately to overall rank); federal jobs are competitive. I don't know that 'national security law' would be considered a distinct area of law, but but I think a lot of attys working for the fed govt in various agencies do work on issues directly related to nat. security, and I don't think aiming for this type of legal career is by any means far-fetched or impossible to achieve.

Also, some biglaw firms have national security practices. Covington for example.

ivantheterbl wrote:What are common career paths for people interested in national security law? Is it sort of like the elusive "international law" that people always talk about? Also, are there any schools that particularly stand out in the field (someone told me Georgetown and UVA, but idk how reputable he was on the subject...) Thanks in advance and mods feel free to move if this isn't the right forum

T-14 --> 1L Jag summer --> Jag board 1, Jag board 2, Jag board 3 (finally accepted) --> Wills, divorces, DUIs --> Deployed to Afghanistan --> help Afghans develop new legal system --> ??? --> PROFIT!

Experience +the quality of thinking taking all the things is mind is important. And It is a local cop so its difficult to stay over there.

Wystan wrote:Experience +the quality of thinking taking all the things is mind is important. And It is a local cop so its difficult to stay over there.

I'm really confused by what this post is trying to say.

Wystan wrote:Experience +the quality of thinking taking all the things is mind is important. And It is a local cop so its difficult to stay over there.

lol wut?

I was only wondering because I saw a description for a national security law class and it seemed extremely interesting, but I didn't know if there were any jobs outside of academia really for someone to focus on it--Also, out of curiosity, if you focus on one particular area of law in school (say national security law), do well in classes, but are unable to land a national security job will firms still hire you as a general associate.

T4 FTW!

http://www.stmarytx.edu/ctl/