A majority of lawyers begin their careers in private practice. Over the last few years, about 65 percent of UT Law graduates began their careers in private practice, going to work for large, midsize, and small private firms.
Large firms
Private practice in a large or midsize firm can encompass many areas of law and, because of the involvement of some firms in pro bono work, include virtually every type of client. Many large and midsize firms serve primarily substantial corporate and individual clients, often offer greater resources than smaller firms, and have attorneys specializing in a variety of different practice areas. Generally, these firms have several specialized departments, such as employment, education, civil litigation, corporate, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and estate planning.
New associates are usually assigned to a particular department where they work on projects that fall under the specialization of that department. A few firms have rotation programs that allow new associates to work for designated time periods in several or all of their departments. Rotation programs may help new attorneys determine the particular area in which they wish to specialize. Many summer associate programs are structured on a rotation basis as well.
Conducting a large firm job search
Small and midsize firms
Many new graduates choose a small firm as their first legal employer. As in the case of large and midsize firms, lawyers in small firms represent all types of clients in virtually every area of law. Small firms typically serve more privately held businesses and individuals than large corporate clients. Size, however, does not always determine the nature or sophistication of a firm’s practice. Many small firms are relatively recent spin-offs of their larger counterparts, while others are boutique firms that specialize in particular, and often extremely complex, practice areas. Small firms frequently give new associates responsibility and autonomy more quickly than do large or midsize firms. Many new lawyers choose small firm practice because these firms offer them the opportunity to work closely with clients and firm partners early in their careers. Small firms are usually less hierarchical and departmentalized than larger firms. Although small firms generally pay new associates lower salaries than do large or midsize firms, there is a wide range of small firm starting salaries, and billable hour requirements tend to be lower than at larger firms.
Conducting a small & midsize firm job search