Why to Keep Up with Developments in the Larger Legal Industry (and how NALP makes it easy for you)
In many respects the legal “public interest community” (amorphous as it may be) is set apart from the law firm world. Recruiting and hiring are done quite differently, for instance, among nonprofits and government offices compared to large law firms. But there is some overall cohesion in the industry at large. The Great Recession has shown us that no law office has been immune from its effects. Indeed, the closely-knit relationship between “Biglaw” and the public interest community on pro bono issues became evident as firms adjusted pro bono programs to assist nonprofits with changing client needs, and also in the phenomenon of deferred law firm associates taking public service placements in public interest offices. Also, those large firms that kept up their financial backing of the public interest community have been absolutely vital pillars of support as other traditional public-interest revenue streams tapered to a trickle.
What does this mean for aspiring and current public interest advocates? It means that there are a lot of good reasons to keep your finger on the pulse of the larger legal industry. In some contexts there is a close relationship, even a symbiosis, between law firms and their public interest partners. So your practice could be directly impacted, as could the financial fortunes of your employer.
Here’s some good news about keeping up with the news: NALP makes it easy for you to check in on happenings in the industry at large. Every Friday, the esteemed Jim Leipold, NALP’s executive director (and your author’s boss), circulates the NALP Industry News Weekly Digest, which is freely available NALP’s website. We’ll also begin posting a link to it in our weekly PSLawNet Public Interest News Bulletin.