Careers in government, law, and public policy (GLP) offer a wide range of opportunities to lead, serve the public interest, and ensure fundamental rights and social justice.听
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Learn about specific fields within Government, Law, and Public Policy
Government (Federal)
Careers within the federal government include opportunities within the three branches鈥攅xecutive, legislative, and judicial鈥攁s well as in any of the vast number of federal agencies and departments, like the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, Federal Trade Commission, National Science Foundation, and many more. Depending on where your interests lay, you can pursue career paths affecting policy, legislation, the environment, transportation, education, commerce, and much more.听
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Types of Positions
There is a range of functional roles and positions within the federal government, from environmental scientists to museum curators and beyond. Below are common entry-level positions within the federal legislature.
- Analyst
- Legislative Aide
- Congressional Aide
- Press Assistant
- Entry-Level Officer or Agent (in federal agencies/departments)
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
- Department of State
- Department of Justice
- National Institutes of Health
- Department of Commerce
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Hiring Timelines
- 6% received job offers before senior year
- 17% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 56% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 22% received job offers after graduation
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Learn About Federal Government Careers
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Opportunities in Federal Government
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Campus Resources
- Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy
- Innocence Program听(Open to Undergraduates)
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Professional Associations and Organizations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Graduate degrees are not required for working in the federal government. However, there are a number of graduate degree paths, including law school and masters and doctoral programs in fields such as policy, administration, public affairs, international affairs, and government, as well as STEM and the liberal arts, for those interested in gaining greater knowledge and experience in areas relevant to government work.听
听to explore graduate degrees in public policy and public administration.
Government (State/Local)
Similar to the federal government, careers within state and local government include opportunities in each of the three branches of government: executive (such as a governor鈥檚 or county executive鈥檚 offices), legislative (such as a state or town assembly), and judicial (such as state superior courts or county district attorney offices). In addition to legislature, governance, and policy, state and local governments also afford ample opportunities to forge careers in areas such as the environment, energy, health, education, and many more.
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Types of Positions
Much like the federal government, there are a number of functional roles within state and local government beyond the political sphere, including engineering, education, and energy.听Common early-career job titles within state and local governments in each of the three branches of government include:
- Legislative Aide
- Assistant City Manager
- State Senate Staff Assistant
- Judicial Aide
- Government Associate
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- California Governor鈥檚 Office
- Massachusetts Attorney General鈥檚 Office
- Massachusetts Court Service Center
- Massachusetts State House
- New York State Assembly
- Rhode Island Attorney General鈥檚 Office
- Suffolk County District Attorney
- Town of Brookline
Hiring Timelines
- 46% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Learn About State/Local Government Careers
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Opportunities in State/Local Government
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Campus Resources
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Professional Associations and Organizations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Graduate degrees are not required for working in state and local government. However, there are a number of graduate degree paths, including law school and masters and doctoral programs in fields such as policy, administration, public affairs, international affairs, and government, as well as STEM and the liberal arts, for those interested in gaining greater knowledge and experience in areas relevant to government work.
听to explore graduate degrees in public policy and public administration.
International Affairs
International affairs encompasses a wide range of multi- and interdisciplinary careers in diplomacy, economic development, policy, trade, security, human rights, and various other areas. Students interested in international affairs may embark on careers in government agencies like the Foreign Service and Peace Corps, multilateral organizations like the United Nations, or a range of international non-governmental organizations and nonprofits.
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Types of Positions
International affairs is a broad industry field. From ambassador down to language editor, there are a number of positions depending on organization type and functional area. Common early-career job types in international affairs include the following:
- Junior Foreign Service Officer
- Advisor
- Program Officer
- Administrative Officer
- Strategy Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Translator
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Department of State
- United Nations World Food Programme
- United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- British Embassy, Paris
- Society for International Development
- ACCION International
- Norwegian Refugee Council
Learn About International Affairs Careers
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Opportunities in International Affairs
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations and Organizations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Graduate study for an international affairs career is dependent on the organization and functional area within the industry. For example, multilateral organizations like the United Nations value candidates who are embarking on or have graduated with advanced degrees in relevant fields, including international affairs and a range of STEM and liberal arts disciplines. Examples of industry-specific graduate degrees include master鈥檚 and doctorates in global affairs, international affairs, development, public administration, and policy.听, while interested students should also visit the听.
Law
Law is a vast field that offers career options in a variety of settings and specializations. Broadly speaking, lawyers work in private practice, business, public interest, government, and academia. Attorneys who specialize in transactional law carry out research and counsel individuals and organizations on a range of legal matters, while those who specialize in litigation settle civil and criminal legal suits in court. Anyone who wishes to become a lawyer must attend law school, which is generally a three-year commitment, and pass the bar exam in the state(s) where they wish to practice.
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Applying to Law School
In order to begin your career as an attorney, you must attend law school. The Boston College Career Center offers resources to help you explore your interests in law school and prepare your law school applications, from writing your personal statement to studying for the LSAT.听Consider enrolling in our Boston College Pre-Law mini course on Canvas or scheduling an appointment with the GLP career coach and pre-law advisor for one-on-one advising.听
Types of Positions
There is a wide range of careers within the law and legal services industry. Students who wish to work in the industry prior to entering law school generally assume positions as the following at law firms, district attorney offices, and elsewhere:
- Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
- Legal Analyst
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During law school and following graduation from law school and passage of the bar, JDs start their careers as the following:
- Associate
- Summer Associate
- Attorney听
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
Law Schools:
- Boston College Law School
- Boston University Law School
- Columbia University Law School
- Duke University School of Law
- Fordham Law School
- Georgetown Law Center
- George Washington University Law School
- Harvard Law School
- UCLA Law School
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- University of Virginia Law School
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Employment:
- Belcher Fitzgerald
- Hogan Lovells
- Hudson
- Latham and Watkins
- Massachusetts Court Service Center
- Mintz
- Paul Weiss
- Ropes and Gray
- U.S. Attorneys Office, Boston
- White and Case
Hiring Timelines
- 2% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 64% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 34% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Learn About Legal Careers
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Opportunities in Law
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations
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Pre-Law Summer Programs
Looking for something to do this summer? Check out our database that details summer programs for students at various points of the law school application process. Browse the different tabs to find a program that is right for you!
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officials operate at every level of society, from smaller, community-based police organizations, to municipal and state police forces, national agencies like the U.S. Marshals, DEA, and Secret Service, and international organizations like Interpol. Beyond policing, the broader fields of law enforcement and criminal justice include careers in forensics, social work, and counseling, among others.
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Types of Positions
From Special Agent to crime scene investigator, there are various career paths within the law enforcement industry. Common entry-level positions in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies include:
- Patrol Officer
- Deputy U.S. Marshal
- Entry-Level Special Agent
Learn About Law Enforcement Careers
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Opportunities in Law Enforcement
Campus Resources
Professional Associations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
For forensic work, graduate work in STEM fields, and forensic science in particular, is valued. For counseling psychology, clinical graduate work is required.
Military/Defense/Intelligence
The U.S. armed forces and federal departments and agencies like the Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and Central Intelligence Agency defend the nation and American interests at home and abroad. While the conventional path to defense careers starts with joining one of the four branches of the U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps), the National Guard, or the Coast Guard as an enlisted serviceman or officer, there are many opportunities for civilians to embark on defense careers in federal departments and agencies. Defense careers include number of diverse sectors, including intelligence, policy, research, medicine, aid, engineering, and technology. This can be at agencies like the FBI.
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Types of Positions
There are a number of civilian and military positions within the defense industry, including in the areas of engineer, technology, and intelligence. Depending on the branch of the military, and if a student has participated in ROTC, one can enter the armed forces as an enlisted serviceman via听 recruiter or embarking on officer training.
- Technician
- Administrator
- Intelligence officer
- Entry-Level FBI Agent
- Enlisted Service Person
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
Boston College has alumni actively serving in all branches of the military. Alumni also work in areas such as the Department of Defense and National Security Agency.
Learn About Military/Defense/Intelligence Careers
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Recruiting Opportunities:
Campus Resources
Professional Associations and Organizations
Public Policy/Advocacy
Careers in public policy and advocacy include a range of opportunities to research and implement government policy, advocate and lobby for interest groups, fight for social justice, influence lawmakers, and elect candidates to office. Students interested in pursuing careers in public and policy and advocacy may work in think tanks, government relations offices, activist organizations, policy and advocacy nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, lobbying firms, and political consulting companies.
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Types of Positions
From director of research at a global think tank to speechwriter for a political campaign, there is a wide range of positions and functions within the public policy and advocacy career fields. Some common early-career positions include:
- Legislative lobbyist
- Government relations associate
- Campaign staff worker
- Program analyst
- Policy analyst
- Researcher
- Translator
Where 51茶馆 Graduates Have Gone
- Brookings Institute
- GLAAD
- RAND Corporation
- Blue Revolution
- League of Conservation Voters
- Partnership for Public Service
- Blue Revolution
- American Enterprise Institute
- U.S. Public Interest Research Group
- International Chamber of Commerce
Learn About Public Policy/Advocacy Careers
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Opportunities in Public Policy/Advocacy
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Advanced degrees, including masters or doctorates, are desirable for many public policy positions, which oftentimes require expertise in specific subject areas. Think tank policy analysts, for example, have advanced degrees in economics, public policy, public administration, or public affairs. Advanced degrees in liberal arts and STEM disciplines are also desirable.听听to explore graduate degrees in public policy and public administration.听听has more information about degrees in public policy.
Key Resources
Handshake
As you look for opportunities, start with听Handshake,听our centralized platform where employers post positions for Boston College students. All of the top employers are hiring on Handshake. You can also find听campus recruitment听opportunities.
Featured GLP Employers
Follow these employers and others you like on Handshake to receive email alerts when new jobs and events are posted. Following employers also helps improve your job recommendations.
Eagle Exchange
Eagle Exchange is an interactive virtual platform that fosters connections between students and Boston College alumni. You can use Eagle Exchange to build your professional network, ask career-related questions, find alumni mentors, apply to projects to build skills, and more.
Big Interview
Build confidence in your interview skills through free access to Big Interview. You can record yourself answering questions听that are tailored to specific industries.听
GLP Question Library
Start practicing mock interviews in hundreds of industries and job titles. Below are a few featured question sets听鈥� browse these and more in Big Interview.
Forage
A formal internship is not the only way to gain professional experience. Projects are a great option to boost your r茅sum茅/portfolio, build skills, and grow your professional network. The听Forage听platform offers hypothetical projects from top employers that you can complete to learn more about working in a specific field.
Forage GLP Virtual Work Experiences
Check out these bite-sized 5-6 hour virtual work experience programs that give you a genuine career advantage with Fortune 500 companies.
GLP Linkedin Learning Content
LinkedIn听Learning听provides free access to thousands of on-demand courses giving you an opportunity for self-paced听learning听about topics of interest from industry experts. This is also a听great way to develop the skills all employers seek in their entry-level candidates.
Firsthand
Find out what it is like to work within an industry, a company, or a profession. View the career guides for up to date information on a variety of careers as well as interviewing strategies and job search tips.
To access: Register for an account using your Boston College email address.
Firsthand: GLP Carer Guides
These career guides provide essential information about key GLP careers and industries, including industry trends, employment and earnings statistics, and what employers look for in job candidates.
Industry-Specific Content
Your听GLP coach has curated this set of custom tools, data, and resources to assist you in your career exploration and preparation.
Browse our jobs and internships pages to prepare to apply to ENS positions.
Update your career interests in听Handshake听to receive regular updates from our coaches with听exclusive resources, reminders, event invites, job/internship postings, and more.
Use the听database听to find students who completed internships that you may be interested in and reach out to them to discuss their summer experience.
Explore where Eagles land after they graduate from Boston College. Filter听first destinations data听by school, major, industry, location, and more.
Check out a听list of Diversity and Leadership opportunities听specific to Consulting, Business, and Finance.