NALP Initiatives

NALP, the National Association for Law Placement, is a membership organization of over 200 law schools and 1000 public and private sector legal employers. Founded in 1971, its mission is to facilitate legal career counseling and planning, recruitment and retention, and the professional development of law students and lawyers. NALP administers PSLawNet, and also supports a variety of public sector initiatives by providing a forum to exchange information, develop resources, and guide policy and programs related to public sector careers. NALP's commitment to public interest/public service activities includes:

2006 Public Sector & Public Interest Attorney Salary Report - Released in September 2006, this NALP report provides salary data for attorneys working in a number of public sector capacities, including: civil legal services organizations, public defender's offices, local prosecuting attorney's offices, offices of attorneys general, and other public interest organizations. In addition to break-down by type of office, information is reported both nationwide and by geographic area. Basic information on benefits and on the availability and nature of loan repayment assistance programs (LRAP's) is also included. For the first time, a separate section of the report outlines basic salary and benefits information for federal government attorneys. See NALP's press release here. The report is available for purchase here.

Federal Legal Employment Opportunity Guide - In collaboration with the Partnership for Public Service and the ABA's Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, NALP produces this annual guide, available for free download (PDF).

The Comprehensive Fellowship Guide: The Ultimate Resource for Law Students and Lawyers - The annual PSLawNet Fellowship Guide is produced by NALP. In addition to detailed information on more than 250 legal and law-related fellowships, the guide includes indexes by geographic location and sponsoring organization, as well as a calendar of deadlines. For information on ordering this publication, see the NALP Bookstore.

NALP/PSLawNet Public Service Mini-Conference - NALP continues the tradition of a meeting on the day preceding the Equal Justice Works Career Fair focused on the needs of law school public interest advisors. The MiniConference is the only national event planned solely to afford public interest legal career specialists the opportunity to network and exchange ideas.  Click here for the law school professionals joint agenda.

Partner in the Equal Justice Works Career Fair and Conference - NALP Public Service Section members provide their expertise in many of the program sessions. In addition, NALP is proud to provide financial sponsorship of the EJW Employers' Luncheon.

NALP's Sections - NALP Sections, Work Groups, and Advisory Groups support a number of public interest/public sector projects. NALP's Judicial Clerkship Section has played a significant role in the development and implementation of the recent Clerkship Hiring Plan. In addition, NALP's Public Service Section continues to be a strong advocate for public service careers, programming, and resources.

Free Listing for Public Sector Employers in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers - Public sector employers list for free in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, the most trusted legal career resource and a staple publication in law school career services offices. The Directory is also available in printed form here.

NALP's Public Service Staff - Two NALP staff members focus exclusively on issues that affect public sector lawyers and public interest-minded law students. The Director of Public Service Initiatives is responsible for the overall administration of PSLawNet, and also works to develop and enhance NALP's public service educational programming, publications, research, technology, and membership services. The Director serves as NALP's staff liaison to other law-related public service organizations, to the PSLawNet Advisory Council, and to NALP's Public Service Section. The PSLawNet Fellow manages the PSLawNet website and databases, and is NALP's pointperson in supporting law school and employer users.