Social Impact Law: Your True Calling?

// Many lawyers go to law school to help people. They want to use their knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world. While there are many different ways to do that, becoming a social impact lawyer is one of the most direct and impactful.

Social impact lawyers use their legal skills to help those who need it the most, representing clients who may not otherwise have access to justice and fighting for important causes to the community.

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Fortunately, this demanding and challenging position is also incredibly rewarding. If you are looking for a way to make a real difference in the world, then becoming a social impact lawyer is the right choice for you.

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Why You Should Be A Social Impact Lawyer?

Now that we’ve discussed what social impact lawyers do, let’s talk about why you should be one. Here are a few reasons why it may be the right choice for you:

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1. You can help those who need it most. As a social impact lawyer, you will represent clients who may not otherwise have access to justice as you fight for important causes in your community.

2. You can make a real difference. Part of helping those in need means making an actual difference in the world. Improving the community creates opportunities for countless people, changing lives in more ways than you can ever know.

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3. You will be challenged. Working on important and complex cases for underrepresented clients will no doubt be a challenge, pushing you to become a more skilled and nuanced lawyer in the process.

4. You can work on cause-driven cases. Social impact law is not just about working on important cases; it’s also about working on cases about which you are passionate.

5. You may be your own boss. If you become a social impact lawyer, you may be your own boss, whether that means starting your law firm or joining an existing firm that shares your values. This is a great way to learn about the business of law and build your practice.

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6. You may make a good living. Despite what you may think, you can actually make a good living as a social impact lawyer. In fact, many social impact lawyers are among the highest-paid lawyers in the country.

7. You can have a fulfilling career. The unique mixture of challenge and reward that accompanies a career as a social impact lawyer can ensure a sense of fulfillment not found in many other roles in the legal profession. It is a role that enables you to support yourself while changing the world for the better.

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The Bottom Line

Becoming a social impact lawyer may be your best chance to make a real difference in the world. It is a demanding and challenging job, but it is also incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to use your legal skills to help those who need it the most and fight for important causes in your community.

If you want to learn more about social impact law and how you can make a difference, then check out the “Notes to My (Legal) Self” podcast episode “Humanizing Tech and Law,” in which Fatima Jafri, a social impact lawyer, discusses her work at Meta.

Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.

Topics

Biglaw, In-House Counsel, Olga V. Mack