Many attorneys who work for public interest organizations find their work very rewarding. For one, they are able to work on causes in which they truly believe. However, public interest organizations tend not to have very much money. Therefore, attorneys working for such organizations can expect to have significantly lower pay than their law firm counterparts. A lot of legal aid moneys have been cut back over the past decade.
Attorneys can serve as in-house counsel for such organizations.
This might include reviewing contracts or preparing other documents. Most law firms do not exist exclusively as public interest law firms. Rather, such law firms will encourage their attorneys to devote a small percentage of their time to public service. These law firms will often accept referrals from local legal services and assist indigent clients in resolving their disputes. Again, these matters can range from assisting a woman in obtaining a divorce to helping clients keep their home in a possible foreclosure.