Potential Career Paths
Lawyer/Attorney
Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors.
As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal or civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in support of their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients about their legal rights and obligations and suggest courses of action in business and personal matters. All attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the laws to the specific circumstances that their clients face.
In 2018, the median annual earnings for lawyers was $120,910. For more information on lawyers, including how to become one, visit bls.gov.
Urban and Regional Planners
Urban and regional planners develop plans and programs for the use of land. Their plans help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Urban and regional planners identify community needs and develop short- and long-term plans to create, grow, and revitalize communities and areas. For example, planners examine plans for proposed facilities, such as schools, to ensure that these facilities will meet the needs of a changing population. As an area grows or changes otherwise, planners help communities manage the related economic, social, and environmental issues, such as planning a new park, sheltering the homeless, and making the region more attractive to businesses.
Some planners work on broad, community-wide plans; others focus on specific issues. Ultimately, planners advocate the best use of a community’s land and resources for residential, commercial, educational, and recreational purposes.
In 2018, the median annual earnings for urban and regional planners was $73,050. For more information on urban and regional planners, including how to become one, visit bls.gov.
Additional Potential Job Titles
- Archivist, Online Political Data
- Budget Examiner or Analyst
- Attorney
- Banking Analyst or Executive
- Campaign Operative
- Career Counselor
- CIA Analyst or Agent
- City Planner
- City Housing Administrator
- Congressional Office/Committee Staffer
- Coordinator of Federal or State Aid
- Communications Director
- Corporate Analyst
- Corporate Public Affairs Advisor
- Corporate Economist
- Corporate Manager
- Corporate Information Analyst
- Corporate Adviser for Governmental Relations
- Corporate Executive
- Corporation Legislative Issues Manager
- Editor, Online Political Journal
- Entrepreneur
- Federal Government Analyst
- Financial Consultant
- Foreign Service Officer
- Foundation President
- Free-lance writer
- High School Government Teacher
- Immigration Officer
- Information Manager
- Intelligence Officer
- International Agency Officer
- International Research Specialist
- Issues Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Division
- Journalist
- Juvenile Justice Specialist
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Legislative Analyst / Coordinator
- Lobbyist
- Management Analyst
- Mediator
- Plans and Review Officer, USIA
- Policy Analyst
- Political Commentator
- Pollster
- Public Affairs Research Analyst
- Public Opinion Analyst
- Publisher
- Research Analyst
- State Legislator
- Survey Analyst
- Systems Analyst
- Teacher
- University Administrator
- University Professor
- Urban Policy Planner
- Web Content Editor
