A Day In The Life Of An Attorney At The State Of California
A day as an attorney varies greatly depending on the role; as a senior attorney advising a water quality agency, a typical day involved "attending meetings," "legal research," and advising decision-makers, but other attorneys, such as those in the Attorney General's office, focus on litigation and court appearances. The interviewee highlights the unique aspect of environmental law, emphasizing collaboration with "engineers and scientists," contrasting it with roles involving teams composed solely of attorneys.
Legal Research, Environmental Law, Government Agencies, Teamwork, Collaboration with Experts
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dee Dee Dickey
Attorney
State of California
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley - JD
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector, Law
Legal
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Working as an environmental attorney involves collaboration with engineers and scientists, offering a diverse professional experience.
2. The day-to-day tasks of an attorney vary significantly based on their specific role and workplace; for example, roles in government agencies may involve advising staff, conducting legal research, and attending board meetings, whereas roles in the Attorney General's office may focus more on litigation.
3. Attorneys in government agencies may have different working relationships; some, like the interviewee, work closely with agency staff, while others, such as those in the Attorney General's office, primarily work with existing agency records and prepare for court proceedings
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an attorney look like?
That is a difficult question to answer because it depends on what kind of role you have as an attorney. When I worked as a senior attorney for the state, I advised one of the state's Water Quality Agencies. My typical day involved going to work and attending meetings with staff.
We'd discuss their ideas for regulating water quality in California. I would advise them on the latest legal developments that might affect their plans. I also reviewed their work and conducted legal research to help them strengthen their recommendations or identify potential issues.
Then, I would attend board meetings and advise the ultimate decision-makers about the legal implications of their proposed actions. Other lawyers in government agencies have different roles. For example, those in the Attorney General's office prepare for litigation.
They don't generally have the close working relationship I had with agency staff. Instead, they work with the record that the agency has already prepared once a decision has been made. They then go to court, or as criminal attorneys, they go to court based on the record of the criminal trial. So it really depends on your specific job as an attorney.
One thing I want to mention about being an environmental attorney is that I frequently worked with engineers and scientists. Working as an environmental attorney is a great job if you enjoy collaborating with engineers and scientists. Some environmental attorneys work with land use planners as well. I always loved working with people who had different professional backgrounds than I did.
However, if you prefer to work solely with a team of attorneys, there might be other roles within government, for instance, in the Attorney General's office, that might be a better fit for you.