Political campaigns provide the opportunity to develop a wide assortment of skills in an extremely fast-paced and flexible environment. They also offer a unique insight into the electoral process and the cares and concerns of elected officials and the American public. Campaign work can often lead directly or indirectly to government employment down the road.
Whether it’s for a candidate for the US House of Representatives, the Senate, an executive branch position such as Governor, State Attorney General, or Mayor, or for a ballot initiative such as a constitutional amendment or legislative referenda, political campaigns are intensive and highly competitive. Candidates and their campaigns are supported by volunteers and paid staffers who identify, persuade, organize, and mobilize supporters to win an election.
Campaigns for legislative seats are typically the most structured, with the major political parties overseeing campaigns through partisan committees. This includes programs to protect incumbents and challengers in contested races.
While many races for legislative offices go uncontested, those that are contested or competitive tend to require the most resources and professional campaign operations due to their impact on the balance of power and policy outcomes. This is particularly true of primaries, which involve intraparty ideological battles that can shift the political landscape in subsequent elections.
There are a variety of positions on most political campaigns that do not require legal skills, including fundraising managers and directors, scheduling and advance team leaders, volunteer coordinators, field organizers or managers, communications consultants, spokespersons, and technology managers. Law students interested in working on political campaigns should consider tapping into their alumni networks and undergraduate partisan groups, such as the school’s Republicans or Democrats, to find opportunities to assist with campaigns.