Welcome to the Government, Law, and Public Policy career advising page! Wellesley's rigorous liberal arts curriculum prepares students and graduates to make a difference in the world, equipped with a skill set that is especially relevant in these industries. Careers in these areas require that individuals understand historical context, exhibit critical thinking, and display passion for service — whether it be in an NGO, a think tank, government agency, or the private sector. These industries are often intertwined. For example, a student exploring a career in law may contemplate a career in international development or the Foreign Service. Given the overlap, it is important to define your personal interests and explore how they align with careers in this space to identify what fulfills you most.
Students and graduates are encouraged to get started by exploring the resources below and scheduling an appointment in Handshake to meet with Nicole Park (Career Advisor for Government, Law, and Public Policy)
Law Resources
Is law school right for you? Explore the resources and videos below to learn more about careers in law and applying to law school.
Appointments can be scheduled in Handshake for Mon–Fri.
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Update your Career Interests in Handshake to sign up for Government, International Affairs, Law, & Public Policy emails! You'll learn about events, discover opportunities, hear alumnae stories, and more.
Top Job Functions
Class of 2023 Top Job Functions in Government, Law, & Public Policy
44.00%
Legal
28.00%
Research
8.00%
Other
4.00%
Finance
4.00%
Operations/Production
4.00%
Data & Analytics
4.00%
Education/Teaching/Training
4.00%
Community & Social Services
Law School Acceptance Rate
83%
83% of Wellesley applicants are accepted to at least one law school (based on 5-year data from 2015–2020)
What they studied
Where they work
What they do
Astrophysics
City of Burlington, Vermont
City Data Fellow
Philosophy & Peace and Justice Studies
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Courtroom Clerk
Psychology & Political Science
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Corporate Paralegal
Sociology
Govern For America
City of St. Louis- Community Development Administration, Community Development Specialist
Economics & Women's and Gender Studies
US Department of Transportation
Transportation Specialist
International Relations-Political Science
NYC Office of the Mayor
Legal Coordinator
Political Science
BraunHagey & Borden LLP
Litigation Legal Assistant
Anthropology
Brandeis University
Research Assistant at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Psychology & Peace and Justice Studies
Office of Rep. Greg Landsman, US House of Representatives
Wellesley College has a contract with the Princeton Review that allows all students to get a 50% discount on any test prep courses. This includes the MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, and DAT.
The McCall MacBain Scholarships seek to bring together exceptional students from around the world who strive to engage in positive change by taking on meaningful leadership roles. McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University! (Campus deadline typically in August.)
“Often women and children are used to build the pathos to justify certain decisions, and I thought it was crazy to look around the table at who is making the decisions and [see that] those people are not represented at all.”
- Kismat Dhaliwal ’21
2022 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Recipient
