Welcome to Pitt’s Policy, Law & Public Service Career Community! Students in this community will have an interest in analyzing information, criminal investigations, government regulations, and critical thinking. Career opportunities in this field include, but are not limited to, public administrators, analysts, lawyers, police officers, emergency managers, and criminal investigators. Students can work in a variety of sectors including government, legislation, activism, court systems, non-profits, NGOs, and law enforcement.

Schedule an appointment anytime.  Find your consultant below.

  • Alex Ball:  Pre-Law | History | History & Philosophy of Science | Philosophy | Political Science | Politics & Philosophy
  • Carol Balk:  Administration of Justice | Law, Criminal Justice & Society | Legal Studies | Public Service | Urban Studies | Urban Planning
  • Erin Wheeler:  Economics
  • Raquel Montalvo Perez:  NCAA Student Athletes

  • Lawyer
  • Policy Analyst
  • Legislative Aid
  • Campaign Organizer
  • Archivist
  • History Teacher/Professor
  • Museum Educator
  • Ethics Officer
  • Consultant
  • Technical Writer
  • Journalist
  • Political Science
  • Law, Criminal Justice, and Society
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Public Policy
  • Public Affairs
  • HIstory and Philosophy of Science
  • Museum Studies
  • Classics
  • Economics
  • English Writing
  • Communication

Pursue Relevant Internships Early-Seek internships with government agencies, nonprofits, or law firms to gain experience and build your professional network

Develop Strong Research and Writing Skills-Policy and legal work demand excellent analytical writing. Practice distilling complex information into clear, persuasive arguments

Stay Informed on Current Events-Read reputable news daily and follow policy debates to understand issues and identify your areas of interest

Build Relationships with Professors and Mentors-Connect with faculty in political science, law, or policy for guidance, recommendations, and professional introductions

Engage in Community Service and Advocacy-Volunteer locally, join advocacy campaigns, or participate in student government to demonstrate commitment and understand policy impact

  • Allegheny County Public Defenders Office Internship
  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives Intern
  • Law Office File Clerk/Intern
  • Heinz History Center Internship
  • Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Summer Internship Program
  • Juvenile Justice Intern
  • United Nations Population Fund Ethics Internship
  • Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
  • Innocence Project
  • Political Office Campaigns
  • Neighborhood Legal Services
  • Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Attend Public Lectures and Panel Discussions– Participate in campus talks featuring policymakers, lawyers, and public servants to learn about career paths and current challenges

Join Pre-Law or Policy-Focused Student Organizations-Engage with clubs that align with your interests to meet like-minded peers, attend events, and access exclusive resources

Consider Study Abroad or Language Learning-International experience and language skills enhance your understanding of global policy issues and broaden your career opportunities

Seek Out Informational Interviews Reach out to professionals in fields you’re curious about to learn about their work, gain insights, and expand your network

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  • Campaign Operatives
  • Congressional Staffers
  • Policy Analysts
  • Public Speakers
  • Professors
  • Journalists/Press/Communications
  • Lawyers
  • Judges
  • City/State/Federal Goverment Employees
  • Museum Staff
  • Law School Attendees
  • Juvenile Detention Employees
  • Learn about the Law School Application Process
  • See the day to day interworkings of running a campaign
  • Understand how to gain better public speaking skills
  • Discover different roles that make up museums
  • Find out about research opportunities that might be available to you through working with professors

Seek industry insider advice-Talk to people who work in your interested industry, it can lead to helpful tips and possibly experience

Explore local cultural institutions-Visit a local museum and talk to members working there to gain insight into opportunities

Leverage your university connection-Use the Alumni Tool on LinkedIn to connect with former Pitt students currently in Law School

Build government sector relationships-Attend Networking and Shadowing events to make connections with individuals working in the Local, State or Federal Government

  • Attend Goverment & Non-Profit Networking & Panel event hosted by the Career Center
  • Attend Public Speaker Series through Library System & More
  • Volunteer with local museums to build skills and make connections
  • Volunteer as a student with political campaigns that interest you
  • Network with alumni working in the Political Field

Intern with Government Agencies or Nonprofits-Apply for internships at local, state, or federal offices to gain hands-on experience in policy development and public administration

Attend Policy Forums and Legal Workshops-Participate in campus events featuring practitioners and policymakers to learn about current issues and expand your professional network

Take Courses in Political Science and Law-Enroll in classes covering constitutional law, public policy, ethics, and government to build foundational knowledge for your career

Volunteer for Political Campaigns or Advocacy Groups-Get involved in grassroots organizing, voter registration, or issue-based campaigns to understand how policy change happens in practice

Apply for Pre-Law and Public Service Programs-Pursue summer academies, leadership institutes, or fellowship programs that provide mentorship, training, and connections to the field

Seniors: Time to Tell Pitt Your Plans!

Congratulations on all of the achievements leading to your graduation from the University of Pittsburgh!!!  The Career Center is responsible for collecting and aggregating the data for what our newest alumni are doing after graduation.  If your post grad plans …

By Alyson Kavalukas
Alyson Kavalukas Assistant Director
Read more

2026 Shadow in Your City

Don’t miss your chance to meet with employers in Philadelphia and New York City. These are some of the well-known brands participating in Shadow in Your City in May of 2026.  Shadow in Your City refers to Pitt’s employer site …

By Shirley Stuckert
Shirley Stuckert Employer Relations Coordinator
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Spring Career Power Hours: Your Exploration Lab

Join us for Career Power Hour- Your Exploration Lab! Happening every Thursday and Friday from 10-11AM in WPU 238 and on Zoom (link on Handshake)! Attend a Career Power Hour to work on anything career related with the advice and …

By Gabby Brumond
Gabby Brumond Experiential Learning Consultant
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Internship Week 2026: Video Recordings & Takeaway Sheets

The Internship Week Committee extends its sincere gratitude to all participants, students, faculty, staff, and external professionals for your engagement in our series of panels and workshops. Throughout the week, we facilitated panel discussions featuring students sharing their internship experiences, …

By Totionna Hill
Totionna Hill Experiential Learning Consultant
Read more

Plot Twist: How I Slayed at a Networking Event

Networking can often be intimidating, but The LinkUp event earlier in October proved that it doesn’t have to be. Hosted by the Career Center, The LinkUp event brought together students and alumni for an evening of professional panels and open …

By Madison Bozik
Madison Bozik Communications Intern
Read more

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Policy, Law & Public Service Resources

AI is already transforming careers, classrooms, and everyday life. You don’t need to be a tech expert, but you do …

Resume Samples

Connect with Alumni

Reach out to any of these alumni who have shared their profiles in Pitt Commons.

  • Pittsburgh
  • Associate Attorney Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Meet Zack
  • Washington DC
  • Foreign Service Officer US Department of State
Meet Bradford
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Manager, Real Estate Development & Government Affairs Related Companies
Meet Nathaniel
  • Pittsburgh, PA
Meet Caleb
  • Family Interventionist University of Pittsburgh
Meet Ovetta
  • Psychotherapist Simply Mindful Counseling
Meet Daniel
  • Erie, PA
  • Emergency Medicine Instructor Butler County Community College
Meet Drew
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Attorney Perry Calder Law
Meet Jennifer
  • McDonald, PA
Meet Abhinav
  • Washington, DC
  • Ambassador Free the Facts
Meet Simon
  • Durham, NC
  • Research Engineer Teledyne Scientific & Imaging
Meet Hunsi
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Analyst Deloitte
Meet Isabela
   

Did you know?

The University of Pittsburgh was the top destination for Class of 2020 grads who went on to law school, followed by the University of Pennsylvania. Visit our Success After Pitt site to check out the details!

Career Center In-Person Services

  • 200 William Pitt Union
  • 412-383-4473
  • Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
  • Drop-In Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Career Center Virtual Services

This site contains information that may be of interest to students, alumni and other stakeholders. Sharing information about these events, programs, or activities does not indicate endorsement or sponsorship of the activity or event. The participant must apply due diligence, exercise caution when participating, and report concerns to the Career Center at careers@pitt.edu.