Policy Career Guides – Details, episodes & analysis

New to policy? This guide explains what public policy is, how policy change happens, why you might want to work in policy, and where you could work.

---

Outline:

(00:43) What is public policy?

(02:55) How is policy made?

(10:36) Why work in public policy?

(10:40) Making a difference

(15:42) Personal fulfillment

(17:47) Understanding policy careers

(18:24) Policy fit

(20:07) Specializations and types of roles

(22:13) Career pathways

(24:40) Where could you work?

(26:05) Executive branch

(29:03) Congress

(31:25) Think tanks

(34:03) State governments

(34:45) Multilateral institutions and other national governments

(35:48) Next steps

(37:12) Further reading

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 18 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
March 20th, 2025

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/essentials/introduction-to-policy-careers

Would you enjoy working in (a particular role within) policy or be miserable? This article discusses what qualities you need to succeed in policy and suggests ways to test your “fit” for policy work to get real-world feedback.

---

Outline:

(02:24) Thinking about your fit for policy

(02:54) Your fit for policy work in general

(04:43) Your fit for specific policy institutions, roles, and areas

(06:34) Attributes for policy career success

(07:29) Helpful attributes for most policy jobs

(11:14) Helpful attributes for some policy jobs

(15:20) Common misconceptions about personal fit for policy work

(17:46) Differences in fit between policy institutions

(18:40) Congress

(20:07) Executive branch

(21:17) Think tanks

(22:56) Other institutions

(23:37) Testing your fit for policy careers

(25:51) Cheap tests (hours to days)

(30:43) Medium-effort tests (weeks to months)

(36:17) High-effort tests (months to years)

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 5 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
January 15th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/essentials/policy-fit-testing

This article explains how law school works (e.g. curriculum, time commitment) and outlines steps you could take to assess your personal fit for a law degree.

---

Outline:

(00:12) About this guide

(01:39) Summary

(02:36) About law school

(02:51) Curriculum

(05:35) Internships, externships, and other experiential opportunities

(07:17) Time commitment

(09:15) Cost of attendance

(09:48) Path to law school

(12:24) Alternatives to law school

(13:36) Testing your fit for law school

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
April 11th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/law-school/1-background-and-fit-testing

The cost of policy master’s degrees can be high. This article explains these costs and how to make them more manageable through careful planning and research.

---

Outline:

(00:27) Summary

(01:48) Tuition and other costs of policy master's programs

(05:13) How to fund graduate school

(05:53) University financial aid

(08:10) Financial aid bargaining

(09:04) Federal financial aid

(09:37) Loans and loan forgiveness programs

(10:58) Government scholarship-for-service programs

(12:01) Employer funding

(14:46) Philanthropic scholarships

(15:30) Go abroad for graduate school

(18:17) Do a PhD instead of a master's

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 16 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
May 21st, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/policy-masters/4-cost-and-funding

This article outlines the benefits of attending law school (e.g. learning, skill development, networking, and credentials) and potential downsides (e.g. opportunity cost, mental health).

---

Outline:

(00:26) Summary

(01:57) Law school benefits

(02:00) Structural knowledge about how law and public policy work

(02:40) Domain-specific knowledge about particular areas of law

(05:14) Developing skills and aptitudes

(07:45) Networks

(09:05) Career exploration

(09:27) Credentials

(10:46) Other factors that might make law school a more attractive option

(12:35) Why not go to law school?

(15:07) Advice if you lean toward pursuing law school

(15:11) Choosing law school to avoid making career decisions is a common mistake

(16:18) Most people shouldn't leave promising work for law school without a clear plan

(17:00) Entering law school with a theory of change in mind can help

(17:44) Keep building your subject-matter knowledge

(18:09) Keep an eye out for new opportunities

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
April 11th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/law-school/2-why-go-to-law-school

This article outlines some promising career paths after law school, focusing on government and policy work. It also explains the difference between practicing law versus shaping policy.

---

Outline:

(00:26) Summary

(01:22) A framing note: Practicing law vs. shaping policy

(02:57) Roles practicing law

(06:31) Roles outside the practice of law

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 3 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
October 29th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/law-school/3-career-paths

Not all law degrees are created equal—some JDs advance your professional development more than others. This article gives advice on where to apply, considering different career paths and program options.

---

Outline:

(00:26) Summary

(01:27) How much to prioritize rankings?

(02:42) Considerations by career path

(02:46) Practicing law

(05:04) Policy

(07:40) Legal academia

(07:52) Schools to consider

(08:09) Conventional top 14 law schools

(08:41) Two more law schools to consider in DC

(09:35) Where to find more data

(10:01) Special program types

(10:05) Part-time programs

(10:49) Accelerated programs

(12:14) Dual- and joint-degree programs

(13:44) LL.M. programs

(14:35) S.JD and PhD programs

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
January 5th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/law-school/4-where-to-apply

The most expensive law schools charge nearly $70,000 per year in tuition. This article provides advice on how to fund your law degree, such as through scholarships, federal financial aid, and loans.

---

Outline:

(01:08) Institutional scholarships

(02:14) Federal financial aid

(02:46) Loans and loan forgiveness programs

(05:53) Application fee waivers

(06:21) Do a master's or PhD instead of a law degree

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

---

Last updated:
November 13th, 2023

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/pathways/graduate-school/law-school/6-cost-and-funding

This article discusses the motivation for working “on the Hill”—direct impact, professional development, and exploration—and how you can assess your personal fit for congressional work.

---

Outline:

(00:12) About this guide

(01:57) Why (not) work in Congress?

(02:24) Opportunities for meaningful policy change

(07:05) Acquiring policy knowledge, skills, and connections

(10:31) Assessing your fit for Congress

(17:16) Considerations for working in Congress

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 8 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
January 13th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/institutions/congress/1-why-work-in-congress

This article explains how to think about whether to work in the House or the Senate, in a personal office or a committee, and for the majority or minority party. It also discusses office culture and political affiliations.

---

Outline:

(01:16) House versus Senate

(05:14) Committee versus personal office

(09:14) Majority versus minority party

(11:45) Office culture

(13:26) A note on partisanship and political affiliation

---

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in emerging technology policy, complete our Policy Career Interest Form, and we may be able to match you with opportunities suited to your background and interests.

The original text contained 9 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

Last updated:
March 27th, 2024

Source:
https://emergingtechpolicy.org/institutions/congress/2-where-to-work-in-congress