Government, Law, & Policy Career Community
Government, Law, & Policy
Careers in government, law, and policy place you at the center of public service and advocacy, working to shape the systems that guide society. Whether in government agencies, law firms, advocacy groups, or think tanks, these careers call for strong communication, research, and analytical skills, as well as a passion for making an impact.
Exploration Tools
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- City or town management
- Community affairs
- General services
- Law enforcement
- Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services
- Program administration
- Public policy
- Social services
- Urban planning
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- Civil Rights Advocate
- Foreign Service Officer
- Government Affairs Associate
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal
- Policy Analyst
- Research Assistant (Policy/Legal Think Tank)
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Handshake is Macalester’s go-to platform for career and internship opportunities. There’s no need to create an account—just log in with your Macalester ID and password. Use Handshake to search and apply for jobs and internships, explore hiring organizations, schedule appointments with Career Exploration counselors, and more.
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Go Government is designed to be your guide as you explore government opportunities, apply to internships and full-time jobs, and navigate the federal hiring process from start to finish.
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What Can I Do With This Major? is a website featuring 106 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities. Links to professional associations, occupational outlook information, and job search resources are included.
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My Next Move is an interactive career exploration tool that helps you identify careers based on your interests. Use it to browse job profiles in government, legal services, and policy analysis, or take the quick interest profiler to see which public service paths might be a good fit for you.
Job & Internship Search Resources
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Career Exploration hosts dozens of exploratory and skill-building events throughout the school year. All of our events are posted on Handshake Events and on the college events calendar. We also send an email each Monday during the school year to all students as a reminder of the upcoming week’s events.
Government and Nonprofit Career Fair: Held annually at the University of Minnesota in October, the Government and Nonprofit Career Fair allows candidates to pursue professional opportunities and internships in all levels of government and nonprofit agencies. There are 30 participating Minnesota 4-year colleges and universities and participating regional colleges that attend.
MN Private Colleges’ Job and Internship Fair: Held annually at the Minneapolis Convention Center in February, the MN Private Colleges’ Job and Internship Fair hosts hundreds of organizations and is open to students from all of Minnesota’s private colleges. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with a wide variety of Twin Cities’-area organizations.
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Employers in this field tend to hire more heavily in winter and spring for full-time roles and internships. View our Industry Timelines page for more information.
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- Writing an Effective Federal Resume (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- (Coming soon!) Law School Guide
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- Big Interview
- QuickStart Guide to Interviewing
- Schedule a mock interview with Career Exploration staff on Handshake
- Do a mock interview with a Career Fellow during drop-in hours (Monday-Thursday 4-6PM in Kagin Commons)
Get Involved
Getting involved in student organizations and college-led initiatives is a great way to build leadership skills, connect with peers, and explore your interests outside the classroom. These experiences can help you grow personally and professionally, strengthen your resume, and open doors to new opportunities on campus and beyond.
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MacExplore is a hands-on program that helps students explore career paths through local and national site visits. Led by faculty and staff, students meet with professionals, connect with alumni, and strengthen their career development skills.
Previous trips have included:
- Twin Cities: Law; Public Health; Arts, Media, & Media/Communications; Urban Planning; Private Sector
- National: Media and Communications: New York City; Social Science Research: Washington, D.C.; Technology (Data Analysis, Software, UX, Design): San Francisco; Banking and Finance: New York City
Through MacExplore, students gain insight into diverse industries, build their professional network, and grow their confidence in real-world settings. Follow Career Exploration on Instagram to stay in-the-know about upcoming trips.
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Professional and industry associations are great ways to build connections, gain career insights, and stay current in your field. They often offer job boards, mentorship, and events that can boost your professional growth.
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Getting involved in any student organization helps you build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while expanding your network.
Gain knowledge specific to the Government, Law, & Policy career community through student organizations such as Macalester College Student Government (MCSG), Human Rights at Macalester, and Forensics teams (Mock Trial, Ethics/Bioethics Bowl, Policy Debate, Moot Court, and Model UN).
Check out Macalester’s list of student organizations to learn more.
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Macalester’s Community Engagement Center offers a wide array of opportunities to engage with the Twin Cities community in issue areas related to Government, Law, & Policy, including:
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The International Roundtable is annual campus-wide event series organized by students, faculty, and staff that brings global experts and community voices together to discuss urgent international issues. Students can help shape the conversation, invite speakers, and lead breakout discussions on topics that matter to them.
Graduate & Professional School Info
For students interested in Government, Law, and Policy careers, pursuing graduate or professional school can open doors to leadership roles, specialized fields, and advanced research opportunities.
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- QuickStart Guide to Applying to Graduate School (gdoc)
- Personal Statement Guide
- Schedule an appointment with the Writing Center to plan and review your personal statement.
- An Undergraduate’s Essential Guide to Graduate School (Associated Colleges of the Midwest)
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Many graduate programs will require standardized admissions testing. Requirements vary by type of programs and school, but common exams include:
Alumni Spotlights
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Explore additional alumni stories and videos through MacConnect, Macalester’s alumni networking platform.