Social Impact, Policy, & Law

Interested in pursuing a future in Social Impact, Policy, and Law? Find resources, events, opportunities, and advice to confirm your interest and kickstart your career.

Explore a career path in Social Impact, Policy, and Law

Do you enjoy mission-driven work, combining your technical skills and knowledge with non-technical skills such as collaboration and communication, or solving problems that positively affect communities at the local and global scale? If so, a career in social impact, policy, or law might be a fit for you.

Woman making a speech

Social Impact

Social impact careers span across many disciplines and industries. These careers involve doing work that has a positive impact. This means you could work in many different fields and types of companies. You might work for:

  • a non-profit consulting company
  • the government analyzing renewable energy usage
  • a research institution finding cures for rare diseases
  • an academic institution providing educational opportunities to historically excluded groups
  • a large tech company using AI to make products more accessible

Find your social impact career by thinking about the skills you enjoy using and the causes you care about.

clipboard with document being presented to another person at desk

Policy

A career in policy can include working in academia, industry, government, and non-profits to create new policies or change existing policies at the local, state, national, or global scale. Policy could be a fit for you if you like thinking about the big picture and having a widespread, tangible impact. Working in policy often involves collecting and analyzing data, making recommendations based on that research, writing proposals and policies, and communicating with stakeholders to advance your recommendations.

open book in background with gavel and balance in foreground

Law

A career in law can be a great way to combine your technical interests with non-technical skills. For example, there is an increasing need for lawyers who understand technology and the law as technology continue to advance at a rapid pace. Getting a law degree is required if you want to practice law. However, there are some instances in which a law degree is not necessary, for example, you don’t need a law degree to become a Patent Agent. A law degree is versatile and a career in the law would allow you to work on interesting and challenging problems with a range of colleagues and clients.

Students and alumni within two years of graduation can schedule Pre-Law advising meetings through Handshake with Tianna Ransom, MIT’s Pre-Law Advisor. Sign up for the monthly Pre-Law newsletter, which includes relevant events, updates, and announcements by updating your uConnect profile and preferences to include the Law career interest. Have questions? Contact us.

Mentorship program for Students interested in IP Law

Are you exploring career opportunities?
Have you considered combining your interest in technology with the law?
We would love to introduce you to the possibility of being an Intellectual Property professional!

IP law combines learning about cutting edge technology, building …

By Tianna Ransom
Tianna Ransom Assistant Director, Career Exploration
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IAP Micro-internships are in Handshake – Apply now!

Looking for a short-term project or internship over IAP? Consider a micro-internship! Build skills, connect with employers and explore a career path. Check out these micro-internships:   

There are more projects in Handshake and it’s really easy to search for them.  …

By Tavi Sookhoo
Tavi Sookhoo Assistant Director, Career Prototypes
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Exploring careers? Start with the Career Exploration Series!

CAPD is coordinating the third annual, institute-wide Career Exploration Series that begins on September 11th and runs through IAP! This series is a collaboration between MIT departments, programs, and employers to help all students learn about the different career and graduate/professional school options available to you.   

Visit the events page on …

By Tianna Ransom
Tianna Ransom Assistant Director, Career Exploration
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Meet Emily Kiley, MIT Mechanical Engineer and UVA Law Student

Hailing from Manhasset, New York, Emily Kiley earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she competed on the women’s rowing team. Before law school, she interned for X1 Wind, an offshore wind turbine …

By External Source
External Source
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Mental Health Awareness Month Webinars

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! In recognition, the MIT HR WorkLife and Wellbeing Center is hosting a series of live webinars throughout the month that will focus on personal wellbeing and mental health.

Experts in their fields, will share …

By Tara Thakurta
Tara Thakurta Graduate Community Fellow
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Featured Resources

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The following job and internship programs are coordinated with government agencies and involve social impact, policy, and technology work responsibilities. …

In addition to Handshake, you can use the websites below to find jobs and internships related to social impact, policy, …

Since our founding in 1999 as Opportunity Knocks, one of the first job boards focused exclusively on mission-driven careers, the …