Working on a political campaign is a great way to gain important professional experience and exposure to the politics of our time. It can also be a helpful way to test out whether a career in policymaking or another politics-adjacent field is the right fit for you and to learn how to best advocate for specific policy ideas on a broad scale.

The goal of a political campaign is to secure enough votes to win an election, either for a particular candidate to fill a public office or for ballot initiatives such as constitutional amendments or legislative referenda. To do so, a large group of staffers and volunteers work to identify, persuade, organize, and mobilize the supporters who agree with the candidate’s ideas.

As a result, campaign jobs tend to be more focused on outreach and fundraising than on policymaking or other administrative tasks, but the skills and experience that are gained through working for a campaign can translate to other areas of the law. For example, HLS alumni have incorporated their experience on campaigns into careers in private practice, government, non-profits, and advocacy organizations.

As a rule, political campaigns are partisan, meaning that they align with a particular party and candidates are competing for the support of voters. This makes it possible to advance quickly in a campaign, going from an internship or volunteer position to a mid- or senior-level role in a matter of years (though this can vary based on the size and intensity of the campaign you join). If you decide that working on a political campaign is right for you, consider how important it is to you to affiliate with one party (note that there are often reputational costs associated with switching parties later in your career). A competitive primary can be a particularly good choice for assessing fit, as the outcome will likely have a significant impact on the overall balance of power or on contested policy issues.