seems like a fairly stable career with good job security and can pay well once past the entry level position.

no jd

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#26951530)

At the lowest levels, it's very administrative. With a little experience you might become a "specialist" or "associate" and then after 5 years a manager, followed by director, then VP.

The best government relations professionals, along with the highest paying/most interesting jobs, go to people with significant government experience. So yes, it is not only possible, but desirable.

Easiest way is to work for an elected representative or regulatory agency, make a name for yourself and/or get substantive experience, then at the right time move into a lobbying shop.

The route that I think more JDs should consider is spinning the degree as more of a policy/writing/negotiations/legislative/regulatory soup kind of training. MPPs and MPAs lack the coursework and certain personality type that translates well into some government relations jobs. Tons of JDs. If you can get your foot in the door you can grow in the industry even without having been a legislative director in Congress. You might not be working at a private law firm's GR shop, but anyone with good experience, a graduate degree, the basic skill set (extroverted, good communication and diplomatic skills, legislative/regulatory/policy understanding), and the drive to move upward can do pretty well.

Just go on LinkedIn and you will find plenty of JDs who did a few years in the traditional practice of law and moved into GR.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#26986471)

Hill jerb for a few years?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269604)

Easiest, probably that path too, but being some legislative assistant to a no-name Congressman with a BA from TTT U will not get you all that far, IME.

I worked for a private firm in admin/regulatory, worked closely with the government, and just networked.

Try to cop a leg counsel gig on the Hill if you can afford it

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269620)

What do you mean by "if you can afford it"?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269629)

Afford it as in some people might turn down higher paying firm jobs to start at whatever leg counsel makes on the hill

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269650)

Say, spend three or four years on the Hill as a "legislative assistant" or "legislative counsel" then . . .? Do people apply for firm gov't relations jobs or are they recruited by headhunters or the firms themselves?

Also, it is more preftigious to join a law firm with a gov't relations portfolio or to join a place like, e.g., the Consumers Banking Association?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269661)

Leads me into my next point: doing what you described makes sense, but be prepared to network like a mofo. LinkedIn is your friend. That will help figuring out moving from what you end up doing into what you want.

Headhunters look for people with experience but also they are posted all of the time. Looking for "legislative" experience and "4 years on the hill" and stuff like that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269701)

Our firm basically greased the wheels between the politicians who awarded contracts and the businesses who wanted them. Honestly, I thought the work was really interesting. I had to learn a ton of technical shit about anything you can imagine in a short amount of time. The money was good too.

On the downside, the work is extremely backstabby and political, even within your own office. You also have to deal with every asshole in town, and the work isn't at the highest end of respectability.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269636)

What do you do now?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2759400&forum_id=2#27269721)