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What are putting in that category of “public service”?
If you’re talking about jumping from private practice to a government role, making that move is quite common.
Right
I can speak on legal aid. Pay is significantly lower than private practice but your work week generally ends at 40 hours, and at least at my job the PTO is generous. You will be working with a lower income population so clients are often elderly and not tech savvy, or less knowledgeable about the law. But if you feel called to do it, it is fulfilling to know that you are making a tangible difference in your client's life. There is also a general stigma that legal aid attorneys aren't "real" lawyers. Truth be told, the law is the same even when the amount in controversy differs. But if you are looking for prestige, this gig isn't for you.
If you're talking about working for the government, I made the jump. I wouldn't say my work was meaningful. It was work, just like anything else. There were case types that I preferred over others because I liked the legal issues more or they got me in court more often. But did they give my life meaning? No. I don't let work determine my identity or self worth. That's what having a life is for.