Before Abraham Lincoln became president, he had a diverse career primarily as a self-taught lawyer and politician in Illinois:

• Lincoln started his career working as a clerk in a general store in New Salem, Illinois, and briefly served as a captain in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War in 1832, though he saw no combat

• He entered politics by running unsuccessfully for the Illinois House of Representatives in 1832 but was elected in 1834 as a member of the Whig Party, serving four terms until 1842

• During this time, he also pursued law by studying on his own, borrowing legal texts, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836. He moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he practiced law, initially partnering with John T. Stuart, then Stephen T. Logan, and finally William H. Herndon

• Lincoln’s legal practice was broad, covering civil and criminal cases including debt, slander, divorce, mortgage foreclosure, and murder. He traveled the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which helped sharpen his skills and expand his reputation

• He served one term as a U.S. Congressman from 1847 to 1849, during which he introduced a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, though it was unsuccessful

• After his term in Congress, he returned to his law practice and semi-retired from politics for several years before re-emerging as a leading Republican and making unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate in 1855 and 1858

• Lincoln was also involved in local roles such as postmaster and county surveyor, and was known for his storytelling and public speaking abilities, which helped him gain political traction

In summary, before his presidency, Lincoln was a self-educated lawyer, Illinois state legislator, militia captain, U.S. Congressman, and a prominent figure in Illinois legal and political circles