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What You Can Do To Determine Whether You Want To Become a LawyerTalk to the prelaw advisor. The decision to attend law school is your decision. Get advice from others, but decide for yourself. If salary may affect your decision to consider law school, check out SALARIES and click on NALP Research. The University of Santa Clara notes that "The decision to attend law school should not be entered into lightly. Earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree involves a minimum of three years of unrelenting academic effort and intense dedication. Law School is also very expensive, and the current job market is extremely competitive. This discouraging news is given to ''ensure that your decision to pursue a career in law is an informed one.'' Rice University Pre-law Advising says that "Some people claim that they knew they wanted to be a lawyer since they were quite young, but most struggled with this decision up until the time they applied to law school. In fact, many law students and even recent graduates are still unsure of the answer to this question." The Director of Career Services at University of California at Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law tells us to that ''Those students who come to law school with a clear understanding about why they want to be a lawyer ... ultimately have a better chance of staying in the profession and being happy with the choice they made. Going to law school because you don't know what else to do when you graduate from college is never a good idea. Go out into the working world and find out what you might want to do, then decide whether law school is the right choice.'' Some comments from the Oberlin Pre-Law Guide: "Only you can decide whether law school is right for you, but you should make an informed decision, which means acquiring as much information as possible about law school and legal practice." You should not "be pressured to choose law school by well-meaning family members, friends or advisors." "If you want to be a lawyer, can you articulate reasons? It is not enough to say you have always wanted to be a lawyer. Law practice isn't always fascinating and intellectually stimulating. In fact, it can be boring, stressful and even unfulfilling at times. You need to know what you are getting into." The University of Richmond Pre-Law Handbook states that "generally, the most accurate information about the legal profession can be gathered from interaction with practicing attorneys. At the very least, [someone considering becoming an attorney] should talk to several attorneys (because there are numerous types of law and legal practice) about their profession: the nature of daily work, job satisfaction, opportunities for advancement, lifestyle issues (such as flexibility of schedule and amount of spare time), and other matters" of concern. Generally it is the students who entered law school understanding the true realities of law practice and then explored the career options available to them afterwards that enjoy their legal career after school. The ones who go to law school with unrealistic expectations such as wanting to save, run, or buy the world, are the ones most likely to be unhappy and dissatisfied with the legal profession. These are the lawyers who, after several years of practicing law, will be asking themselves what else they can do with their law degree. Alternatives to a Career as a Lawyer New York University's PreLaw Handbook correctly notes that "While it is true that a law degree can lead to a variety of occupations, most law students become lawyers in the private sector, and even those who pursue 'nontraditional careers' usually begin their quest with several years of active practice. The mere fact that you have a law degree will not lead you to a top management position on Wall Street or in Hollywood, and given the expense of a legal education, you might be better served with an MBA degree or the experience of working at an entry level position in your non-legal field of interest." |
Pre-Law Advice Is Law School for You? What You Can Do To Determine Whether You Want To Become a Lawyer Advice on Applying to Top Law Schools The Waiting Game What is Law School Like? Applications Rejected Law School Interviews Interview with Edward Tom, Dean of Admissions U.C. Berkeley Boalt Hall School Interview with Dean Robert Berring of Boalt Hall Interview with Dean Donald Polden of Santa Clara Interview with Dean Jeanette Leach of Admissions to Santa Clara University's School of Law Interview with Santa Clara Law School Assistant Dean Alexandra Horne Interview with Dean Hasl of Thomas Jefferson School of Law Interview with Joan Howland, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota |