Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Practice of Law
The Practice of Law
Helen Casillas
From an early age we are always told to dream big, to dream of becoming a
doctor, teacher or a lawyer. Typically we will go along with these choices, just
because becoming a lawyer, or a doctor sounds promising.
We are often told if we take these career choices we will make huge amounts
of money. Honestly, who wouldnt want to make large quantities of money?
The problem with that thinking, knowing nothing about the subject in reality.
What classes do I have to take to become a lawyer? What do I actually have to
do? The harsh reality is theres a lack of information. Younger generations and
current ones need to know and be informed in what the practice of law really
entitles, what it means to actually become a lawyer and how.
First Step
Advice
Some advice for undergraduates planning to study and go into law school
after their bachelors degree, participate in mock trials. Being an
undergraduate, students can possibly be given an opportunity to participate
in a mock trial. The benefit of participating in a trial are the students will
gain actual experience of what its like to work as a trial attorney. They offer
the chance to develop a better understanding of the judicial system and help
them develop strong critical thinking skills.
Extracurricular
Another thing they could do, get an internship at law firm, by becoming an
intern the potential student can get a glimpse into the environment. They
would also get experience to be able to know someone who already went
through the studies and process they will have to do. Other extracurricular
activities that could even get you started and ready in high school are: joining
the school debate team, working in a student government, or writing for a
school publication paper as a newspaper or yearbook.
LSAT
Applying to law school will be a long process. The Law School Admission Test
(LSAT) may actually be needed to be taken nearly a whole year before getting
admitted and starting law school. School applications will be needed to be
filled out and in some instances writing a personal essay and obtaining letters
of recommendation can be helpful. Something important to keep in mind
admission to a law school can be highly competitive. According to the Law
School Admission Council most applicants can and will apply to at least four
law schools just in case because of competition.
LSAT continued
Alongside with a Bachelors degree, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an
important and required factor of the admission process to law schools. The
LSAT measures the acquired reading and verbal skills that law schools can use
as one of several factors in assessing applicants. This process will be similar
to that as of the SAT testing seniors do in order to apply to universities.
Admissions officers use the scores from the LSAT as a way to review the
knowledge and quality of each applicant. The test itself includes five multiple
choice question sections and also an unscored writing sample. The LSAT
measures the skills of critical areas of future legal work that are necessary to
be understood by the applicant.
Afterwards
After finishing their bachelors degree, some students may choose to continue
their education, while others may choose to gain professional experience in
other fields prior to actually enrolling into law school. There are several
things students should know that will present them as a better applicant. In
addition to overall GPA, undergraduate coursework, and LSAT scores, other
admission factors that can benefit are or may include community service
hours, any organizational affiliations, and or recommendation letters. These
written recommendation letters can be preferably from professors. A great
resource where students can check and research the law school application
process more in depth is The Law School Admissions Council it offers
resources helpful to potential students and applicants.
A JD
The Juris Doctor (JD) is the degree that is mostly known nationwide for
practicing law in the United States. Students have to keep in mind only
certain schools offer these educational opportunities. Prospective students
need to be informed of the faculty, the areas of study, the tuition cost, and
the institution curriculum prior to even applying. There are many ranging
specialties that are within legal practices. The students should really select a
program that will offer a focused standard in what their area of interest. An
example can be, students may choose to concentrate in some areas more
than others. Examples include criminal, environmental, tax, or even family
law. Normally, students can complete their Juris Doctor in three years of fulltime study. This degree will be way more intensive than a bachelors degree;
this process more relaxed and controlled at the pace of the student.
Bar exam
Success
Misconceptions
Individuality
Research
Research shows how there are actually a lot of different areas of law that a
potential student may be interested in practicing. Some of the most popular
choices include the position of being a prosecutor or public defender. Either
of these types of lawyers work in the criminal court, they represent either
the state or people who cannot afford to have a lawyer represent them in
court. There are also many private law firms that handle criminal defense.
There are several ways to be able to choose the right law school. One is you
can look at Law school rankings these can be found as easily as looking them
up online. These rankings are actually becoming more and more important to
incoming law students as they are looking to find the right school for them.
All law schools in the United States are ranked according to several factors
and certain criteria. This criteria includes the quality, and rankings by lawyers
themselves, selectivity, placement success, and bar passage rate.
Law school
The higher ranked the law school is, the more likely they are to put a student
into a law position following graduation. Which is why it is important to make
sure that the law schools are researched by students. Finding the schools that
interest you personally and also have the quality education that will you know
will help you and benefit once the profession is entered. Research does show
how many of the biggest Law firms around the United States actually hire
directly out of the law schools that rank high compared to others. The firms
then tend to look to select the top students in each class to go work for them
as summer associates which can many even eventually turn them into full
time employees.
Students that are wishing to become attorneys often do ask the question,
"How long does it take to get a law degree? Well that answer does vary
depending on the path of law the student has chosen to take. Law school
programs are typically three years. It is important to remember that, unlike a
student's undergraduate degree, law school does not allow a student to
choose their own time and way. Law students are mostly required by most law
schools to complete the law program in about three years. Sometimes under
special certain circumstances, an extension may be permitted for the student
but that usually is not the norm.
Professional life
Everyone does have to make decisions about balancing their personal and
professional lives. Like many other professions, a law career will and can be
demanding. Thankfully techniques for helping and coping will be taught at law
school. After graduating from law school, you will be able to apply timemanagement abilities and other new learned skills to your professional and
personal life. Honestly earning a law degree can help students put in control
their life. Law schools truly do encourage students to explore the many fields
and specialties available as there many options that can be taken. Another
extra is how there really isnt a strong commitment that has to be made to
studying a particular major or focus area while in law school. Once the law
school's core curriculum is completed, there is actually the chance of freedom
to take a variety of courses. From there if there is a certain interest in the
field of law that you ant to pursue. There is a chance to be able select courses
in that focus area.
There not really a person whom you can say there are the lawyer type of
person. As a lawyer, there is plenty to choose from an example can be
choosing to prosecute accused criminals. Or choosing to advise corporations,
negotiate real estate deals, help and work to protect the environment or
even help arrange adoptions, even teaching law can be an option. A legal
career is a broad path that can actually provide an opportunity to help other
individuals, the government and even businesses. There is a crucial role that
can be played into the criminal justice system as well, becoming a lawyer
really does offer many opportunities that should be heard of and understood
a difference can truly made by an individual.
Going more into a lawyers choice of legal studies and fields is extremely
varied as the world itself. No matter what is seen daily on television, the
practice of law is not just all courtroom drama. Some, or well many
practicing lawyers actually rarely get to even see the inside of a courtroom.
Others do not even practice law, choosing instead to work in different
businesses, or government based and other law-related fields. It all depends
on what appeals to you as an individual. The possibilities truly are infinite no
matter what at the end of the day there is always a choice that can be made.
My own opinion
Personally always hearing of studying law and thinking it would be simple and
easy gives the wrong idea. Since hearing about how it provides a good income
and it would provide a good future. The statement above is not entirely true,
growing up most of the time we hear people telling us to become doctor or
lawyers because its so easy and a good choice but that is not entirely true
there is more to it than what it seems. There are many misconceptions about
going to law and studying it and they need to be addressed. On the other
hand there are many benefits from studying law and pursuing a career in it.
This paper illustrates what it truly is and how the process actually works.
A career in law has proven to being beneficial but with that come hard work.
Nothing in life is free and guaranteed if you really want something there
needs to be input put into it. Law requires both absolute command of the
details of legislation and cases, and a wider view and spectrum of how
different areas engage and what they can actually achieve. Law school also
gives the law student a different lens through which to view the world
differently. The decisions and assumptions you make become colored by their
potential legal consequences. All law degrees are not created equally. In fact,
depending on where you choose to study, there are many different types of
law degrees available. Law school requires an immense amount of work, but
it is very intellectually stimulating if you care about being stimulated.
From this research I have learned that I actually am on the right path to
studying law. I have been competing in my high school debate team for the
whole time I have been in high school. Not only that but I am the varsity
captain for my division, and I am in several other extracurricular activities
that help. Currently I am interning at a law firm this opportunity has offered
a once in a life time experience. I am thankful to have a mentor and others
who are willing and available to help me on my path to become a lawyer.
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