July 15th, 2009 at 10:09pm
Under Education Law
Although I understand that this can be very difficult to do, you must view the popular published law school rankings, skeptically. These rankings are not only untrustworthy, but mislead students into thinking they need to attend a highly ranked school or they will be second rate lawyers do to their “substandard” law school education. This is simply not true.
What is true, in my opinion unfortunately, is that going to a highly ranked law school can have an enormous financial (note: NOT educational) impact on your early legal career. That is why I wrote Covert Tactics for Getting Into the Law School of Your Choice. As I explain in that book, however, even if you do not attend a highly ranked law school, you are not absolutely doomed to suffer professionally and financially for the rest of your life. Indeed, many times you may be well-served, both educationally and financially, by attending a lower ranked law school.
But back to law school rankings. In addition to a number of studies suggesting that the data underlying the rankings is inaccurate, due to schools trying to misrepresent the true data in order to achieve a higher ranking, it is impossible for any ranking to consider all of the relevant factors, which may vary from individual to individual.
Also problematic is the fact that most of the ranking are based, at least in part, on the subjective opinions of individuals at the various schools. Of course, such subjective opinions are likely to simply reinforce the historical opinions regarding the “top tier” law schools. Indeed, if you look at these rankings historically, you will find that they really haven’t changed much over the years.
The reason that it is important that you understand the invalidity of the rankings is that you should understand that the quality of your legal education is likely to be nearly as good, and in some respects may be better, at the University of Idaho as opposed to Harvard.
Depending on who you are, you may be much better off, for a variety of reasons, attending even a very low ranked school. This may be the case even if you have the opportunity to attend a higher-ranked school.
For example, if your intent is to establish a small town practice in rural South Dakota immediately after law school, it may be unwise to attend Stanford Law School over the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Why? Let me give you three good reasons, though there are likely many more. First, you are not going to be particularly highly paid in rural South Dakota, regardless of where you attended law school. As a Stanford Law graduate you are likely to either be saddled with a high debt load or have spent a significant amount of your savings getting through school. Although few law schools are cheap, you should carefully consider whether it is worth spending and extra $100,000 to have a fancy name on your wall.
Second, as a small-town practitioner, you are going to be very reliant on relationships with other attorneys, the business community, and potential clients in general. Spending three years in Palo Alto, far away from the center of your future universe, will do very little to develop those relationships, so law school rankings are virtually meaningless.
Finally, the education isn’t going to be much better at Stanford than at USD. Believe me, in writing this I have prepared myself for the inevitable barrage of criticism that will inevitably be hurled my way. I say this with confidence, however, because I know lawyers from a wide variety of law schools and find a relatively equal distribution of idiots among alumni from top 50 and bottom 50 schools. It really depends on what you are willing to put into it – not what they give you.
There are even some law schools not approved by the American Bar Association that may be worth considering in limited situations. Depending on what you want to do, and the particular laws of the jurisdiction where you intend to practice, a non-ABA accredited school may be a worthwhile choice.
At the end of the day, you need to make a wise choice that you will be happy with for the rest of your life. Don’t put a school on your list just because it is a highly-ranked law school or fits a formula or because you think it will look good on your resume.
Even if we find a cure for cancer in the next decade, you are not likely to live much more than 90 years on this earth. Don’t spend 3.5% of it in the wrong place.
This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.
My Friend H. Jefferson, Jr. is an expert on on law school admission, having applied to and been admitted by 11 of the top law schools in the United States. To learn more about the the techniques and strategies you can use to get into the law school of your choice, visit lawschoolacademics.blogspot.com,
.
By Law Article
July 15th, 2009 at 10:09pm
Under Education Law
Although I understand that this can be very difficult to do, you must view the popular published law school rankings, skeptically. These rankings are not only untrustworthy, but mislead students into thinking they need to attend a highly ranked school or they will be second rate lawyers do to their “substandard” law school education. This is simply not true.
What is true, in my opinion unfortunately, is that going to a highly ranked law school can have an enormous financial (note: NOT educational) impact on your early legal career. That is why I wrote Covert Tactics for Getting Into the Law School of Your Choice. As I explain in that book, however, even if you do not attend a highly ranked law school, you are not absolutely doomed to suffer professionally and financially for the rest of your life. Indeed, many times you may be well-served, both educationally and financially, by attending a lower ranked law school.
But back to law school rankings. In addition to a number of studies suggesting that the data underlying the rankings is inaccurate, due to schools trying to misrepresent the true data in order to achieve a higher ranking, it is impossible for any ranking to consider all of the relevant factors, which may vary from individual to individual.
Also problematic is the fact that most of the ranking are based, at least in part, on the subjective opinions of individuals at the various schools. Of course, such subjective opinions are likely to simply reinforce the historical opinions regarding the “top tier” law schools. Indeed, if you look at these rankings historically, you will find that they really haven’t changed much over the years.
The reason that it is important that you understand the invalidity of the rankings is that you should understand that the quality of your legal education is likely to be nearly as good, and in some respects may be better, at the University of Idaho as opposed to Harvard.
Depending on who you are, you may be much better off, for a variety of reasons, attending even a very low ranked school. This may be the case even if you have the opportunity to attend a higher-ranked school.
For example, if your intent is to establish a small town practice in rural South Dakota immediately after law school, it may be unwise to attend Stanford Law School over the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Why? Let me give you three good reasons, though there are likely many more. First, you are not going to be particularly highly paid in rural South Dakota, regardless of where you attended law school. As a Stanford Law graduate you are likely to either be saddled with a high debt load or have spent a significant amount of your savings getting through school. Although few law schools are cheap, you should carefully consider whether it is worth spending and extra $100,000 to have a fancy name on your wall.
Second, as a small-town practitioner, you are going to be very reliant on relationships with other attorneys, the business community, and potential clients in general. Spending three years in Palo Alto, far away from the center of your future universe, will do very little to develop those relationships, so law school rankings are virtually meaningless.
Finally, the education isn’t going to be much better at Stanford than at USD. Believe me, in writing this I have prepared myself for the inevitable barrage of criticism that will inevitably be hurled my way. I say this with confidence, however, because I know lawyers from a wide variety of law schools and find a relatively equal distribution of idiots among alumni from top 50 and bottom 50 schools. It really depends on what you are willing to put into it – not what they give you.
There are even some law schools not approved by the American Bar Association that may be worth considering in limited situations. Depending on what you want to do, and the particular laws of the jurisdiction where you intend to practice, a non-ABA accredited school may be a worthwhile choice.
At the end of the day, you need to make a wise choice that you will be happy with for the rest of your life. Don’t put a school on your list just because it is a highly-ranked law school or fits a formula or because you think it will look good on your resume.
Even if we find a cure for cancer in the next decade, you are not likely to live much more than 90 years on this earth. Don’t spend 3.5% of it in the wrong place.
This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.
My Friend H. Jefferson, Jr. is an expert on on law school admission, having applied to and been admitted by 11 of the top law schools in the United States. To learn more about the the techniques and strategies you can use to get into the law school of your choice, visit lawschoolacademics.blogspot.com,
.
By Law Article
July 15th, 2009 at 10:10am
Under Education Law
Do you think you have what it takes to pursue a legal education and practice the noble profession of law? Perhaps a closer look at this area of learning can provide you with some clues.
In a nutshell, a legal education is simply the education of individuals who intend to become attorneys and judges or some other legal professional. It is also pursued by those who intend to use a law degree towards some end, such as a career in politics or the academe, or another end which has no relation to law, such as business entrepreneurship..
A legal education covers both academic and vocational studies. A main requirement is for students to acquire an academic grounding in the legal system of their jurisdiction before they can obtain a law degree. For many, this is the hardest part of pursuing law as it entails endless hours of study and analysis, which is not a natural inclination of many students.
Before they can practice as lawyers, law students are required to demonstrate that they have learned professional skills such as advocacy and analysis. For instance, in many countries, law is an undergraduate degree and graduates of such a program can only become lawyers by passing the country’s equivalent of a bar exam. There are post-graduate programs available to help students specialize in a particular area of law.
In contrast, law is a graduate degree in the United States which students can only undertake after completing an undergraduate degree is some other field, whether related to law or not. Most American lawyers hold bachelor’s degrees in the humanities and social sciences. In many cases, law schools are an autonomous entity within a larger university.
Meanwhile, in Canada and other Commonwealth countries as well as in many other places around the world, a law school is referred to as a faculty of law, which is distinguished from a law school in the sense that a faculty is a subdivision of a university and is on the same rank with other faculties.. Also, in other countries, the final stages of a vocational legal education required to qualify to practice law are carried out outside the university system.
By Law Article
July 13th, 2009 at 02:56pm
Under Constitutional Law
A never married dad wants at least joint custody of 3year old daughter in michigan and can not afford a lawyermother is uncooperative and caddy. father makes $30000 per year and can’t afford lawyer, she will not give joint custody willingly, what can father do? Contact a local law school and ask them for the phone number of.Do female lawyers face discrimination in the workplace/school?According to the Princeton Review, as well as several other reputable sources, women can be treated poorly by their male classmates in law school. In fact, the PR includes a list of ‘women-friendly’ universities because this sexism is so widespread. Also, I have read that often women often are passed over.Do judges need to be attorneys?Do appointed court judges need to be attorneys A college degree and work experience is the minimum requirement to be a judge. Most judges have worked as lawyers. In fact, Federal and State judges usually must have worked as lawyers. That means that they need to go to law school. Law school usually.Do Law Students help out in court?and if so, what do they do? There are law school ‘clinical programs’ in which 2d and 3d year students get to represent low-income people in court, under a lawyer’s supervision. There are other programs where the students work as interns in law firms, and get to do some of the research.What are the education requirements for lawyers?*sigh* this is for a project im doing generally, 4 years high school 4 years college three years law school pass the bar exam in the state you want to practice in. – 1 – Graduate high school 2 – Graduate college 3 – Graduate law school And, if they want to.What are the steps to being a Real Estate lawyer or attorney? It’s not so difficult. First you complete your B.A. or B.S. Then you go to law school. It helps if you take some courses in law school that focus on real estate, for example: Real Estate Transactions, Land Use, Real Estate Litigation. Do your best in.What do I need to do to be a Pennsylvania lawyer? And how long will it take? You need to go to college (4to5 years.) You need to go to law school (3 years) You then need to study for and take the Penn Bar Exam. This can take 3 months to forever Shortest amount of time would.What type of career options are available for lawyers specializing in international law?Also, what is the average salary. Is it an in demand field? Please include any other information you can give me about this type of law. I am about to attend law school next year. I am thinking about specializing in corporate law or international law..Whats involved to become a lawyer?Just wondering about possible future careers and would like to know what you need to do to become a lawyer, how many years at university and what you do when you become one? You must take a first degree, then apply to law school. It doesn’t matter what you major in for your.What’s the difference between a JD (juris doctor) and an LLM (’?')?Can I take the bar exam with either? Chances for gainful employment better with one or the other? Which is harder to earn? You receive a JD after successfully completing and graduating from an ABA accredited law school. It takes 3 years day or 4 year evening.Which Law School?Which Law School? I have the option to attend Albany Law (no scholarship costs $35k a year, but is a Tier 3 law school), Western New England Law (Scholarship money will make my out of pocket cost $15k a year but it is a Tier 4 law school located in Springfield Mass) or New England Law.do you think my hopes and dreams will come true for me being a layer?i wanna go to law school when i grow up I always say ‘If you can dream it, you can be it.’ You can be anything that you want to be. With enough hard work and dedication, you can do anything. Keep a positive.Would law schools be more lenient on GPA if I major in Chemical Engineering and aspire to be a patent lawyer?I’m a second-year ChemE major student at UC Berkeley. I want to go to law school and practice patent law, but my GPA is a little less than a 3.0. Do I have a chance? I think you.Any recommendations for a good LSAT book?I’m planning on taking the LSATs and pursuing law school but there are so many LSAT books out there, I don’t know which one to pick. Any really effective LSAT practice books that you guys recommend? The best study guides I found were the Powerscore Bibles (I took the course as well,.Become a lawyer?I’m interested in the law, government and politics. I’m in college studying political science and I do very well and like my major a lot. I also like history. A lot of people tell me I’d make a great lawyer. I have doubts though. How do I decide to go to law school? Do lawyers have.Does anyone know where i can get money to go to law school? Typically, there is less federal assistance available for law school. There are very few grants available for the government, because they expect you to be able to make enough money to pay them back later. But you should be able to take out a combination.Does it make sense to earn a second bachelor’s degree before going to law school?I went to a small ‘no name’ liberal arts college and earned a BS in Computer Science. I earned a MBA online. I am now a math teacher in an inner city public high school. (The same one I went to) Go figure! I.How does Skinner v. Oklahoma 1942 been used to expand the protections of the constitution?or it could be Levy v. Louisiana 1968, Craig v. Boren 1976, and/or Lawrence v. Texas 2003. go to www.4lawschool.com click on case brief bank click on constitutional law briefs then look up each case. I am in law school too.it isn’t that hard.How long do you have to got to school to be a lawyer? 3 years after undergrad if you go full time, 4 if you go part time. – 2 more years after college – Four years of college, two years of law school. – 7 years, but many schools will give life experience credit for a history.How many credits do you need to be a lawyer.? I’m not sure what you mean by credits. To be a lawyer, you must have an undergraduate degree and then attend law school. Law school is usually 3 or 4 years (full v. part time). Each school has different required courses and credit requirements. After you graduate law.How many years do you have to to school to be an Entertainment Lawyer? An American Bar Association approved law school is generally 3 years long. To be admitted to such a school you’ll need an undergraduate degree (i.e. a BA) and to take the LSAT. After going to law school you’ll need to to take the bar.How many years of college does it take to become a lawyer? About 7 years all together when you figure 4 years of college and then 3 years of law school. You can talk to any attorney or go to the law library or any college and they will tell you everything you have to do to become.How to be a lawyer in California?.a step by step walkthrough.? Get good grades in high school and graduate. Take the SAT and get a good score. Go to college, get good grades and earn a BA or BS. Take the LSAT, and score high. Get accepted to a CA accredited law school. Graduate from law school with.I need some info on common law, how can i get it done? I would recommend going to a local law library (and local law school will have one) and using some of the treatises on law. Treatises give the generally accepted rules for the various issues in law and the notable exceptions to those rules. Additionally, they.I want to find a law school in NYC and the price it will cost to go there can anyone help me thank you? There are numerous law schools in New York City. There’s New York University, Columbia, Fordham Law School, Cardozo Law School (a school in Yeshiva University), and New York Law School (different from NYU). St..If you want to work in govt. intelligence do you have to go to law school? No. Usually an analyst has another particular skill such as foreign language experience and a specialty that makes them valuable. For me it was my background in mathematics that attracted their attention. – honestly now.when you think about it what does govt.Fiance is Army officer, got ed. delay for grad. school. Is he considered ‘in the the Army’ while on delay?Fiance and I are getting married while he’s on an educational delay for law school. He was a First Lieutenant prior to entering law school, and I’m trying to figure out the proper way to word our wedding invitation..Has a registered sex offender EVER become successful AFTER.?Has a registered sex offender ever shook off the chains of the scarlett letter and become a succesful and productive member of society? I am not talking about the ones who fail to register and skate by on anonymity or the people who become advocates. I am in law school.Obtaining TWO Juris Doctor Degrees? I recently obtained my J.D. degree. However, my grades were not that hot. However, I definitely feel in retrospect, if I were given the second chance to ‘redo’ law school, I’d be able to do much better. I was just wondering if I had the chance to pursue another J.D. degree, at another.The stuff that happens to prosecutors on TV are fake, right?Prosecutors getting framed, kidnapped, ambushed, murdered by the minions of the criminals they put away, that’s all TV right? Or does it really happen in real life? Because i’m thinking law school right now and being a prosecutor is my main career objective. I have known hundreds of.There is no way i can get to harvord what is a good law school in NORTH CAROLINA?I NEED TO KNOW QUIK Duke? UNC?(any campus) NC State? Appalachian State? – s – Duke – Duke – North carolina state ncs sorry this is my partners suggestion – Duke. One of our own presidents received his law degree from. More law questions please visit : LawFreeFAQ.com
LawFreeFAQ.com
By Law Article
July 13th, 2009 at 04:19am
Under Entertainment Law
Alternative Law Careers: What to do with your Law Degree if you donât want to be a Lawyer.
For more information and other great articles visit www.LawDegree.me
You took the LSAT and after getting accepted to law school,  worked hard over three years reading, studying, writing and researching. You spent night after night doing the tremendous preparation necessary study for and pass the bar exam. After, Juris Doctor in hand, you tried your hand a career as a lawyer. You worked for the city, the state or you started off at a firm. Hours after hours of grueling research and late nights writing reports and motions. Or perhaps you went into private practice. You advertised, hung your sign, waded into the brutal courtroom litigation process. You gave it your best shot, but when all is said and done, you just donât think being a lawyer is for you. So what do you do? You have a JD but you donât want to be a lawyer! Donât despair. Youâre not alone. A law degree can be a valuable tool to help you enter into a number of other fields for those that working as an attorney just isnât the right fit.
Tangential Legal Careers
There are many lawyers who while enjoying the theoretical aspects of law simply do not enjoy the mundane aspects such as the paperwork and research involved. They require different kinds of stimulation and incentive in their career. One popular career path is in the variety of legal sales oriented jobs. A tremendous industry exists in support of the legal profession providing data, software and other information and related services to lawyers and law firms. These companies have a strong need for law-savvy sales associates who can communicate with lawyer clients on their level.
Advantages to working in sales include a bonus and commission structure that can offer substantial financial rewards and all without the tremendous paperwork and research and isolation that typical legal work engenders. Those who enjoy working with many different people and developing relationships as well as enjoy flexibility in scheduling and often travel also find this career field rewarding. Some companies even offer the option to work part-time or full-time from home with many sales calls taking place over computer with teleconferencing. While definitely for the more âself-starterâ of personalities, a legal sales career can be a very rewarding alternative legal degree track. For even more ideas of Alternative Legal Careers make sure you visit www.LawDegree.me
Entrepreneurial and Business Pursuits
Many ex-lawyers complain about the stifling atmosphere they encountered at law firms or working in private practice. While envisioning the fast-paced exciting legal world in such television shows as LA Law or Law and Order while in Law School, when out in the real world they find that reality is far different. Often, associates spend entire weeks and months without leaving research libraries and the paperwork involved in even the simplest of casesâ¦and the restrictions and legal gymnastics required to settle a case can take all the excitement and gratification that the young lawyer thought was going to be part of their career. It is no surprise then that many lawyers decide to pursue more entrepreneurial pursuits when leaving their practices.
Luckily, many of the skills and talents you honed as a lawyer can be put to good use in the entrepreneurial world. Many lawyers start their own businesses, often in fields far askew from the legal profession. The time management, attention to detail and project management and completion abilities you honed in law can make for great success in the free market. Pick any interest, hobby or passion and there is guaranteed to be a Juris Doctor holder that has made a successful business of it.Â
One innovative soul opened a coffee shop where he offered legal advice free on certain days. Others have opened restaurants, developed online businesses or created innovative âgreenâ companies taking advantage of their knowledge of environmental law. Still others have started non-profit ventures or nature and conservancy companies that were able to use their particular specialties in their prior legal fields.  It is not uncommon for law degree holders to move into investment banking or use their real estate legal skills to work in real estate finance or development. The added legitimacy of a Juris Doctor degree will help gain credibility in any venture you pursue and can often help convince lending institutions of your reliability when considering new business loans. The sky really is the limit.
Creative Fields
A third popular alternative law career path popular amongst those with a creative edge are the many novel paths taking advantage of the strong writing and organization skills that were honed in a legal career. Many television writers and journalists are known to hold JDâs. As well, radio and television journalists with law degrees are prized for a variety of roles from legal commentary to specialty topics such as civil rights, criminal and entertainment law. Still others use their legal background to work as legal consultants or become writers on important legal issues.
Another potential path are those professions that harness the networking and deal making aspects of legal work. Many Hollywood talent agents and managers have law degrees which helps them in their contract work and negotiations. High end job recruiters and political advisors are often required to hold a legal or comparable degree as part of their credentials to reach the heights of their profession. Finally, a small but dedicated subset of law degree holders become artists in their own right becoming filmmakers, poets and painters and often drawing from their legal experience to create works that comment or discuss important issues.  Several famous novelists got their start as lawyers, from the famous trial attorney Vincent Bugliosi to the now famousâ¦but unknown as a lawyer, John Grisham.
Obtaining your Juris Doctor is a great accomplishment in itself. Just because one finds working as an attorney unfulfilling does not mean the work put into obtaining your status as a lawyer is a waste. This essay merely hints at the possibilities that are available to the law degree holder out in the work place. I wish you well on your journey and make sure you stop by www.LawDegree.me for more great articles on the legal profession both in and out of the courtroom.
By Law Article
July 12th, 2009 at 02:56am
Under Constitutional Law
Over the past few years the number of online degree programs has expanded exponentially and many people have taken the online Bachelor Degree and MBA programs that are available. More recently, a number of online Law Degree programs have also sprouted up leading many people to wonder…is it really possible to obtain your law degree online? More importantly, are these Juris Doctor degees worth anything and can you really practice law with them?
The Straight Scoop About Online Law School
Several online universities such as the University of Phoenix, Concord/Kaplan Law School and Devry offer distance learning Law Degrees. These programs are comparable in cost to other online doctorate level degrees with fees ranging from $30-90,000 depending on the program. Typically students may take them either part or full-time with the full Juris Doctor degree being completed in 3-5 years.
Classes for most of these programs are offered online with reading and other materials bought by the students. Some offer in-person classes as optional additions. Professors interact with students online and assignments are usually submitted via email. The courses required for online Juris Doctor programs are typical of full-time programs and include such subjects as Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Property and Torts among others. Upper level classes include such subjects as Constitutional Law, Evidence, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, as well as other mandatory as well as recommended coursework.
The programs typically require the student to take the LSAT and to submit transcripts from undergraduate programs as well as write essays to gain acceptance. Overall the admissions criteria and standards are lower than major name Law Schools with students obtaining admission that might not qualify if applying to a nationally recognized bricks and mortar school.
Someone that is interested in studying law and going through all the major JD required courses can obtain a solid law school education by doing a degree online. The ability to make your own schedule, the flexibility of spreading the degree over time and the reduced cost when compared to bricks and mortar programs makes it an attractive alternative if you are simply seeking the Juris Doctor for your own benefit and for the educational experience it offers.
The Big Problem With Online Law School
There is however, a very important and fundamental downside to pursuing your Juris Doctor online. As of now, 49 states require a person to obtain their JD Degree from an accredited institution by the American Bar Association (ABA). Without this accreditation you cannot sit for their bar exam and become a practicing attorney in their state.
The exception to this is the state of California which allows certain distance learning Juris Doctor students to sit for the bar exam if they’ve fulfilled certain requirements but only from certain specific Online Law Degree programs. To learn what programs these are, and to find out how it might be possible to transfer a California Law License to other states please visit www.LawDegree.me.
By Law Article
July 11th, 2009 at 08:57pm
Under Constitutional Law
It seems that many people dream of one day becoming a high profile lawyer, setting lofty goals for themselves as they move forward through school. However, without knowledge of how to get into law school and what to expect while there, those dreams can never become a reality. Where does an aspiring law student start? To whom should you turn for more information?
The best place to start your path to law school is by speaking with a prelaw advisor. Your advisor can be found at your undergraduate institution and would be happy to help you determine whether or not you are a candidate, where you should apply, and what course you should follow to achieve your goal.
Law school is not for everyone. Critical thinking and writing abilities are required, as well as a feeling for the humanities (social sciences, natural sciences, art, and other things affecting human experience). An education in logical reasoning, written and oral expression, and critical analysis provide a good basis for acceptance to law school, regardless of your major. Excellent performance and rigorous course schedules are very important in providing an acceptable educational history to a law school.
Law school will equip you to analyze legal issues and stay abreast of the continuously changing laws and policies. A lawyer must be able to think on his or her feet and adjust to the evolving legal environment in which they must function. Lawyers must be able to provide useful and intelligent counsel to individuals regarding the law and its functionality. Clear speaking and writing abilities are also a must. Law school will prepare you for all of the aspects of being a lawyer, as well as teaching the arts of persuasion and negotiation, which also become a large part of a law career.
There is no specific curriculum that a law school follows; they do vary from school to school. However, most states require a lawyer to have graduated from an American Bar Association approved law school in order to earn admission into the bar. These schools provide the basic information and training necessary to take and pass the bar exam. Typically, states require a law student to attend the law school institution for at least three years full time or four years part time. Most law schools, though providing training for different sorts of legal professions, gear their curriculum toward training a lawyer, though some have special programs that gear the learning experience toward a combination of law and other topics, such as business, science, technology, or public administration.
Many law schools will start out their first year students with subjects such as civil procedure, contracts, criminal law and procedure, constitutional law, property law, legal writing, and tort. Eventually, in their goal of training a lawyer, the schools will place students in internships, which are used toward academic credits. Others emphasize using the governmental and legal resources of the community for training purposes.
There are many questions involved in preparing for law school, and this article only touches on some of the basics. Again, the best place to start you off on a successful career path in law is with a prelaw advisor, who can assist you in clearing up any matters not addressed here.
By Law Article
July 11th, 2009 at 08:57am
Under Constitutional Law
Everyone has heard the old line “there are too many lawyers”. While this may be true, the next question one must as is…why? Why is pursuing law such a popular path to follow and what exactly are the benefits and negatives of pursuing a law degree? In this article I’ll explore the ‘right’ reasons and also some ‘wrong’ reasons to pursue this time consuming and expensive undertaking.
The Love of Law
The first and ‘best’ reason to pursue a Law Degree is of course that you absolutely LOVE the law. Do you sit up late at night debating controversial legal issues with your friends? Do you find yourself getting into heated arguments over the right to fair trial of non-citizen combatants in the Iraq war or perhaps the various ethical and legal sides of the abortion issue. Is your favorite channel C-span or Court TV and is your book shelf full of books about famous legal cases or issues?
If this sounds like you then you might be law school material. The best lawyers…and law students have a PASSION for the law. They don’t look at reading 500 pages of a constitutional law book as work, they relish it. While there are certainly other good reasons to go to law school, perhaps no other is as good a predictor of success as your love of the subject matter.
Critical Thinking
One of the often overlooked but perhaps most important skills you learn by attending law school is the development of your critical thinking ability. The ability to look at an issue from its various sides, do the research to fully understand the intricacies of an issue and the ability to argue and defend your position are incredibly valuable skills that will serve you for the rest of your life in and outside of the law field.
Many attorneys find that the research and critical thinking skills help them in areas they never even considered from personal relationships to managing employees and building a business. Of course these skills are crucial in the legal profession itself, but a legal education can be a great exercise in improving one’s ability to handle the complex negotiations of life.
Career Dynamite
Obtaining a law degree can be a tremendous asset when paired with a degree or specialized knowledge in another field. By using your specific knowledge and experience and having a law degree you then are perfectly tailored to work as legal counsel for a plethora of fields.
For instance a pharmacy degree paired with a law degree makes you a great asset as counsel in a firm that specializes in pharmaceutical firms. Architecture, real estate or construction experience teamed with a law degree can make you a great real estate attorney. The real world experience you possess in the specific field makes you an invaluable asset to law firms that might have top notch attorneys but little hands on, practical experience in that field.
Wrong Reasons
It is very important to be aware of the wrong reasons to pursue a law degree…and there are many. Some people decide to go to law school because they simply don’t know what else to do. Besides being an obvious waste of time, most often these people do not end up even working in the legal profession.
Others want to become an attorney not because they really like law, but because they want the perceived ‘prestige’ that having a law degree attaches. People that go to law school for this reason tend to have self-esteem issues and are looking to fill a void with the ‘title’ of lawyer even though they really have very little passion for the profession. They often don’t really know what they want to do and think spending three years in school is a way of either staying out of the ‘real world’ or that they’ll ‘figure it out’ in law school. Law school is so work intensive that is highly recommended you don’t attend unless you really know you want it for the right reasons.
Finally, there’s the money. While any profession is ultimately responsible for giving you a pay check, potential law school candidates should be aware that the vast majority of lawyers don’t make gobs of money. While it is true that if you attend a top, Ivy League school and get into a top firm you can make a very good living, this is really only something that a very small percentage will accomplish. The big money starts if you make Partner in a firm, which is highly competitive and can take many years. For those simply looking to make good money, there are other professions that are comparatively easier to accomplish this in finance and banking and without the need to attend law school. However, if your passion is the law then there are certainly great financial rewards for those that position themselves correctly. For more great articles and insights please visit www.LawDegree.me.
With Degrees in Film, Real Estate Finance and Development as well as Psychology, Robert Levin writes expert articles covering a broad range of issues. Some of his websites include:
LawDegree.me and
MBAdegree.me.
By Law Article