This chapter makes an attempt to help you determine whether you SHOULD CONSIDER LAW SCHOOL. Before making that decision, you should find out about the LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE and investigate WHAT A CAREER IN LAW IS LIKE. We also indicate the reasons why you should visit the PRELAW OFFICE, talk to the prelaw advisor, and be an active member of the prelaw society at your college.
THE STANDARD LAW SCHOOL DEGREE
Earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree usually involves three years (six semesters) of unrelenting academic effort and intense dedication. This is not an endeavor to consider unless this endeavor holds promise for you. Think and investigate thoroughly beffore you decide to become a lawyer. A part-time degree program takes four-years.
WEBSITE DEMANDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
The OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK (OOH), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is extremely useful to all students, not just for the students who want to become lawyers. For various occupations (e.g. LAWYER), the OOH gives information about the nature of the work, working conditions, employment, training, other qualifications, advancement, job outlook, earnings, related occupations, and sources of additional information. Use this website for career information as needed.
SOMETIMES IS HEARD A DISCOURAGEING WORD
David Segal's January 8, 2011 New York Times article IS LAW SCHOOL A LOSING GAME? suggests that, in many cases, the answer is Yes. This well-written article should be required reading if being a lawyer is your career choice.
The article DO NOT APPLY TO LAW SCHOOL UNTIL YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS "exposes the elitist culture of the legal profession and it's effects on those who pass through its caste-like educational system." This article was written "to show how difficult it is to secure a desirable legal job after law school graduation." I first read this article several years ago. I liked it then and I like it now (January 26. 2012). I strongly recommend reading this article.
QUOTES
Be always sure you are right, then go ahead. Davy Crockett (1786-1836). Since the word "always" makes the statement too restrictive, we prefer to delete "always." Be sure you are right, then go ahead.
There is no royal road to Geometry. Euclid (fl. 300B CE) Euclid's ground-breaking work, the Elements, begins with plane geometry, which is taught in hign school today. Is there a royal road to law school?
A ROYAL ROAD TO LAW SCHOOL
Choose the right courses taught by the right instructors Although law schools say there are no particular courses in any discipline that will especially aid an application, they often recommend courses that emphasize comprehension, analysis, and writing. Certain courses introduce you to different aspects of the law and can help determine your area of interest; Business Law, Constitutional Law, and Civil Liberties Law are three examples. Courses in critical thinking, logic, and mathematics are also suggested
Earn excellent grades
Do a law-related internship Law schools say internships don't matter much on an application, but they can help you decide whether law school is worth all the struggle.
Seventeen FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS from Arizona State University are given (along with good answers). It is too bad that the questions are not in chronological order.
