by: Mark Etinger
Going to law school is just one aspect of becoming a high powered attorney. If you really want to become a successful lawyer, you have to know what you’re in for, and remain dedicated throughout the process. Here are some of the trials (no pun intended) that you will come up against:
1. First things first. If you’re considering law school, it should be because you actually want to be a lawyer, not because you think you’re smart or you want a J.D. Working in a law firm for a few years is a great preliminary step before you even think about the LSAT.
2. The LSAT: makes or breaks your chances of getting into a good law school. Fortunately, the other half of what makes you is your undergrad GPA, so at least you’ll have a basic idea of what kinds of schools to apply to.
3. The Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) takes all of your records and distributes them to whatever schools you want. Make sure to submit your applications early. The cutoff is the November of the year before you want to begin law school.
4. Law school takes three years to complete. During this period, you will find yourself among people who are the best and the brightest. Learning the system, i.e. keywords that will help your essays stand out from the others, will get you the best grades and a place in the law review.
5. Saving money to repay your loans is a necessity for most law students. Many summer internships will pay you generously for your work, especially if you are attending an elite law school. Some firms may even consider hiring you part time while you’re in school, but bear in mind that you will be swamped with school work, and having an extra job may be detrimental to your grades.
6. Once you graduate, it’s time to take the Bar. Each state has its own Bar exam so you might want to decide where you want to live and practice before you take the exam. Schedule your bar exam to give you enough time to prepare and feel comfortable with any material.
7. Depending on what kind of law you decide to practice, you may be able to get a job almost as immediately as you send out resumes.
8. Once you’re a lawyer, you may have to take continuing legal education seminars. CLE classes are mandatory in many states and usually deal with topics like ethics and how to gain trial victories. Some continuing legal education seminars specialize in certain kinds of law, for example Jewish law, and its relation to American law. While your first few years will be particularly busy, working hard early on will increase your chances of becoming a partner. Like everything in life, the more dedicated you are, the greater your results will be. Law is a profession that brings great respect and intellectual stimulation, but as with any job, it’s best if it can become your passion. It’s crucial to make sure that law is what you want to do, before you prepare to become a lawyer.
IAT Law provides continuing law education regarding Jewish law and American law. Continuing legal education seminars for credit are available by visiting http://www.IATLaw.org. Visit our blog at http://www.iatlawblog.com
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The author invites you to visit: http://www.IATLaw.org |
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