Law Becoming a Lawyer Law and Legal Definition
Earning a Juris Doctor degree requires unrelenting academic effort and intense dedication.Unlike lawyers on television and those who occasionally make the headlines of the nation’s newspapers, the vast majority of American lawyers spend little time in courtrooms. Instead, most members of the bar spend most of their time on less glamorous aspects of the law—research, preparation of briefs, client relations, etc. A significant number of American law school graduates do not even “practice law.” Instead, they occupy positions in business or government, using their legal education only indirectly.
Speak with practicing attorneys about their jobs. Talking with practicing lawyers, attending criminal and civil trials, attending law school classes or even working as a messenger at a law firm will help you gain some insight into what a lawyer does. You must also plan to sit for the LSAT exam. A person should not take the exam until the completion of three academic years of college. You can not study for the exam because it is an aptitude test. However, there are study courses available to aid you in understanding the testing techniques and to allow you to become familiar with the type of questions presented during the exam. Contact your pre-law advisor for references to study books and professional organizations that may be helpful to you in preparing for the exam.
Students should take their own preferences into account when evaluating a school, considering such characteristics as size, selectivity, cost, special programs, and so on. When choosing a law school, you should consider:
- Rankings
- Culture and Environment
- Academic Environment
- Faculty, Curricula, and Programs
- Financial Considerations
