Deciding on a Career in Law
In order for you to commit to law school, you must first go through a fairly lengthy period of self-examination and exploration as a student. This phase involves a series of questions to ask yourself and answer before you apply to law school. Jim Riley, Pre-Law Advisor at Regis University, asks students to consider the following seven questions in his article, "Is Law School Right for You?" http://condor.stcloudstate.edu/~prelaw/lawright.html:
- Do I enjoy working closely with people regarding significant events or issues affecting their lives?
- Can I empathize with a client's situation, yet have the ability to objectively analyze the issues and their consequences in light of the existing law?
- Do I enjoy educating or teaching a person about a subject about which he or she may be ignorant or have significant misconceptions?
- Am I able to articulate in a clear and concise manner my analysis of a problem to others, whether it is verbally or in writing?
- Do I enjoying being an advocate? Can I argue both sides of the question with enthusiasm?
- Do I like detailed work? Do I enjoy searching for the facts of a situation?
- Do I like to read and study on an ongoing basis?
Although it is not critical that you are able to answer each of these questions with an emphatic "yes" at this point, it is important to recognize that these questions reflect the skills and values that are common to lawyers across all specialties.
