Life After Law School

Everyone has certain aspirations on the type of profession he wants to choose. Career opportunities are being introduced on the early stages of globalization. While some others still adhere to the basic and established means of earning a living, others were up to the challenge of taking law school and practice a legal profession.

Law has remained to be a prestigious subject in universities, not to mention the much sought-after discipline in a university. Degree holders in law consider this as a good currency in many business sectors, including accountancy, management, tax-consultancy, the media, and banking and finance, among others.

Getting into the law industry is not as easy as it may sound – a lot of hard work in learning and specializing is required. Once one may decide to get into the profession, he must have to work hard to become a person who is licensed for practicing law, such as an attorney, solicitor, or counsel.

Studying law can lead to a myriad of opportunities in the legal profession. A career as a paralegal can be attained by a certificate program while a degree allows one to pursue a career as an attorney or a law professor. Further, the study of law can prepare someone for a judicial clerkship, which is often a stepping stone to a career as a judge. Studying law is an impressive accomplishment that can gain one the respect and credibility among his friends and colleagues.

In order for someone to become a good lawyer, he needs to have a thorough knowledge of the judiciary system. He must not only be qualified in law, but must also possess certain ability  to do well in his profession.

Barrister

This is the person who represents cases in the court room. He is responsible for liaising with the judge and interviewing people on the stand. Bachelor of Laws graduates must complete the Bar Practice Course (BPC) and complete the pupilage period to two barristers. This is the career path to take if one aspires of becoming a judge.

Solicitors

These are people who give legal advice and prepare legal documents. There are many kinds of specialization in the field of law, including corporate, medico-legal, environment, litigation, public, energy, native title, biotechnology, estates, Internet law, intellectual property, and many others. Some solicitors chose to become specialists in major-sized firms while some chose to practice in a cross-section of areas in middle- and small-sized firms; though there are some who set up their own firms.

Two ways to be an admitted solicitor: 1) Completing a practical legal training course (Legal Practice Course) – graduates are trained in all the practical skills required to work as a solicitor and a period of time working in a firm by the end of the course; 2) Undertaking an Articles of Clerkship (AC) with a law firm – graduates are employed and trained by the firm for a period of time and if the training is successful, they will be admitted into the law society of his jurisdiction.

Community Legal Services

These are solicitors who may choose to work for legal aid or in associations which provide legal advice in areas like copyright, human rights, rental, animal rights, or the Arts.

In-house Council

These are legal experts in larger companies, some sectors of the government, or some other community organizations. This is the concept of some companies that are setting up their own legal departments in-house.

Government Policy Officer

These professionals do researches, write, and assist in directing the implementation of important activities which government departments carry out, including family policies, health, drugs, domestic violence, environment, economic development, crime, sport, the arts, police and justice, and many others.

The law profession is the most secure career choice to make as lawyers have always been sought after. People will hire the services of a lawyer at least once in their life. Imagine how big the population is – no wonder there are still those who are up to the challenge of taking up law school. Law is one of the professions that one can be sure of the success and the growth when put to good practice. One has just to work hard towards attaining his goal and to ensure the delivery of justice on time.

A Guide for Studying Law

Law study has an apparent appeal to anyone mulling over a career in the Law profession. A Bachelor degree in Law provides a strong foundation for anyone aspiring to train as barristers or solicitors. Aside from these, a whole array of legal careers and specializations are available to choose from.

A degree in the study of law is considered as one of the most respected qualifications in a wealth of other professions outside the legal practice. These wide career options are underscored by the fact that almost half of the law graduates in many countries are practicing professions apart from the law. These areas include among the rest: commerce and industry, politics, government offices, social services, and the media.

Required Core Skills and Values

Studying law is hard work and a challenging endeavor but a very rewarding one. One must at least possess needed skills to cope with it tedious study and values to survive a very challenging struggle.

• Analytic and Critical Thinking – the study of law will expose you to important issues, complex theories, legal mazes, and complex meshes of problems that will challenge your mental prowess and beliefs. A well developed problem solving skill is fundamental to law study.
• Oral and Written Skills – the study and practice of law require a highly polished oral and written communication skill. This skill includes a highly developed and articulates writing and speaking, with critical emphasis to contents and legal meaning.
• Listening and Reading Skills – law study and practice require a keen ear and eye for details. With a legal profession mostly engage in oral arguments and reading voluminous piles of documents, it is critical not to miss any relevant details and minute hidden facts that may be crucial to solving the problem or winning a case.
• Research Skills – legal study and practice do not rely mainly on the facts at hand. Law study and practice require a constant need for research, either for evidence or new legal breakthroughs and landmark court decisions.
• Enthusiasm in Promoting Service and Justice – these are the core values that are needed and required for both law study and practice. An underscoring proof of its important is that is a requirement in many legal jobs. An experience in activities of these sorts and purpose is particularly helpful in legal career.

Fields of Law

A very important choice to make in studying law is the field of specialization in the Legal arena. A specialization is important in shaping and maneuvering your law studies – choosing subjects, activities to participate, and organizations to be involved with. Multiple specializations are possible depending on how much you can handle and perform averagely well. Here are some of these fields.

• Civil Rights – this field is relatively a famous aspiration among many law students. This deals with individual liberties and power balance in government. This field may not be financially rewarding and with low job opportunities. Practice in this field is generally handled pro-bono.
• Criminal Law – perhaps the most visible to all legal fields and deals with crimes and basic rights. This field is relatively rewarding in terms of money. Lawyers in this field may be practicing solo or members of law firms.
• Securities and Corporate Law – is a complex field and requires a high level of specialization. This deals with corporate affairs including creation, organization, incorporation, creation of by laws, acquisitions, mergers, take-over, shares of stocks and related corporate battles. Jobs on this field are highly paid.
• Labor Law – this field deals with employment matters, mostly employer-employee conflict. This conflict may involve unlawful work practices and wage disputes, child labor, safety and health issues in the workplace, union, and anything about labor laws.
• International Law – is a growing field in the legal arena. It deals with patrimony, refugee, tourism, immigration, overseas work, and conflicts between nations like territorial boundaries. Job opportunities in this field are particularly limited.

A career in the law profession is personally satisfying, intellectually demanding, and financially rewarding. With a promise of diverse career options, profitability, prestige, growth, and prosperity; studying law is among the most preferred professions in the job market of today and of the immediate future.

Becoming a Lawyer

What comes to mind when see the abbreviation “Atty.” preceding the name of a person? Do we see them as somebody who is always in the courtroom defending the criminals or somebody who is tough enough to shout in the court, “Objection your honor!”? Although once in a while this scenario might be true, it’s certainly not the case all the time. Probably, this is just how we got to know the profession. As a matter of fact, plenty of lawyers out there have never even stepped a foot inside the courtroom because, in reality, these are not just the things a lawyer can be. Aside from being a public defender and a prosecutor in criminal trials, a lawyer can help merchants sue customers for unsettled dues, assist clients in generating wills, advise clients in a divorce, research tax law and international trade, prepare loan documents for banks and many others.

What is it about being a lawyer that many choose to pursue this degree? There are a multitude of reasons and one is having numerous career options to choose from given the fact that the legal profession is expanding at a rapid pace. One can be a barrister, a divorce lawyer, a city counsel, an injury lawyer or a city attorney. For those aspiring for a career in litigation, there are diverse specialization areas like family law, corporate law, criminal law, civil law, labor law and contract law to name a few. It is right to say that for as long as the society exists, there will always be crimes and criminals. Therefore, lawyers will never be out of work because their law degree will be their key to find work.

Career consultants disclose that the legal profession is tremendously profitable in today’s employment market hence; another most obvious reason for practicing your law degree is the ample financial rewards. For instance, barristers joining a law firm can earn huge amounts of money. In addition, there are a few law firms who appoint top graduates from law schools and offer them attractive compensation packages as well as added bonuses.

Furthermore, by means of studying law, it cannot be denied that communication skills are exceedingly improved as most of their professional life is going to be devoted communicating with clients. Actually, those individuals who finished a degree in legal studies and opt to seek other professions, will have better chances than other candidates in terms of good communication skills. Not only will it help them with their career but also their personal lives wherein good communication plays an important role for better and effective interaction with family and friends.

Other significant benefits of having a law degree is the ability to see the world in a different way. It is all about regularly meeting fresh challenges and finding solutions for them. The capacity to identify what is right from wrong will enable you to make better decisions and choices. Subsequently, the acquired skill will help you deal effectively with varying issues and situations even though at times lawyer tens to make the right things appear wrong and vice versa. Furthermore, these occurrences will enrich your profession and personal experiences.

Your contribution to society as a lawyer, in carrying out noble social services by helping the innocent people find justice as well as bringing offenders to justice lies within your hands. In this way, you are able to gain a certain degree of awe and respect from the people.

Being designated as an attorney doesn’t only mean winning a case or just helping others resolve their legal problems. However, it is allowing oneself to experience the gift of helping people in ways that most individuals are not capable of doing despite the fact that is intellectually fulfilling. Pursuing a career as an attorney is a dignified goal to embark on and reality is, the road towards this great and rewarding career choice, seems to be a daunting one. Contrary to what most people’s impression that going to a law school is just about passing the LSAT exam and obtaining a high score, becoming a lawyer is never an easy task as many of those law students who aspire to become respected lawyers someday, go through a myriad of hard hurdles. Their journey involves investment of time, effort, energy and above all, money. However, despite all the hardships in preparing to become a lawyer, the fruits of their labor will surely pay in the end.

To some, a lawyer is somebody who is intelligent and exceptionally good with arguments and although this is a great quality to possess, dedication and perseverance are perhaps the greatest.