Law School
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the practice of law is learning to be a lawyer. Virtually every new lawyer today is a graduate of law school, a much dreaded, but fulfilling journey to practicing law. Modern law schools differ greatly from their earlier counterpart, in that many more requirements and responsibilities exist. In colonial times, students pursuing a career in law would enter institutions for instruction of the law, and would automatically become qualified to practice law in the courts after a few years of study. Today, however, becoming a lawyer takes much more training, rigorous work and effort, and many years of studying in order to take a bar exam of which passage represents qualification. There is much more consideration concerning who is admitted, what kind of curriculums are taught, how exams are offered, what kinds affiliation exist, how much law schools differ from one another, and what it ultimately takes to be fully competent as a practicing attorney.
What does it take to get into law school? Requirements for admission to any law school, whether Ivy League or otherwise, are extensive and seemingly difficult to obtain. Almost all law schools in the United States require a four-year college degree. Ivy League schools especially prefer college graduates from prestigious universities. Nonetheless, any law school will be more interested in applicants who rank in the top percentile of their class and present an outstanding grade-point average. Another major aspect considered of law school applicants is their score on the Law School Aptitude Test -- "a half-day standardized test designed to measure the ability to understand and reason with a variety of verbal and quantitativ...
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...hat law school requires tremendous effort and time, no matter what law school into which they are accepted. The aspects of the practice of law have changed significantly from that which was considered in colonial times, where students of law, perhaps unqualified, could easily be licensed to practice. This transformation of the legal system has strengthened our trust in American law, and continues to challenge honest, qualified lawyers around the nation.
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Turow, Scott. One L. New York, NY: Warner Books, 1977.
http://www.lsat-center.com/lsat-page1.html
http://lawschool.stanford.edu/admissions/admiss.shtml
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Abadinsky, Howard. Law and Justice: An Introduction to the American Legal System. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
from law school and achieving these requirements, newcomers are then require to take the state’s
Imagine a tall slim man dressed in a very respectable iron pressed suit, with a tie that’s perfect length and fits nicely with the colors of his blazer. To go along with his suit, he carries a very affluent briefcase with a matching belt and shoes. This is the typical perception from students of someone that works in the legal profession, including the consumption of time spent on only work along with having a very stern look. However, a look at how it’s shown in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, it shows that things like standing for justice, having integrity, and being family-oriented plays a huge role in the lives of lawyers.
One-L, by Scott Turow, outlines the experience of attending Harvard Law School as a first year law-student. Turow weaves his experiences with those around him, and intertwines the professors of Harvard law, as well as their lectures. Initially, Turow enters Harvard law in a bit of disarray and awe. As a world of hornbooks, treatises, law-reviews, group studies, and legal terminology unfold beyond comprehension; Turow is confronted with the task of maintaining sanity. Time appears to be the most important variable, as Turow begins to study for contracts, torts, property, civil procedure, and criminal law; because time is so precious, one key-highlight for law-students is to balance family. Moreover, Turow is part of section-1, and two of his
Although the legal profession is a single discourse community, it is made up of many smaller discourse communities. This is so because while all lawyers share the same broad goals of the legal profession and have a general knowledge and expertise in all areas of the law, most lawyers after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam specialize in a particular area of law. This specialization requires the lawyer to go beyond the broad concepts of law as a whole and to become knowledgeable and proficient in the sometimes minute details of a more specific area of law. Even then, some lawyers will go even further to focus on one aspect or another of that particular area of law. This results in most lawyers being members of many even smal...
•To become a barrister one had to go to a certain number of dinners at the Inns of Court for 3 years. Then if you were approved of by the older lawyers you’d be “called to the bar” and then could become a barrister. There was no exam required.
One particular profession that has seen reaped the benefits of increasing salaries is the lawyers’ pool. Freeman (1975) emphasized how lawyers’ salary is inversely related to enrollment. He also mentioned how the market for law graduates has a cob-web model, with consistent fluctuations in the enrollment in law programs (Freeman 1975; Rosen, 1992). Freeman’s theory accurately describes the explanation behind today’s increase in starting salaries for law graduates. Cleveland State’s Marshall Law School saw an average of 20% increase in starting packages for its law graduates (Crain’s Cleveland Business, 2007). The median salary for a law graduate was $44,500 in 1999 (Ohio Department of Labor, 2000). The high wages for law graduates can also be explained by the increasing cost of entry. Human-capital theory shows that much of the cost of training is the time and effort spent in school. The money value of time is measured by the rate of interest on other work opportunities forgone.
I am fortunate to enter law school with the benefit of having four and half years of post undergraduate work experience, where I have occupi...
...e other students, as I apply to law school I harbor no disillusion about the true life of an attorney. I understand that it is not a simple profession and I will probably make less in public service than the cost of my legal education, but that is irrelevant. Studying law will provide an opportunity to do something that is deeply etched into the core of my character, a quality that stood out not only through my work with the undergraduate Leadership Minor Studies program at UNCW, but also in the amount of time and service I have dedicated to my community over the years. Joining the legal profession will allow me to strive to be a better person and lawyer by serving the public. In my opinion, the passion, understanding and ambition I have to assist all members of society are what make me an excellent J.D. candidate for the University of North Carolina School of Law.
To include myself in an aspect that crucially shapes society is a thrilling opportunity that I have a lot of fascination for. Studying a degree in Law will help give me greater insight to this field of interest. Recognising how much the laws of society are constantly changing sparks particular interests in me because the English legal system is constantly evolving: This gives me a sense of strong inspiration to contribute to this modern society in the Law field. At a very young age, my outgoing personality and confident nature has made the subject of Law a suitable and huge interest. What’s inspired me to study law in university is the leadership that comes behind it, the independence in your analysis and views and the spontaneous nature I feel this course has. Your strong opinion that you defend and maintain throughout an argument makes this profession key to true individualisation.
Becoming a lawyer is not something that happens overnight. Have you ever heard the saying “good things come with time?” This will definitely strike a chord with multiple people who are already in the profession. It takes about four years to earn the undergraduate in whatever major you choose. Preferably, this major should be something that relates to the law you would like to practice in the future or one that you know will help you. This is one area however that is not seen as a dealbreaker. Andrew Abood is highly successful at what he does and happened to major in Finance right here at Michigan State University. Now, his practicing of criminal law does not have a whole lot to do with the field of finance, but that is where his Juris Doctorate comes into play. The Juris Doctorate, which is more commonly referred to as the J.D., is the professional degree earned after completing law school. In the United States it is typical for this further education to take around three years to
The objectives of this journal are; to describe the increase in the cost of American legal education over the past four decades, to explain some of the most important factors that have driven that increase, explore what consequences this increased cost as has had for recent law graduates and current law students, in the context of changing employment market for law school graduates and then finally, consider what sort of immediate and long term challenges are likely to take place a...
In order to become an attorney in Canada, students are required to obtain a Pre-Law undergraduate degree or have completed 90 credit hours towards a Bachelor’s degree (“How to become a lawyer in Canada”, 2015). Upon receiving their degree, students must pass the law school admission test (LSAT), which is a standardized entrance exam offered four times per year. It focuses on reading comprehension, analytical and logical reasoning. Should the students pass, they may attend a law school in Canada. Finally, the students must complete the provincial bar admission course, which differs depending on the province (“How to become a lawyer in Canada”, 2015). Since education falls under provincial responsibilities, there are no national accreditation organizations (University of Toronto, 2012). Therefore, in order to work as a lawyer in Canada, it is best to work in private firms, for public interest or in the government (University of Toronto, 2012). According to The Counsel Network (2016), Canadian lawyers with one year of experience earn an average annual wage of $100 000, which can increase up to $160 000 per annum by the 7th year. Despite the envious wages they earn, according to the Law Society of BC, perception of lawyers have only recently been improving as popular opinion becomes more appreciative. This rise in approval may be due to the recent modification in lawyer ethics, specifying honor,
To pursue Career as Lawyer, the person has to be well determined in mind. The formal qualifications required for the same are:
Legal writing, regarded as one of the most vital tools within the legal field, is a skill that is important to both law students and legal professionals, as it is the basis in which one can successfully persuade and advocate their legal position. Students studying law as their undergraduate degree, often find legal writing a very difficult concept as they are required to abandon the writing techniques they once learnt within other disciplines . Though it is challenging, the emphasis of the importance of legal writing cannot be underestimated. Students are stressed on the importance of legal writing because the basis of the success of a lawyer is mostly determined on their ability to write well. A study conducted by the American Bar Association concluded that majority of employers expect recent law school graduates to possess an above average level of competency in relation to legal writing. Therefore, students are taught legal writing courses within their first year to aid in writing for other courses and to ensure they have more time to hone such a skill. Wojick even noted that by possessing outstanding writing skills, will more likely result in a form of future job security. Slocum (2011) noted that the skill of writing the analysis and solution of a client’s legal issue, is the basis of a lawyer’s practice. Kauffman (1978) further expounded on this