5 answers
Alexa
Student
Lake Grove, New York
2
Questions
Updated
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I know that I want to go into law, but how do I know which type of law I want to pursue?
I know that I definitely want to be a lawyer and attend law school, but how do I know which type of law I want to specialize in? Do I have to know or have an idea before I start law school?
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5 answers
Maryann Vasanthakumar, J.D, M.P.H
HR Professional
10
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Maryann’s Answer
Hi there! In law school, you don't have to make a big decision right away. The courses cover the basics you'll need for the bar exam in your state. You can also choose electives to explore areas of law that interest you. After getting a JD, there's an optional degree called an LLM where you can specialize in a specific area, but it's not a must.
Marjorie Armitage
Tech lawyer
3
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Marjorie’s Answer
You may figure out during your studies what subjects you like and don't like. That said, I was gearing towards tax law when I randomly found a part-time job in a tech company during the end of my studies and fell in love with the industry.
If that matters to you, have a look in which industry you can earn a good living. Some industries pay better than others. I'm not saying you should select based on this, but that is often one data point that come into play, particularly if you don't yet know what area of law you like.
Try and do internships, so you can get a real life view of what a sector and role has to offer.
I did an internship in the legal department of a big company during my studies and loved it, so I knew I wanted to go in-house, but I didn't know what type of law I would practice at that point. Any real experience, even being a part time receptionist in a law firm or short internship in a legal department at a company can give you a real insight of what your life could be or what you really don't want to do.
Good luck and in the meantime, keep an open mind and enjoy life. Down the line, life experience is always useful for any job.
If that matters to you, have a look in which industry you can earn a good living. Some industries pay better than others. I'm not saying you should select based on this, but that is often one data point that come into play, particularly if you don't yet know what area of law you like.
Try and do internships, so you can get a real life view of what a sector and role has to offer.
I did an internship in the legal department of a big company during my studies and loved it, so I knew I wanted to go in-house, but I didn't know what type of law I would practice at that point. Any real experience, even being a part time receptionist in a law firm or short internship in a legal department at a company can give you a real insight of what your life could be or what you really don't want to do.
Good luck and in the meantime, keep an open mind and enjoy life. Down the line, life experience is always useful for any job.
DENNIS A BREEN
Lawyer
271
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
DENNIS A’s Answer
Alexa: The path will pick you!
Law school changes you. Go in with an open mind. As you take classes one will strike your fancy and you will know. If you go in with a preconcieved idea you may hate what you thought you were going to love and wind up disappointed. Keep an open mind and you'll be fine!
Good luck!
Law school changes you. Go in with an open mind. As you take classes one will strike your fancy and you will know. If you go in with a preconcieved idea you may hate what you thought you were going to love and wind up disappointed. Keep an open mind and you'll be fine!
Good luck!
Jing Wang
Business Support
49
Answers
Dalian, Liaoning, China
Updated
Jing’s Answer
Hi Alexa,
Thank you for your question.
Actually you don't need to make a decision before law school. Most law students don't commit to a specific area until 2L or 3L year and many even change paths after graduating. Law school is designed to give you a broad foundation first, you can use your 1L and 2L to explore, the 1st year will cover core subjects like contracts, torts and constitutional law, then you can take electives in your 2nd year and 3rd year.
For sure, there are more resources/paths you can go to consider which specialization is best for you. You can go to online platforms such as Coursera, edX or even YouTube where offer free courses on topics like criminal law, intellectual property, corporate law, family law or human rights law; you can also read legal blogs to understand what each field actually does day to day; you might volunteer with legal aid organizations or local public defender officers, which is a good opportunity to let you experience the work firsthand; you can reach out to lawyers in different fields via LinkedIn, and your school's pre-law advisor, who for sure can provide you different information; also internship is always great way to learn more.
Congratulation that you are going to step a new journey and good luck.
Thank you for your question.
Actually you don't need to make a decision before law school. Most law students don't commit to a specific area until 2L or 3L year and many even change paths after graduating. Law school is designed to give you a broad foundation first, you can use your 1L and 2L to explore, the 1st year will cover core subjects like contracts, torts and constitutional law, then you can take electives in your 2nd year and 3rd year.
For sure, there are more resources/paths you can go to consider which specialization is best for you. You can go to online platforms such as Coursera, edX or even YouTube where offer free courses on topics like criminal law, intellectual property, corporate law, family law or human rights law; you can also read legal blogs to understand what each field actually does day to day; you might volunteer with legal aid organizations or local public defender officers, which is a good opportunity to let you experience the work firsthand; you can reach out to lawyers in different fields via LinkedIn, and your school's pre-law advisor, who for sure can provide you different information; also internship is always great way to learn more.
Congratulation that you are going to step a new journey and good luck.
Deenasini Sathasivam
Legal Counsel
9
Answers
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Updated
Deenasini’s Answer
I concur, you definitely do not need to know what field you want to pursue before law school, or even during. Keep an open mind, join networking events that your college may hold for you, speak to your professors, and even look out for internship opportunities. You will be surprised how much opportunities there are out there just by looking for it.