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Where would my career start immediately after law school?
I'm in high school hoping to go into either a health or law profession after college. I am currently undecided about which university I want to go to and what my major will be. #lawyer #college #law-school
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David’s Answer
Your career in Law profession will not start until you complete all your law courses work such as getting a college degree, the a law degree, field work, Bar exam, specialize in which kind of law type areas and etc. Going through this process takes time and it maybe anywhere from 6 years and plus depend on how you are completing it. First, you need to go through college for a 4 years, then take the MCAT and apply to a Law school that will accept you, after you are in it will be another 3 - 5 years depend if you are just getting a LLM. or JD, in between you will be practicing at a law firm, court, legal center, and etc. to help you gain experiences so when you graduate or decided to focus on which area in the Legal system will be more easy for you to find and follow/shadow a lawyer to later sign off for you. As well taking the bar exam so you can practice and follow a lawyer to sign off for you to get admitted tot he bar or legal system. So during this mean time consider and look into what area of law you want to be in and during your college course works you can have the actual feel of what it will be like and if you want to continues on or switch to something else.
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Celeste K.’s Answer
Law school is notoriously tough to get into and expensive so you'll need to consider what type of law you want to practice. Does the idea of being part of a large litigation team excite you? Working on cases that impact the world - such as Apple v. Samsung (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._v._Samsung_Electronics_Co.). Do you want to argue in front of the supreme court? Do you want work on cases that impact individual people (such as medical malpractice)?
If you ultimately decide that you want to aim for a job at a big firm, you'll need to plan to attend an undergraduate school that will allow you to explore curriculum that excites you, but will also allow you to get good grades (3.5+ GPA) and get into good study habits for the LSAT. Some law schools no longer require the LSAT as part of admissions, but you will still need to take the GRE. Truthfully, your major matters less than your critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills when evaluating what you should study if you plan to get into law school and become a lawyer.
With respect to when your career starts after law school - it actually starts DURING law school. Many firms and organizations recruit on campus as early as your 1L (first year) year. Many career services offices do an excellent job preparing students for the process, but it is always helpful to set up individual appointments to understand the different firms and get further insight on when networking opportunities are offered. More law students participate in a summer internship between their 2L and 3L years - these, usually, 10 week programs are a mix of real legal work and social events to better understand the firm's culture. Most firms try to extend full time offers to their interns following the conclusion of the program. Grades should always be top of mind before obtaining an internship and you should keep your grades up following that as well.
Additionally, most students will sit for the bar exam directly following law school (I believe the CA administration is at the end of July). If you have an offer from a firm or other large organization, they will usually pay for bar exam prep and your fees associated with the exam, but will usually only pay for this once, and no one WANTS to take the bar more than once.
If you ultimately decide that you want to aim for a job at a big firm, you'll need to plan to attend an undergraduate school that will allow you to explore curriculum that excites you, but will also allow you to get good grades (3.5+ GPA) and get into good study habits for the LSAT. Some law schools no longer require the LSAT as part of admissions, but you will still need to take the GRE. Truthfully, your major matters less than your critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills when evaluating what you should study if you plan to get into law school and become a lawyer.
With respect to when your career starts after law school - it actually starts DURING law school. Many firms and organizations recruit on campus as early as your 1L (first year) year. Many career services offices do an excellent job preparing students for the process, but it is always helpful to set up individual appointments to understand the different firms and get further insight on when networking opportunities are offered. More law students participate in a summer internship between their 2L and 3L years - these, usually, 10 week programs are a mix of real legal work and social events to better understand the firm's culture. Most firms try to extend full time offers to their interns following the conclusion of the program. Grades should always be top of mind before obtaining an internship and you should keep your grades up following that as well.
Additionally, most students will sit for the bar exam directly following law school (I believe the CA administration is at the end of July). If you have an offer from a firm or other large organization, they will usually pay for bar exam prep and your fees associated with the exam, but will usually only pay for this once, and no one WANTS to take the bar more than once.
Updated
sara’s Answer
Hi, have you looked in to the medical malpractice filed? If you like law and health, you should do some research in to that area. Most law schools and graduate health professions look for a well rounded undergrad. You may change your major once you are in undergrad … find a university with a solid arts and sciences program. You'll need a solid foundation in English, and the sciences if you are interested in Health. Try to make a connection with an attorney, or in a health field you are interested in, and spend the day shadowing them. You may find that actual experience will lead you in a certain path. It's ok to go into college undecided. You will be exposed to so many new areas there that you may completely change focus. Keep your grades up in high school, add extracurricular activities if possible, and you will have many options for college!!
Updated
Lama’s Answer
You do not have to wait until you graduate to start your career, you can start planning it during your college years, although you need to complete the qualification to be able to get in track.
My advice to you is to do summer internships during your college years. It is very beneficial as you would be exposed to terminologies, legal paperwork and other legal support.
If you like the work offered and environment of the law firm where you took your first job as a junior intern, try to build relationship with them and offer to come back again for another internship, that would be excellent for your legal education and the firm may view the relationship as one they would like to bring you as a full-time employee after graduation and obtaining qualification.
My advice to you is to do summer internships during your college years. It is very beneficial as you would be exposed to terminologies, legal paperwork and other legal support.
If you like the work offered and environment of the law firm where you took your first job as a junior intern, try to build relationship with them and offer to come back again for another internship, that would be excellent for your legal education and the firm may view the relationship as one they would like to bring you as a full-time employee after graduation and obtaining qualification.
Updated
Fred’s Answer
Remember that even after you graduate, you can't practice law until you pass the Bar exam in your state. Some firms may hire you to do
work while you study and take the exam.
A lot of lawyers I know started in public service, in either the prosecutor's office or the public defender's. That, of course, assumes you want to
do criminal law. There are many fields with different paths...family law, taxes, estate planning...all would be slightly different, but also all
require passing the Bar before doing any "real" lawyer work.
work while you study and take the exam.
A lot of lawyers I know started in public service, in either the prosecutor's office or the public defender's. That, of course, assumes you want to
do criminal law. There are many fields with different paths...family law, taxes, estate planning...all would be slightly different, but also all
require passing the Bar before doing any "real" lawyer work.