Do you have to be interested in current events and politics to be successful in a law profession?

I would say it probably depends on the area of law you want to go into. Some areas are constantly changing, such as Civil Rights Law. It seems there are new Court decisions regularly that change these laws: whether or not police can search the glove box of a car, if they can look at the smart phone of someone they arrested, etc. The courts often respond to pressures from society. That is why political awareness, and activism, are important.

Each area of law has its own "club," where you are able to stay informed about changes and issues that are important to you. There are on-line list-serves,LinkedIn groups, magazines, etc., where other people will let you know about changes and issues you need to be aware of.

Many people enter law school with a sense of wanting to make a difference in the world. In school, and even afterwards, you are expected to do a certain amount of pro bono (free) work to help those less fortunate than yourself. There is a huge concern with "access to justice." Yes, indigent criminal defendants get free attorneys, however, these attorneys are often carrying a very heavy caseload, and don't always spend the amount of time with an indigent client that they do with a paying client in the same circumstances. How do indigent people get help with other issues? divorce, child custody, landlord disputes, etc? What about people who are not "indigent," but cannot afford the exorbitant fees of an attorney? How do they get help? Do you have any idea how many innocent people plead guilty because they cannot afford a trial? Or how many civil cases that lack merit settle out of court for the same reason? I would hope that even though you are not interested in current events and politics, you are interested in helping those less fortunate than yourself. When you start to see first-hand the injustices in the world, I would hope it would extend beyond simply helping the current client, to wanting to find a way to fix a system that is very messed up. And, if you don't have the time to commit to such causes, please make financial contributions to their efforts.

Hope you don't mind that I went off track a little. I wish you the best in your future endeavors!

I believe that current events and politics are two areas that a responsible adult in this country should have a working knowledge of.

To answer your question though, no. A successful lawyer does not have to be interested in current events and politics. Lawyers come in all shapes, sizes, colors and genders these days and that is very important in our diverse, yet specialized society. The questions to ask yourself are, why do you want to pursue a legal career path? What interests you about the law and its practice?

I have degrees in communications, education, languages and law now. The disciplines are intertwined. Before I went to law school, I was a professional international educator for a number of years. For the past couple of years, I have practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively. My ability to speak several languages and my knowledge of cross cultural communications come into play on a daily basis. They contribute to my practice and the level of satisfaction with which I work.

If you want a legal career, that's great, but you will be happier if you concentrate on your interests and develop them into areas of expertise that contribute directly to your success. The practice of law can be very stressful, so know yourself before you take the leap into law school. Good luck, boa sorte, buena suerte.