III. Is Law School for Me?
Legal Education
After Law School
Many lawyers end up dissatisfied with their occupation. Please ask yourself, why is that, and why will you be different?
There are many good reasons for going to law school. There are just as many reasons not to go. You will be committing yourself to three years that will leave the typical student with a mound of debt. Therefore, evaluate carefully your reasons for choosing whether to attend law school. You will find that motivation is a make it or break it factor in law school, and it begins by making careful decisions to which you are committed.
One available method of learning more about the practice of law is to Intern in a law office. Many Truman students have. Typically this is over the summer months, and you might be able to earn as many as 15 credits. In the Social Science Division, Dr. Vorkink is the person who oversees internships. He will want to make sure you have a position that provides an educational experience. Internships are also favoredby many law schools because they know an applicant has some idea of the future they are undertaking. Short of an internship experience, find trained attornies and talk to them: what do they like? what don't they like? what would they do differently? And read. Read some more.
In your second and third years, you will have more opportunity to choose elective courses, but still most law schools consider a legal education to be a general education: you do not "major" in something as you do in undergraduate years, although in plotting career paths, future litigators and future corporate attorneys end up in different elective courses. With the web at your fingers, visit a couple schools and see what they say about this (here is MU's statement in pdf format; here is a statement by UMKC ; and here is Iowa's statement on their curriculum. Feel free to google your preferred school).
Law classes are larger than the typical Truman undergraduate class; many law schools enroll an entering class of 200-500 student. The students are then grouped into smaller sections, commonly ranging from 50 to 75; it is this group of people with whom you will have all of your first year classes. Most law schools arrange for first year classes to include at least one small-section class of 20-30 students. Many students organize themselves into smaller study groups, as well.
Opportunities in the Field of Law
One of the selling features of a law degree is its versatility. Presidents, baseball managers, and attorneys have law degrees. While a legal education does not necessarily lead to the practice of law, most students enter into a related field and all law schools train for that practice.
The taxes you pay and the money it borrows allows the Federal Government to put together nice things like the Occupational Outlook Handbook online. Read what they have to say about the legal field.
The two main paths for practicing attorneys are private practice or the public sector.
Private Practice:
Public Sector:
a substantial employer of legal talent is the government, ranging from the federal to the state to the local levels. Many of these lawyers work for regulatory agencies of the federal or state government such as the Federal Trade Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. However, there are also opportunities with non-profit groups, public interest organizations and citizen advocacy groups.
For many, the attraction of the government public sector includes a more predictable work load and salary; many people also like the public service side of the public sector, from being a prosecutor to being a cause-lawyer.
There is no typical lawyer; asyou can see from above, different jobs will require different skills and relationships. However, all lawyers basically handle other people's affairs. This role requires not only certain skills, but also brings with it great responsibility.
The lawyer as an advocate must represent the client's point of view as persuasively as possible. Sometimes, lawyers must defend interests or positions with which they disagree. An advocate has a duty to present the best possible case for the client, regardless of a personal opinion. Lawyers, however, work under ethical standards and have the role of protecting the legal system from those who would lessen or distort it.
The lawyer also serves in the role of counselor, advisor and negotiator. In these instances, emphasis is on objectively untangling existing legal knots or preventing legal problems. Whether as advocate or advisor, lawyers serve as officers of the court and as public servants. Upon entering the practice, you will become an integral part of shaping and reshaping society. In that role, you will necessarily encounter both the satisfaction and frustration that accompany any great responsibility.