Law school offers you the chance to develop the mindset of a legal practitioner. Here you’ll learn to break down legal cases, apply existing legislation to them and analyze issues through IRAC-style writing exercises.
Enrollment
Some individuals looking to have an impactful career choose government service as lawyers or policymakers; academics who develop legal theories; or effective altruists seeking a pathway that allows them to have positive effects in priority cause areas may find the work attractive as a career choice.
Decision-making can be challenging for many people in an environment of great uncertainty about how their careers might develop. One in two law school graduates don’t land jobs as lawyers nine months post graduation and big firms have yet to return to pre-Great Recession levels in terms of employment of graduates, making it hard for students to justify risk and cost associated with law school degrees – especially Black and Hispanic students, with debt that can be overwhelming; furthermore they often lack opportunities for retraining or switching careers after graduating from law school.
Admissions
Law school can be an extremely time-consuming, costly endeavor that demands keeping an exemplary GPA in college and passing both LSAT and bar exam exams with flying colors. But beyond these hurdles lie other difficulties like heavy workload and long hours that often leave graduates exhausted after graduation.
As part of their three-year law school experience, most students participate in internships (typically during the summer following their 2L year) in government offices, nonprofit organisations and both large and small firms. While these internships may be unpaid, certain law schools provide funding specifically for internships focused on public interest issues.
Many law schools provide academic credit for hands-on legal work performed through clinics and externships, in addition to internships. Furthermore, many courses at law school rely heavily on performance on multi-hour essay final exams – it is common practice among law students to join study groups that share notes among themselves in order to help each other pass these tests more easily.
Costs
Although interest in law school is on the rise, its degree comes with a hefty price tag for most would-be scholars. On average, students spend on average $206,178 to attend law school – tuition and living expenses included – over four years; first-year costs can be particularly costly so many take on jobs to fund their education.
Students can gain hands-on legal experience through various activities, such as clinical courses, externships, summer fellowships, pro bono work and moot court. Such experiences will also help students prepare for the bar exam – which must be passed in order to become lawyers.
An LLB degree does not guarantee employment; according to an American Bar Association report, one third or more graduates from 30 schools did not find full-time work nine months post graduation. If schools enroll large classes without consideration of job market demands, more graduates may end up taking lower-paying public sector jobs instead, restricting both their options and impact.
Workforce
Recent years have witnessed an improvement in law school graduates’ career prospects despite decreased enrollment; however, employment still is not guaranteed. Large firms tend to offer lucrative employment opportunities with secure pay packages for graduates; many graduates also work in government agencies.
Students should develop strong study habits and prepare themselves for an intensive academic program. Students should also make use of all available opportunities at law schools for networking and professional development – such as law review journals and moot court competitions – which offer great ways to meet fellow students while getting feedback on their work.
Fostering relationships among your classmates can help ensure your success in law school. Your classmates can assist with legal research, offer advice regarding legal matters and support you through any difficult times during law school life. They can even be great resources when it comes to finding job opportunities!
