Being a law student involves more than some extra school work and has many unique stresses and requirements. Consider the following and determine whether becoming a lawyer is the best choice for you.
If you're planning to become a lawyer, there is a long
road ahead of you before you'll be in front of a judge and jury, arguing a
case. Being a law student involves more than some extra school work and has
many unique stresses and requirements. Consider the following and determine
whether becoming a lawyer is the best choice for you.
Financial stability
Law school can be really expensive. Don't
forget the painful fact that, instead of working and earning a living after
getting your first degree, you'll need to spend thousands of dollars for an
additional three years of schooling. Due to the stringent scholastic requirements
of law school, working while studying may be difficult.
Public speaking and the gift of words
A lawyer is expected to have confidence when dealing with
people and have the power to convince others of a certain side of a story. Imagine
yourself standing on the floor during courtroom hearings. Your words should be
convincing for those listening and ring with truth and common sense. Remember
to know your case and really have a passion for your argument. The jury needs
to believe what you are saying, and they can't do that if you don't believe in
yourself.
Extraordinary analytical thinking
A law student needs to have a quick and analytical mind to
resolve the most complex situations. Many students are tasked with formulating a good argument for a case that will be presented
by the law professor, as a method of testing out their argumentative and
reasoning abilities.
Long working hours
Law students can't spend a lot of their time going to bars
and enjoying extra down time, and spend most of their waking hours studying
instead. Burnout is common, but by properly allocating your time towards
necessities and study alone, you can avoid this problem to a certain extent.
Choosing your specialty
This choice should be made with both the heart and the
mind -- after all, no one wants to hate their job. Ask yourself what drives you
to go to work every day. What specialty stands out to you? You know you want to
become a lawyer in the Lone Star state, but should you be a divorce lawyer, a
criminal lawyer, or a Texas deportation lawyer? Consult with your closest
colleagues, friends and perhaps your professors but, ultimately, go with your
gut!
If you think that you're ready to pursue your dream of becoming
a lawyer, go for it! Just make sure that you know what the process entails when
you sign up.
