2 answers
Chiamaka
Student
2
Questions
Asked
304 views
Why is law hard ?
I want to study law and linguistics in college
How do I go about it?
Login to comment
2 answers
Iryna Tam
Writer, copywriter
188
Answers
Hagerstown, Maryland
Updated
Iryna’s Answer
Hello!
Studying law can be challenging due to several factors:
Why Law is Considered Difficult
Complexity of Legal Language:
Legal texts often contain complex terminology and jargon that can be difficult to understand without thorough study.
Volume of Material:
Law students must read and analyze a vast amount of case law, statutes, and legal principles, which can be overwhelming.
Critical Thinking and Analysis:
Law requires strong analytical skills to interpret laws, apply them to various situations, and construct legal arguments.
Understanding Different Systems:
Familiarity with multiple legal systems (e.g., civil vs. common law) and jurisdictions adds to the complexity.
Analytical Reasoning:
Students must learn to think like a lawyer, which involves synthesizing information, evaluating evidence, and anticipating counterarguments.
Ethical Considerations:
Law involves navigating ethical dilemmas and responsibilities, which can be legally and morally complex.
Studying Law and Linguistics
If you want to study both law and linguistics, here are steps to help you pursue this path effectively:
Research Programs:
Look for universities that offer dual degree programs or combined degrees in law and linguistics. Some institutions might have interdisciplinary studies that incorporate both fields.
Prerequisites:
Ensure you understand the admission requirements for the law program. Take relevant courses in high school that prepare you for legal studies, such as English, History, and debate or public speaking.
Undergraduate Degree:
Consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a field related to law or linguistics, such as Political Science, English, or Communication. This will provide a strong foundational knowledge for both areas.
Join Related Clubs or Societies:
Participate in debate clubs, moot court competitions, or linguistics societies to gain practical experience and enhance your skills.
Internships and Volunteer Opportunities:
Seek internships in law firms, courts, or organizations that work with legal linguistics or language in the law. This offers practical experience and networking opportunities.
Cross-Disciplinary Projects:
Engage in projects or research that explore the intersection of law and linguistics, such as legal language analysis or the role of language in legal settings.
Graduate Studies:
After completing your undergraduate degree, consider pursuing a law degree (JD) after taking the LSAT, and then you can follow it up with specialized studies in linguistics if interested.
Networking:
Connect with professionals in both fields through academic events, online forums, or internships. This can help you learn about career opportunities and gain insights into the fields.
Both law and linguistics are fascinating fields with their own complexities. By carefully planning your education and gaining relevant experience in both areas, you can effectively prepare for a multidisciplinary career that involves both law and linguistics. Good luck with your studies!
Studying law can be challenging due to several factors:
Why Law is Considered Difficult
Complexity of Legal Language:
Legal texts often contain complex terminology and jargon that can be difficult to understand without thorough study.
Volume of Material:
Law students must read and analyze a vast amount of case law, statutes, and legal principles, which can be overwhelming.
Critical Thinking and Analysis:
Law requires strong analytical skills to interpret laws, apply them to various situations, and construct legal arguments.
Understanding Different Systems:
Familiarity with multiple legal systems (e.g., civil vs. common law) and jurisdictions adds to the complexity.
Analytical Reasoning:
Students must learn to think like a lawyer, which involves synthesizing information, evaluating evidence, and anticipating counterarguments.
Ethical Considerations:
Law involves navigating ethical dilemmas and responsibilities, which can be legally and morally complex.
Studying Law and Linguistics
If you want to study both law and linguistics, here are steps to help you pursue this path effectively:
Research Programs:
Look for universities that offer dual degree programs or combined degrees in law and linguistics. Some institutions might have interdisciplinary studies that incorporate both fields.
Prerequisites:
Ensure you understand the admission requirements for the law program. Take relevant courses in high school that prepare you for legal studies, such as English, History, and debate or public speaking.
Undergraduate Degree:
Consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a field related to law or linguistics, such as Political Science, English, or Communication. This will provide a strong foundational knowledge for both areas.
Join Related Clubs or Societies:
Participate in debate clubs, moot court competitions, or linguistics societies to gain practical experience and enhance your skills.
Internships and Volunteer Opportunities:
Seek internships in law firms, courts, or organizations that work with legal linguistics or language in the law. This offers practical experience and networking opportunities.
Cross-Disciplinary Projects:
Engage in projects or research that explore the intersection of law and linguistics, such as legal language analysis or the role of language in legal settings.
Graduate Studies:
After completing your undergraduate degree, consider pursuing a law degree (JD) after taking the LSAT, and then you can follow it up with specialized studies in linguistics if interested.
Networking:
Connect with professionals in both fields through academic events, online forums, or internships. This can help you learn about career opportunities and gain insights into the fields.
Both law and linguistics are fascinating fields with their own complexities. By carefully planning your education and gaining relevant experience in both areas, you can effectively prepare for a multidisciplinary career that involves both law and linguistics. Good luck with your studies!
I will use this advice as I prepare for my career.
Chiamaka
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
41
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hey Chiamaka,
(1) Why is law hard? It's hard because the issues that lawyers deal with are often very complicated and may contain complex nuances that require a lot of legal research and technical knowledge in the relevant areas of law. In cases where there are simply no legal precedent to rely on, lawyers will have to find similar cases and argue that the facts in those cases are analogous to the present case and should warrant a similar result. Additionally, the choice of word matters in law. An entire case can turn on the interpretation and meaning of a single word, so perhaps that's where your interest in linguistics might come in handy. Sometimes laws are drafted with the intention of being as clear and specific as to prevent ambiguity, however the result is often a bunch of words that makes sense when read individually, but when strung together reads like a complete nonsensical word salad to non-lawyers (and sometimes even lawyers).
(2) How do you go about studying law and linguistics in college? If you're in the US, you cannot go to law school until you have completed an undergraduate degree. So you could begin first by going to college for linguistics, and while there you could start prepping for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) during your junior or senior year. There are no prerequisites for going to law school, but a strong foundation in certain areas could give you an advantage during your first year. Consider taking college classes in writing, history, government, and public speaking. You can plan to take these anyway to fulfil your general education requirement. Reach out to practicing attorneys in you area and learn about what they do. Law school is an expensive commitment so you'd want to make sure law is something you would actually enjoy before diving into it. If you're located in a jurisdiction outside of the U.S., consider doing some research to see what the requirements are for going to law school.
Wishing you the best!
(1) Why is law hard? It's hard because the issues that lawyers deal with are often very complicated and may contain complex nuances that require a lot of legal research and technical knowledge in the relevant areas of law. In cases where there are simply no legal precedent to rely on, lawyers will have to find similar cases and argue that the facts in those cases are analogous to the present case and should warrant a similar result. Additionally, the choice of word matters in law. An entire case can turn on the interpretation and meaning of a single word, so perhaps that's where your interest in linguistics might come in handy. Sometimes laws are drafted with the intention of being as clear and specific as to prevent ambiguity, however the result is often a bunch of words that makes sense when read individually, but when strung together reads like a complete nonsensical word salad to non-lawyers (and sometimes even lawyers).
(2) How do you go about studying law and linguistics in college? If you're in the US, you cannot go to law school until you have completed an undergraduate degree. So you could begin first by going to college for linguistics, and while there you could start prepping for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) during your junior or senior year. There are no prerequisites for going to law school, but a strong foundation in certain areas could give you an advantage during your first year. Consider taking college classes in writing, history, government, and public speaking. You can plan to take these anyway to fulfil your general education requirement. Reach out to practicing attorneys in you area and learn about what they do. Law school is an expensive commitment so you'd want to make sure law is something you would actually enjoy before diving into it. If you're located in a jurisdiction outside of the U.S., consider doing some research to see what the requirements are for going to law school.
Wishing you the best!