3 answers
Samira
Student
Dartford, England, United Kingdom
17
Questions
Asked
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Law School : is it that hard as people say?
I want to become a lawyer as part as my career (alongside becoming a high fashion, runway model and an actress) as it will provide a stable income, it is a career in which I can be challenged at and I would like to help people by stating my case. However, what is really putting me off is the fact that people put online how hard it is and how they find it extremely hard to do. I am a motivated, determined student (currently in year 10) and I have been always getting high grades. I will be, of course, up to the challenge but is it extremely hard as people make it out to be? Please advise! Thank you. #law #career #Oxford #Cambridge #lawyer
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3 answers
Brigid Bowser
attorney
5
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Brigid’s Answer
Law school (like all school) requires lots of reading, studying, and participation in class. However, if you are excited about the prospect of being a lawyer and you like to learn about the law, you will definitely enjoy it. Especially if you like reading/writing/discussing, you would definitely enjoy it. I would recommend picking a career based on your interest, so if you are interested in the law, it sounds like a fit!
Thanks! I do enjoy it so I hope that will make me enjoy all the work :)
Samira
Desiree Giler Mann
Attorney
166
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
If you are passionate about becoming a lawyer and willing to do the work, then it's not much harder than an undergraduate degree. In the U.S., the first year of law school sort of ... reprograms the way you think to take in facts, assess risk, apply the law, and support it with precedent. Once you get the hang of that, then it's much easier.
As others have stated, it is a lot of focused reading outside of class, which generally means devoting a lot of time outside the classroom.
Also the classroom experience is much different from most undergraduate courses - in the U.S., the law school professors tend to use the "Socratic Method" (you can look that up on-line) where the professor picks students (at random? or because you were late to class??) to answer questions, each follow-up question builds from the prior answer, sometimes leads the student to an absurd conclusion. It keeps student answering on their toes, but also helps the whole class see where the weakness in a case/argument/defense are. If you don't mind being the center of attention - you mentioned being an actress, so I presume that's no issue! - then that shouldn't be difficult. Sometimes your pride is a little wounded after a class where you were put on the spot and took positions that, eventually when teased out by the professor, proved to be ridiculous -- but that's a lesson you'll keep with you for life!
All that said, in the U.S. the bar exam - not law school but the exam required to become an attorney - was hands down the hardest test I've ever taken. Lots of studying will get you thru - if you've managed to graduate from law school, then you should have the required skills to pass, you just need to take it seriously and really commit to studying.
I note that you have a few other career aspirations, too. I would caution that law school, and your first few years of practice, often require single-minded focus to be successful. It's not often a part-time gig (at least until you can establish your credentials and set yourself up in a firm or solo practice that can accommodate a flexible work schedule). Most courtrooms and legal clients won't be terribly understanding if you have to ditch your legal work to walk the runway in Milan or audition for a movie. That said, you can stagger your career goals to focus on one at a time. A friend from law school was a history professor during the school year, and then worked the summers at a small local law firm with a narrow legal speciality, and her legal practice focused on document preparation with only occasional court appearances in the summer. I know others who are legal contractors to accommodate their law career and other life priorities. However, for contractors the trade-off is never leading the case or arguing before a court, but rather providing essential background support to the lawyers who are doing that. Hence, it is possible to craft a career path with the law and something else - it's just rather uncommon at big firms or for litigators/barristers, it requires you to be realistic about how to achieve that balance, and it takes lots of discipline.
Research the curriculum at local law schools you are considering
Using a good degree of skepticism about Hollywood magic, checkout some movies about the law school experiences (in order of MOST realistic to least); The Paper Chase (old, but accurate), Rounders, Legally Blonde
Talk to law students or lawyers about their experience - ask your parents, teachers, coaches, etc if they know anyone you can speak with about their law school days.
Look up models/actors who studied law ( e.g., Rebel Wilson, Gerard Butler, Gemma Chan, John Cleese) and read about their experiences.
As others have stated, it is a lot of focused reading outside of class, which generally means devoting a lot of time outside the classroom.
Also the classroom experience is much different from most undergraduate courses - in the U.S., the law school professors tend to use the "Socratic Method" (you can look that up on-line) where the professor picks students (at random? or because you were late to class??) to answer questions, each follow-up question builds from the prior answer, sometimes leads the student to an absurd conclusion. It keeps student answering on their toes, but also helps the whole class see where the weakness in a case/argument/defense are. If you don't mind being the center of attention - you mentioned being an actress, so I presume that's no issue! - then that shouldn't be difficult. Sometimes your pride is a little wounded after a class where you were put on the spot and took positions that, eventually when teased out by the professor, proved to be ridiculous -- but that's a lesson you'll keep with you for life!
All that said, in the U.S. the bar exam - not law school but the exam required to become an attorney - was hands down the hardest test I've ever taken. Lots of studying will get you thru - if you've managed to graduate from law school, then you should have the required skills to pass, you just need to take it seriously and really commit to studying.
I note that you have a few other career aspirations, too. I would caution that law school, and your first few years of practice, often require single-minded focus to be successful. It's not often a part-time gig (at least until you can establish your credentials and set yourself up in a firm or solo practice that can accommodate a flexible work schedule). Most courtrooms and legal clients won't be terribly understanding if you have to ditch your legal work to walk the runway in Milan or audition for a movie. That said, you can stagger your career goals to focus on one at a time. A friend from law school was a history professor during the school year, and then worked the summers at a small local law firm with a narrow legal speciality, and her legal practice focused on document preparation with only occasional court appearances in the summer. I know others who are legal contractors to accommodate their law career and other life priorities. However, for contractors the trade-off is never leading the case or arguing before a court, but rather providing essential background support to the lawyers who are doing that. Hence, it is possible to craft a career path with the law and something else - it's just rather uncommon at big firms or for litigators/barristers, it requires you to be realistic about how to achieve that balance, and it takes lots of discipline.
Desiree recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much, Desiree! This answer has been sooo helpful (thanks for the checklist), you really put everything into perspective and you’ve given me a lot to think about! THANK YOU 😄😄
Samira
Sal Salamey
Enterprise Risk Specialist
9
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Sal’s Answer
I would say it is a commitment. Law School is different for everybody, but you do need to be someone who can read lots of material. You will read over 100 pages everyday and you must be able to understand principles that come out of those readings. It can open many pathways to success, and I recommend it :)
Thank you for your answer! It will be hard but worth it :)
Samira