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What helped you find your calling?

I'm in 9th grade I'm thinking of becoming a lawyer but I don't know what type, what helped you find the law you wanted?

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Terri’s Answer

Many lawyers don’t choose the type of law they will practice until they are in law school—or even after they graduate and start practicing! You will have opportunities to meet lawyers and learn about their practice, to explore different courses, and to intern with firms and agencies when you go to law school. Each of these experiences will help you decide what areas of law interest you most and what type of practice you hope to pursue as a lawyer. Until then, focus on strong grades and extracurricular activities that will help you in your college applications. And when you are in college, take a variety of classes (particularly ones that require writing and analysis) so you are well prepared for law school. Good luck!
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DENNIS’s Answer

Hi Ja'Cara: Oooh - tough question. Especially for a 9th grader!!
As odd as this may sound - your calling finds you just as much as you find your calling. Let me tell you a story... Years ago before I went to law school I worked in this office helping people get jobs. A man came in wearing a 3 piece suit and asked about this job. The man had a Phd in Business and hated it. The job he wanted was a low level job he was over qualified for. We had coffee and talked and he told me his Dad had forced him into the business field and he hated it. We parted friends and he did not go after the job he came in about.
The point is...your calling finds you. You need to listen to yourself and do the things you like doing. In law school I took all the required courses and worked 30 hours a week. I had no idea what I would do if and when I graduated. In the 9th grade I played sports - all through high school and college I was on a team. I found that I liked that and trial work was the most like sports. That's where I landed and loved being a trial lawyer.
I know a ton of lawyers who hate being lawyers. It is a tough, stressful job. However they push on because they have to! The point - again - be true to yourself and listen to what your mind and heart are telling you. If you listen your calling will find you!
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Jennifer’s Answer

Hi Ja'Cara, I was kind of like this. By the time I was a high school freshman I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but the areas of law I thought I wanted to pursue changed several times over the years. However, the path to law school looked fairly similar no matter what. So, I would say just keep pursuing that path toward law school and you will have plenty of time to explore what area of the law is the right fit for you. It even might change once you are practicing. Also, talk to lawyers in all sorts of fields and ask them about their jobs and their path! I personally thought I wanted to do something more towards being in a district attorneys office one day. Then, as I swam in college and was very involved in leadership opportunities and NCAA legislation and even ended up coaching for a year... I realized that I still wanted to go to law school, but I didn't want to leave the world of sports. That's when I discovered in house roles in the sports industry. During law school I interned for the San Jose Sharks and the Pac12 conference and I worked at IRONMAN after law school. Just recently I made an industry switch and I am now at Chegg! It's never too late to continue figuring out what you want to do.
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Regan’s Answer

Great question, Ja'Cara! I agree with the feedback from prior responders: (1) many pre-law students have a general interest in being a lawyer and don't know the specific type of law they want to practice, and (2) even those who think they know what they want to do may end up somewhere unexpected. I was motivated to become a lawyer in part because I was inspired by the impact attorneys had during the civil rights movement and I love to think critically, but I had no clue what type of law I wanted to practice. Like Jennifer, I spoke with attorneys practicing in different fields and also thought about my own personality, including what motivates me and the environments in which I'm most likely to thrive. My favorite classes in law school were not what I would have expected and I'm glad I didn't try to declare a path before the right path found me. I also learned through trial and error in legal internships, clinics and similar experiences what I liked and didn't like about being an attorney. So if you're pretty sure you want to be an attorney but don't know which kind, don't worry -- you have plenty of time to explore and decide. And even once you decide, circumstances change and you may find you've pivoted once again. Enjoy the journey!
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