3 answers
zinathi
Student
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
1
Question
Updated
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Translated from Xhosa .
questions about a lawyer in Xhosa
questions about a lawyer in Xhosa
What inspired you to choose this profession?
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3 answers
Stefanie Underwood Tavaglione
lawyer
15
Answers
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Updated
Stefanie’s Answer
This is a great question! When I was younger, my grandfather always called me a "Philadelphia Lawyer" because I had an argument and answer for everything! So, I guess there was always a thought that I would be a lawyer... I ended up majoring in Sociology and English in college, with a certificate in Criminology, still not 100% certain that I would go to law school. After college, I worked for 5 years in law firms and a Prosecutor's office-- and after all of that experience, I decided for sure that I wanted to go to law school. I think I just really felt like I wanted to help people, and I also like reading, writing and yes, arguing... :-) I think if you are thinking you want to be a lawyer, it is important to know that it does involve a lot of reading, writing and analyzing. And if you are going to litigate, it also means being on your feet, arguing in front of people-- so you would need to like public speaking and debating in that case. But there are many areas of law to choose from -- so you can take your passions and find an area of law that incorporates them.
I hope this helped -- good luck!!
I hope this helped -- good luck!!
Colman McCabe
Counsel
4
Answers
Dublin, County Dublin
Updated
Colman’s Answer
Many thanks for the question as it did make me pause for thought as I think that the inspiration came to me late in my chosen career path.
When I was deciding on what course I should study at university, I picked Law on the basis that it was a well considered degree that could form the basis for a career in a number of different areas, including law, business, finance and consulting. During my time at university, there was no particular area of interest where I looked to focus on and so ended up continuing with my education in training to become a solicitor. At the time, I was becoming more and more interested in the business/commercial aspect of the law and was practicing in the M&A arena as a result.
After deciding to return home after a number of years abroad, the first opportunity that arose for me was working in-house in a financial institution. This move ensured that I became more involved in the day to day workings of the Bank, providing practical advice which interested me greatly. Seeing your input achieving actual results with the company inspired me to continue in this direction so the subsequent job changes have gotten me more and more involved in my organisation, so much so that my main role is to ensure that my team is actively focused on my company's strategy rather than providing day to day legal advice.
I suppose that this is just a long way of saying that the inspiration can come later on your career path but you do need to show an aptitude towards area you are looking to focus on (and not be distracted by compensation only)..
When I was deciding on what course I should study at university, I picked Law on the basis that it was a well considered degree that could form the basis for a career in a number of different areas, including law, business, finance and consulting. During my time at university, there was no particular area of interest where I looked to focus on and so ended up continuing with my education in training to become a solicitor. At the time, I was becoming more and more interested in the business/commercial aspect of the law and was practicing in the M&A arena as a result.
After deciding to return home after a number of years abroad, the first opportunity that arose for me was working in-house in a financial institution. This move ensured that I became more involved in the day to day workings of the Bank, providing practical advice which interested me greatly. Seeing your input achieving actual results with the company inspired me to continue in this direction so the subsequent job changes have gotten me more and more involved in my organisation, so much so that my main role is to ensure that my team is actively focused on my company's strategy rather than providing day to day legal advice.
I suppose that this is just a long way of saying that the inspiration can come later on your career path but you do need to show an aptitude towards area you are looking to focus on (and not be distracted by compensation only)..
Baljit Gill
tutor
29
Answers
Milpitas, California
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hello Z,
I can confidently affirm that obtaining my law degree was the most empowering decision I've ever made. This journey has enriched my life with diverse experiences, spanning across various fields like business, accounting, law, and even fashion (surprising, right?). Now, I find myself in the rewarding roles of mentor and teacher. From the moment I embarked on my academic journey, I knew I had a passion for law and a desire to apply it in multiple areas.
Here's a piece of advice I'd like to share: Embrace hard work, immerse yourself in the knowledge that's shared with you, and success will undoubtedly follow!
I can confidently affirm that obtaining my law degree was the most empowering decision I've ever made. This journey has enriched my life with diverse experiences, spanning across various fields like business, accounting, law, and even fashion (surprising, right?). Now, I find myself in the rewarding roles of mentor and teacher. From the moment I embarked on my academic journey, I knew I had a passion for law and a desire to apply it in multiple areas.
Here's a piece of advice I'd like to share: Embrace hard work, immerse yourself in the knowledge that's shared with you, and success will undoubtedly follow!