Are You Certain You Want to go to Law School?The decision to attend law school should not be entered into lightly. Earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree involves a minimum of three years of unrelenting academic effort and intense dedication. Law School is also very expensive, and the current job market is extremely competitive. This is not meant to discourage you, but to ensure that your decision to pursue a career in law is an informed one. You are always welcome to visit Santa Clara University's Law School, sit in on a class and get a preview of "the law school experience." The booklet So You Want to Be a Lawyer is available at Orradre Library Reserve or can be purchased directly from Law Services. Be aware of alternatives to law school. You might consider the option of a graduate degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in your major. There are also a variety of two-year Master's programs in Business Administration, Public Administration, or Public Policy. You might also consider becoming a paralegal. A paralegal is a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive, professional quality legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. Paralegals are retained or employed by individual lawyers, law firms, governmental agencies, and other entities. Salaries are lower than for lawyers, but the time demands and stress of the job are usually much less burdensome. Current national trends indicate that formal paralegal education has become a requirement to secure paralegal employment, and a four-year college degree is the hiring standard in many markets. Proprietary schools and some colleges and universities award post-baccalaureate certificates. (For more information, see www.paralegals.org) Those aspiring to be lawyers should also be aware of the true nature of the legal profession. Unlike the attorneys depicted in movies and television and those who occasionally make the headlines of the nation's newspapers, the vast majority of American lawyers spend little time litigating. Rather, most members of the bar devote the bulk of their effort to other aspects of the law, such as research and preparation of opinion letters that give clients formal legal advice. A significant portion of American law school graduates do not even "practice the law." Instead, they occupy non-lawyer positions in business or government using their legal education only indirectly. Each student who looks toward graduation from law school as the final academic triumph would do well to absorb these facts. To further educate yourself about the practice of law, you should consider working at a law firm during the summer months or interning at a county government's public defender's office. Inquire in your department and in Career Services (Benson Center, 554-4421) about internship opportunities; for example, the political science department offers public service internships (for credit) in several county and city departments, including the public defender's office. Do not overlook lawyers as an excellent source of information. If you can, talk to a variety of lawyers who practice in different areas of law. You owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about law school and the legal profession. |
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