PreLaw: Career Exploration
Question:
How can I be sure law school and the practice of law is for me?
Answer:
Explore, ask questions, Extern, observe, but by all means consider thoroughly the concepts of law school and a law degree BEFORE putting yourself through the law application process and the financial burden and stress of a law school education.
U.Va. and a law school education will certainly help you build skills necessary to succeed in law, but no amount of education will help you enjoy things you hate. Check out the following list of basic skills necessary, and really ask yourself if you want to do them!
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Prioritizing
- Time Management
- Creativity
- Ability to Work With Others
- Analytical Skills
- Conflict Management
It may also be helpful for you to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you like to think of ways to solve other people’s problems?
- Do you enjoy working on research projects?
- Do you like writing papers?
- Do you enjoy speaking in front of people?
- Do you like thinking on your feet?
- Do you find history and current events interesting?
- Do you thrive in conflict situations?
- Do you work well under the pressure of deadlines?
- Do you juggle multiple tasks well?
- Do you enjoy a good argument for the sake of a good argument?
Tangible ways to explore a legal career while at U.Va.:
- Enroll in one or two undergraduate courses on legal topics. While the instructional method won't approximate the law school approach, you can at least determine if the subject matter appeals to you.
- Take advantage of opportunities to observe activities at the University of Virginia Law School. You can sit in on law school classes, observe the Moot court competition, serve as a juror for trial advocacy practice, or attend special forums and conferences.
- Join a prelaw society (see our extracurricular section for more info). These organizations sponsor speakers, panels, trips to law schools, prep tests, and other opportunities.
- Arrange ways to observe lawyers in action. Use your networking capabilities, ask friends of parents, friends of friends, etc. Write to political and government officials for a job. Visit trials in progress at courthouses. Extern through UCS or intern by using your own initiative. There are many ways to observe the practice of law in action but the important thing is to do it before you begin the law school application process.
- You may expand your exposure and understanding of law practice by reading books. We recommend you read the books from our book selection at the UCS Library.
- Search for law schools and other information.
- Coaching For Lawyers (created by Daniel Robert, J.D., P.C.C.) has some insightful questions which anyone considering the career of law should ask oneself.
- Research Types of Law Practices
Visit DC-area law schools
- American University Washington College of Law
- Visiting a school is an excellent way to learn about their student experience, facilities, location, and more. Thanksgiving, or Winter Break might be a great time to check out some law schools without having to travel very far. At American University's Washington College of Law, prospective students are invited to attend a law school class, tour the law school's educational facility, and attend an information session to answer your questions about the admissions process and financing your education. Class visits are available Monday - Friday, with the option of attending a class in contracts, civil procedure, or torts. For class times and locations, visit their website: http://www.wcl.american.edu/prospective.cfm. To RSVP, contact the Office of Admissions at 202/274-4101 or wcladmit@wcl.american.edu. Space is limited, so make sure to sign up before attending any of these events.
- George Washington University Law School
- At George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C., prospective students are invited to visit the law school Mon-Fri between 9am and 5pm. Admissions counselors are available for walk-in questions about the admissions process. Visiting students may also sit in on one 1st-year class of their choice (1st-year classes are: Fall - Contracts I, Torts, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure I; Spring - Contracts II, Property, Constitutional Law I, and Civil Procedure II). Once you have chosen a class, call or e-mail your selection to Billie Johnson 202/994-6277 at least 24 hours in advance of your visit. She will then obtain permission from the professor and send you a confirmation. During the spring semester, student-led tours are offered Monday through Thursday at 12pm, and Friday at 10am and 1pm. Prospective students are also welcome to do a self-guided tour. Visit http://www.law.gwu.edu/apply/visit.asp for course listings or additional information.
- U.Va. Law
- Every Friday this fall (from Sept 1 through Nov 21), prospective students of U.Va. Law are invited to sit in on a first-year class in Torts with Prof. James E. Ryan 11-11:50am, have lunch with current law students 12-1pm, take a student-guided tour of the Law School from 1 to 1:30pm, and attend an admissions information session and Q∓A with one of their admissions deans beginning at 1:30pm followed by a student life panel. On Mondays through Thursdays, prospective students are invited to tour the law school at 1:00pm and sit in on a Contracts or Civil Procedure class at 3:00pm. This is a great way to spend an afternoon finding out more about the law student experience! Visit http://www.law.virginia.edu/home2002/html/about/visit.htm or email the Admissions Office (lawadmit@virginia.edu) for more information.
