Goint to law school...any advice?

[Jensen]

Im going to law school in a few months, I don’t know how is going to be like, but I expect it will be great.

But… something that worries me its that I don’t know how to be prepared for it.
I always try to be prepared for everything I do, if I have a lacking skill that it will be require in a future then I develop it before I need it, but this time I don’t know what’s going to be require for be a GREAT lawyer.

[Sam988]

Youre gonna need some good reading skills i guess... to get all that heavy law information (argh)

For reading try photoreading, im trying it myself, havent been very succesful yet, but i believe the system works after you spend some time on it


http://www.stevepavlina.com/photoreading/

[Iff]

I am considering taking law studies as a second major myself. Could be interesting, can be useful in my primary major and being a lawyer is a very possible future livelihood.

I believe that if you want to become great at practising law you should develop yourself at least in the following areas: a) memory - you definitely have to remember a lot of information, so any memory training exercises are a must and effective and/or fast reading skills can help a lot; b) semiotics - can also refer to interpreting words and phrases - you must be able to look at a sentence and come up with tens of different ways you can interpret this in your language... a great part of law studies is dedicated to interpreting laws in different (and right ) ways; c) nitpicking at details - it helps being the one who corrects others and everyone hates... you must have a keen eye for errors, loopholes, and comparing situations; d) speaking skills - you must be prepared and able to make yourself clear to others and willing to debate over details to get your way... although always make sure to stop when you know that you're wrong and suspect that others might find that out.
Nevertheless, every skill is learnable and that's what law school is for. So don't worry about it too much. And all the best.

[ZHereford]

Jensen, that's great advice from Sam988 and Iff. Also taking philosophy is recommended in some law schools and required in others because it teaches you logic and deductive reasoning which is a must if you want to be a great lawyer.

[Stu]

You have to learn how to spell! ('Goint')

Law School isn't easy, I know a few people in the program at my school and they definitely don't mess around, its a serious program.

The only thing I can suggest apart from the obvious is to maybe check out Toastmasters in regards speaking skills, which come in handy in so many different ways, not just getting in front of a big crowd and speaking.

Best of luck with law school, where are you going?

[Volunteer]

you could hang around used car salemen and learn to swim with the sharks

[Andeh]

Good luck jensen, your in for a long and boring ride :P

[somaziro]

just graduated from a top tier law school. here is the low down. law school is not as bad as people say it is, it is just like any other school. if you want to make the good grades you have to work harder than the other students. if you want to just get by, thats just your standard go to class, take notes, and study every once in awhile. if you don't want to fail - thats easy, you have to try to fail.

don't worry about preparing for law school. basically your first year everything is pretty much mapped out for you and you will be taking the basic courses that everyone has to take. the style of the classes will most likely be retarded and you won't learn much except that you overprepare everyday because you are going to be afraid to be called on.

if you want to actually understand the subjects (and you will) you need to go to class, pay attention etc. but you need to find old BAR/BRI books (these are the books you get in the pre-bar study class in the summer before the bar) they will make your life alot easier. you will actually understand the subject and do well on the final (the only grade you are going to get).

my advice is to make sure that you have a life during law school so that you don't feel like you wasted 3 years of your life and you are not miserable for 3 years of your life.

If you have any questions, PM me =)

ps - back to studying, have the bar in a week!

[Jensen]

I see, i tough about the reading and speaking skills and its something im already working on it.
I have read some law books and I totaly love it, my friends say its bored as hell but not for me, i really enjoy it, thats why im gonna go to law school after all.


@Stu: im going to harvard
@ZHereford: you right, thats sometime im gonna look for.

thanks for the advices everybody

[HowlingDao]

One Word

Dont

I work as a paralegal and have since 2001. I have never seen a group of people who are more depressed and anxious as lawyers. these folks are the most miserable group of people I have ever been around. I have worked for 2 major firms and these people hate their lives. they try to fill out the misery with expensive cars houses or wives. Most have at least 2.

If u must go please do something to help others with your degree. Just dont be another leach on the economy of the country.

Good Luck!

[oharrell]

I'm thinking of going into law- so tell us how it all goes and have fun! Oh, what kind of lawyer? Family (ugh..), business, entertainment, etc?

[driven]

Law school can be difficult or not depending on your skill set. I recommend Steve's audio and written material on progressing through college as fast as possible. Also, law school does not prepare you for or resemble law practice.

My recommendation is to use your time in school to examine your values, beliefs and goals. Steve has lots of great resources on this site. In particular look at the discussions of polarity, beliefs, and time management.

Law practice will consume a massive amount of your time and energy (on all levels) so it is very important that you find an area that matches your strengths, goals, and personality type. Use your time in school to explore as many areas of practice as you can.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Jensen

im going to harvard

Congratulation to you... my son is a Harvard graduate... and I know how tough it is to get in there...

However... you have to get yourself a spell checker for your PC... I use ieSpell... you can download it free here... and they won't spam you...

The very best of luck to you... and if I'm ever in the pokey... I'll know who to call...

.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by HowlingDao

One Word

Dont

I work as a paralegal and have since 2001. I have never seen a group of people who are more depressed and anxious as lawyers. these folks are the most miserable group of people I have ever been around. I have worked for 2 major firms and these people hate their lives. they try to fill out the misery with expensive cars houses or wives. Most have at least 2.

There is some truth in these words. If you surf around, you'll fnd a couple of interesting studies concluding things like, the most depressed professionals are lawyers; the professionals most likely to be alcoholic are lawyers; the professionals most likely to be suicidal are lawyers etc.

I was a lawyer myself. I quit to join investment banking, which is where I work now. I know another lawyer who quit to bake chocolate cakes for a living.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

If you surf around, you'll fnd a couple of interesting studies concluding things like, the most depressed professionals are lawyers; the professionals most likely to be alcoholic are lawyers; the professionals most likely to be suicidal are lawyers etc.

External influences and conditions have very little to do with how we feel and on the degree of personal happiness...

Dan Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist and a TED Talk speaker challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want.

He says “Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel real, enduring happiness, he says, even when things don't go as planned. He calls this kind of happiness "synthetic happiness," and he says it's "every bit as real and enduring as the kind of happiness you stumble upon when you get exactly what you were aiming for."

For a wonderful and free twenty minutes video where Gilbert explain his theory, simply click here... I believe that it is a "must see" for everyone...

.

[Tristan]

Hi,

Whenever we are faced with the unexpected, one of the best ways of preparing for it is simply partnering up with someone who has either gone through it or is going through it now already. So what I am saying is find yourself a mentor.

This tactic holds true regardless of what you are trying to achieve, be it law school, sports, or entrepreneurship. You DON'T want to recreate the wheel for yourself because it is inefficient. Stand on the shoulders of those who have already been there and you will save yourself a lot of hardache.

You would be surprised how many people will take you under their wing because those that are successful enjoy helping others do the same.

Additionally, I would suggest learning all you can about time management. In fact, stevepavlina.com is a great reference source of information on this topic. Time management skills are crucial in law school because of all the assignments and learning that you have to budget in your day--and it prepares you for managing your time if you choose to practice as an attorney later on.

[somaziro]

Originally Posted by driven

Law school can be difficult or not depending on your skill set. I recommend Steve's audio and written material on progressing through college as fast as possible. Also, law school does not prepare you for or resemble law practice.

My recommendation is to use your time in school to examine your values, beliefs and goals. Steve has lots of great resources on this site. In particular look at the discussions of polarity, beliefs, and time management.

Law practice will consume a massive amount of your time and energy (on all levels) so it is very important that you find an area that matches your strengths, goals, and personality type. Use your time in school to explore as many areas of practice as you can.

from what i have seen i completely agree with this statement.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Shamou

External influences and conditions have very little to do with how we feel and on the degree of personal happiness...

I understand your point, but then the majority of my friends are lawyers. While conditions will vary, the lawyer's working conditions are often characterised by very long hours; high liability; very little room to make errors; pressure to meet billing targets; leave that you cannot take because you're too busy etc etc.

I know a lawyer who went into labour and brought her secretary and laptop to the hospital delivery room. While giving birth, she continued to dictate notes to her secretary, so that her USD$450,000,000 bond issuance transaction could close on time.

It really isn't very conducive to personal happiness to work like that.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

It really isn't very conducive to personal happiness to work like that.

Obviously living like that is not for everyone... however I have two friends who are judges and a few who are lawyers... and I have never heard them complain or say that they did not like their job...

But, I also know lawyers who work as real estate agents... and various other jobs... but I also know many medical doctors who are now politician... so go figure...

But, one fact remains, I do believe that law school is a good formation for life... no matter what you intend to do with it... certain better than trying to be another of the zillion bloggers...

.

[somaziro]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I understand your point, but then the majority of my friends are lawyers. While conditions will vary, the lawyer's working conditions are often characterised by very long hours; high liability; very little room to make errors; pressure to meet billing targets; leave that you cannot take because you're too busy etc etc.

I know a lawyer who went into labour and brought her secretary and laptop to the hospital delivery room. While giving birth, she continued to dictate notes to her secretary, so that her USD$450,000,000 bond issuance transaction could close on time.

It really isn't very conducive to personal happiness to work like that.

It all depends on what type of lawyering you do. there are plenty of lawyers that work 40 hours a week, they don't make the big bucks, but they also are not starving. There are also lawyers who work at smaller firms that have reasonable billable hour requirements.

For the most part I think that all the negative stereotypes come from lawyers that work in large firms, or were not picky enough when they were job hunting.