| When you see all these handsome Lawyers in TV | | | | courses in fields such as tax, labor, or |
| series like LA Law, sitting in their fancy | | | | corporate law. Law students often acquire |
| offices, driving these flashy cars, have you | | | | practical experience by participating in |
| ever realized what they have been through in | | | | school-sponsored legal clinic activities; in |
| terms of time, years of education, money, | | | | the school's moot court competitions, in |
| Certifications etc'. | | | | which students conduct appellate arguments; |
| | | | in practice trials under the supervision of |
| Let me Describe to you the Lawyers course of | | | | experienced lawyers and judges; and through |
| training. Formal educational requirements for | | | | research and writing on legal issues for the |
| lawyers include a 4-year college degree, 3 | | | | school's law journal. |
| years in law school, and the passing of a | | | | |
| written bar examination. | | | | Law school graduates receive the degree of |
| | | | juris doctor (J.D.) as the first professional |
| Competition for admission to most law schools | | | | degree. Advanced law degrees may be desirable |
| is intense. prospective lawyers should | | | | for those planning to specialize, research, |
| develop proficiency in writing and speaking, | | | | or teach. Some law students pursue joint |
| reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking | | | | degree programs, which usually require an |
| logically-skills needed to succeed both in | | | | additional semester or year of study. Joint |
| law school and in the profession. | | | | degree programs are offered in a number of |
| | | | areas, including law and business |
| Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary | | | | administration or public administration. |
| background is recommended. Courses in | | | | |
| English, foreign languages, public speaking, | | | | After graduation, lawyers must keep informed |
| government, philosophy, history, economics, | | | | about legal and nonlegal developments that |
| mathematics, and computer science, among | | | | affect their practice. Currently, 40 States |
| others, are useful. Students interested in a | | | | and jurisdictions mandate continuing legal |
| particular aspect of law may find related | | | | education (CLE). Many law schools and State |
| courses helpful. For example, prospective | | | | and local bar associations provide continuing |
| patent lawyers need a strong background in | | | | education courses that help lawyers stay |
| engineering or science, and future tax | | | | abreast of recent developments. |
| lawyers must have extensive knowledge of | | | | |
| accounting. | | | | The practice of law involves a great deal of |
| | | | responsibility. Individuals planning careers |
| Acceptance by most law schools depends on the | | | | in law should like to work with people and be |
| applicant's ability to demonstrate an | | | | able to win the respect and confidence of |
| aptitude for the study of law, usually | | | | their clients, associates, and the public. |
| through good undergraduate grades, the Law | | | | Perseverance, creativity, and reasoning |
| School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of | | | | ability also are essential to lawyers, who |
| the applicant's undergraduate school, any | | | | often analyze complex cases and handle new |
| prior work experience, and, sometimes, a | | | | and unique legal problems. |
| personal interview. | | | | |
| | | | Lawyers held about 695,000 jobs in 2002. |
| During the first year or year and a half of | | | | About 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, |
| law school, students usually study core | | | | either in law firms or in solo practices. |
| courses, such as constitutional law, | | | | Most of the remaining lawyers held positions |
| contracts, property law, torts, civil | | | | in government and with corporations and |
| procedure, and legal writing. In the | | | | nonprofit organizations. |
| remaining time, they may elect specialized | | | | |