Personal Preparation
Before you decide whether law school is right for you, you should decide what about law school and a legal career appeals to you. Common reasons people mention for going to law school:
- The desire to help others;
- The prestige / compensation ;
- The intellectual challenge;
- Family pressure to attend and / or following in a parent's footsteps.
Whatever drives you, it should be something that can sustain you through the inevitable low points that you will encounter in your legal study or practice. The simple “I like to argue” motive will not get you through those long nights memorizing civil procedure rules. However, the ability and inclination to critically analyze facts and events, and then persuade others to your point of view are valuable and necessary for a life in the law.
Career Exploration and Outlook
Lawyers engage in a variety of activities and can be found in various work settings. The primary function is to provide legal assistance in the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Lawyers work for government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, service organizations, trade organizations or as judicial clerks. Some continue their education in other disciplines and some go on to teach others as professors in law or other subjects. The American Bar Association has many resources available on its website for prospective law students interested in learning more about the legal profession and various legal specialties as well as listings for various employment opportunities (see http://www.abanet.org/careercounsel/prelaw.html for more information).
Experiential Education
While a legal internship is not required for law school admission, it certainly
can enhance your education, give you a greater understanding of the profession
or help you decide that a legal career is not for you. Our legal competition
teams also offer students the chance to experience litigation, mediation
or appellable advocacy in regional and national tournaments.
Contact Dr. Champagne to find out
about opportunities available to UTD students.