Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

Whether you have decided to apply to law school or are just considering law school as one of many possible options upon graduation, this booklet should be of use to you. What follows is a discussion of the ways in which you can prepare yourself for law school, the mechanics of applying and what you can expect once you are there.

It is possible that you have only a vague desire to attend law school but have heard that it is a good preparation for almost any career. On the other hand, your personal ambitions may be more refined, yet you still may be incorrectly assuming that law school is a necessary stepping stone to your goals. There is a wide range of fields such as public policy, urban and regional planning, criminal justice, social work and others that are law-related, but for which a legal education may not be necessary or the most appropriate training.

A. Why Law School?
Before choosing law as a career, it is important to decide why you are choosing to be a lawyer as well as to know what a lawyer actually does. If you have had a legal internship, you probably have considered both of these issues.

You may realize that the practice of law involves a great deal of research and detail. Many lawyers think of it as fitting pieces into a gigantic puzzle. A legal practice today is a business as well as profession. It involves billing in tenths of an hour, getting clients, working successfully with support staff, associates and partners, marketing yourself and your firm, and continually keeping abreast of the changes in the field.

You may not realize that the profession usually demands long hours. If you want to have ample time for leisure and family, law may not be the best choice for you. You do not, of course, have to work 70-hour weeks, but if you do not, you may not climb the partnership ladder. Know what is important to you. Being a lawyer involves much more than a large paycheck. This book is a starting place for learning more. We hope it will help you make an informed decision about law as a career as well as give you nitty-gritty information about the application process. For additional resources and individual counseling please contact CMC's Pre-law Advisor Young Kwak in the Career Services Center.

B. The Law School Experience
It is difficult to generalize about the law school experience since each school has its own identity. However, most law schools have a fairly standardized first-year program that usually covers the study of torts, contracts, property, criminal law, and civil procedure. Within the first year, there is little room for elective coursework, and most courses continue for the full academic year.

During the second and third years of law school, the vast majority of the coursework is elective and generally lasts a semester or a quarter, depending on the school's system. It is during the second and third years that clinical and internship experience may become available, and electives may determine for you your future line of work.

Law school is not a place to specialize in the same way that you choose a major. However, many students develop areas of specialization by taking a preponderance of courses in one field, such as International Law or Environmental Law. For the most part law schools prepare you to think like a lawyer and leave the preparation for the practice of law to on-the-job experience. Because law schools have come under attack for being "too academic," many have started clinical programs designed to give students "hands on experience." You will want to investigate the clinical possibilities at the law schools that interest you.

In order to become better acquainted with life as a law student, plan to visit law schools, attend classes and talk to as many students as possible. Make sure you attend as many law related workshops and programs as possible. Register for CMConnect early in your college career and indicate that Law is in your future educational plans. We use this system to inform students about upcoming law events. You can access the schedule for all presentations that are being held at CMC and other Claremont Colleges through CMConnect.

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