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a career in law

Guide to Law-Related Careers

If you are interested in the law there are a number of career options open to you. We have listed below a few law-related careers, with basic information on educational requirements and vocational possibilities.
Becoming a Lawyer

As to background education prior to attending law school, one should feel no constraints in terms of concentration as an undergraduate.  Usually a liberal arts education is beneficial; however, those with educational backgrounds in accounting, business, health care, engineering or philosophy majors become effective and successful attorneys as well. The most vital aspect of the undergraduate education for law school is receiving good grades in whatever field of concentration you choose, as well as developing your general communication skills.  The most important function of an attorney is the communication of ideas, both verbally and in writing. Other skills that you should be working to develop include a good vocabulary, a good memory, ability to listen, ability to express ideas and thoughts concisely and articulately, be able to comprehend complex written materials, and more.

Sometime prior to or during one's senior year in college, if going straight to law school, the LSAT admissions test, administered by the Law School Admission Council (http://www.lsac.org/) must be taken. Similar to the ACT or the SAT, the test is used by law schools in the admissions process.  Law schools determine admissions on the basis of a formula computing grades and the LSAT tests score together, as well as other factors.

If you think you may be seriously interested in a law career, you may wish to consider contacting local law offices, legal service organizations or other law-related entities to see if they require any assistance, even as a volunteer, during what time you have available. Any exposure you can gain in the field will benefit you in your future career.

Law school routinely takes three years of full-time study.

Applicants to the Bar usually must:  1) be at least 21 years of age; 2) have a high school diploma or the functional equivalent; 3) complete 90 semester hours in attendance at a qualified university; and 4) successfully attend and graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Having met these requirements, the applicant must be of good moral character and general fitness to practice law, pass the bar examination and the "ethics test," register with the State Supreme Court and be sworn in.
Becoming a Law Librarian

Law librarians work in a variety of legal settings, but most commonly in law schools, large private law firms or government libraries. This profession demands specialized training. The American Association of Law Libraries states that "85% of those working as law librarians have a graduate degree in library science," with most jobs requiring a master's degree from an American Library Association accredited institution. Nearly 30% of all law librarians also have a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree. It is often the case that law librarians at law schools also hold faculty status so they must have a law degree. There is usually no law degree requirement for law librarian positions in large law firms, corporations or public, county or governmental law libraries.

American Association of Law Libraries
53 W. Jackson, Suite 940
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312.939.4764
http://www.aallnet.org/services/
Becoming a Legal Secretary

Being a legal secretary can be demanding and rewarding work. While college degrees are helpful, they are not necessary. What is needed is a good work ethic with attention to accuracy and detail-oriented proficiency. This isn't just a typing job. You may be asked to complete complicated tax documents or important divorce or child custody papers to be filed in the court. Taking this work seriously is paramount. Accuracy, grammar and spelling are all important. It is also important to have a working knowledge of basic accounting skills, as you may be responsible for billing clients. Be familiar with a variety of office machines, computers and other technologies. Legal secretaries in small firms may be responsible for answering phones, making appointments, preparing documents, creating and maintaining complex filing systems so the lawyers are able to check for conflicts between clients. This position requires a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism.

Legal Secretaries International, Inc.
8902 Sunnywood Dr.
Houston, TX 77088
www.legalsecretaries.org
Becoming a Sign Language Interpreter for the Courts

Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between the deaf and/or hard of hearing population and people who can hear. Courthouse interpreters must remain detached and unemotional and must translate accurately and take great care to not modify meaning or tone. Court interpreters may work in a variety of settings, including attorney-client meetings, depositions, trials, sentencing hearings, and more. Court interpreters may interpret verbal conversations or may be asked to interpret written documents into American Sign Language (ASL). This profession usually requires specialized training. Interpreters must pay careful attention and understand what is being communicated, which means being familiar with courtroom procedures and terminology. Mental dexterity and a good memory are vital. High levels of professionalism and confidentiality are required. This profession is one that allows great flexibility in work hours and you may be asked to visit a variety of law offices or courtrooms. It should be noted that American Sign Language has its own grammatical rules, sentence structure, cultural nuances, idioms, etc, and involves much more than a simple literal translation. There is currently no certification or licensing of sign language interpreter; however, both the National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf offer certification for sign interpreters and have developed an exam.

National Association of Judiciary Interpreters
603 Stewart St., Suite 610
Seattle, Washington 98101
Phone: 206.267.2300
http://www.najit.org
Becoming a Court Reporter

Court reporters have the responsibility of recording everything that is said by all of the parties participating in formal trials. Courses on becoming a court reporter are taught at community colleges, four-year universities and at private business schools. These training programs can take two to four years. High school graduation is required, and it is important that court reporters have strong language skills with a good vocabulary. The National Court Reporter's Association has lists of schools that offer courses in court reporting.

National Court Reporters Association
8224 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna, Virginia 22182-3808
Phone: 703.556.6272
http://www.ncraonline.org/about/index.shtml
Becoming a Law-Enforcement Professional

Most law enforcement officers must meet certain minimum requirements to serve as police or state troopers. These may include a minimum age requirement of 21 years; must be a citizen of the United States, must have a valid driver's license, must not have been convicted of a felony, must be a high school graduate and may require an associate of arts or sciences degree or other college credit and/or work experience. Applicants may also have to pass physical examinations (including agility, vision and strength) and written tests.

There are numerous options for those interested in pursuing careers with the federal government. Because of the variety and complexity of job offerings, we recommend you research:

* The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) via www.fbi.gov (click on employment then click on support vacancies)
* The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) via www.jobs.irs.gov (click on other professional careers)
* The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) via www.dea.gov (click on job applicants)
* The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) via www.atf.gov (click on jobs then click on types of jobs at ATF)

There are numerous other professions that could be considered law-related. You could become a:

* Corrections Officer
* Forensic Scientist
* High School Law/Government/Political Science Teacher
* Human Resources/Personnel Director
* JAG Officer (Judge Advocate General) or Military Lawyer
* Legal Nurse Consultant
* Legal Researcher (Lexis/Nexus, Westlaw)
* Legislator or Other Elected Official
* Lobbyist
* Parole Officer or Probation Officer
* Private Investigator or Private Detective
* Transportation Security Screener/Customs Officer
* Victim Advocate

Additional information on many professions can be found through the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://bls.gov/home.htm and specific information for students can be found at http://bls.gov/k12/index.htm

Choosing a career in the law

Becoming a lawyer is a desirable career option for those who want to protect the rights of people as well as assist them with the legal issues they face.
The educational background of someone interested in the law is not a constraint as long as the person received good grades in high school and/or college and has good communications abilities. Other desirable skills include a good vocabulary, a good memory, the ability to listen, the ability to express ideas and thoughts concisely and accurately and the ability to comprehend complex written materials.
Most people who seek a law degree have also completed college. If a person is going straight from college to law school, the LSAT admissions test must be taken. The test is used by law schools in the admissions process. Many law schools determine admissions solely on the basis of a formula that computes a student's grades with his or her LSAT score.
Those who are seriously interested in a law career would benefit from working even as a volunteer for a law firm, legal service organization or other law-related entities to see if they require assistance.
Completing law school routinely takes three years of full-time study .
Once a student completes law school, he must pass a bar exam.

About the Author

Lisa Spitzer, CSW, MSW, CRC, is the energy behind AAA Attorney Referral Service. Lisa is a graduate of NYU School of Social Work and consulted at psychiatric, geriatric and physically disabled facilities for 10 years. She also did an undergraduate internship at a facility for the criminally insane and family court in downtown Brooklyn. Lisa Spitzer worked as a director of a geriatric facility for 3 years. Ms. Spitzer understands the frustrations of crisis situations. Life has become so complex that virtually everyone needs to consult with a lawyer at some time. In short, a well-chosen lawyer can be one of your greatest assets. Lisa is the owner of AAA attortney referral service.  aaaattorneyreferralservice.com