how did law school become so important?
474058
HAHAHA, as a law student I think irdll's answer is hilarious... Sure if you believe in ridiculous stereotypes, yeah, we all want money.  But there are lots of lawyers who take public interest jobs, work with the ACLU, etc.  Lawyers are the ones who make sure your rights aren't trampled on on a daily basis, products are safe for you to use on the shelf, and keeps us from all getting out phones wiretapped.\n\nOk, there's a few things increasing the numbers of applications to law school.  The economy is one of them... it is harder to get a good job and make money unless you have a higher degree - graduate school is expensive, you are gathering debt while you are going, and you aren't bringing any income in during that time.  Doctors can make a lot of money when they graduate, but they're in school, residency, etc for 5 or more years after their bachelor's.  Lawyers have 3 years of school, then they can go out and pay off their debt, and be more comfortable. Also, I live in SoCal, where to have a "middle class" household you need a house that will cost you at least $500k in this market, and both parents need to work and earn at least $60k a year, if not more, just to get by comfortably.  Most lawyers aren't rich, they have more money than others, yes, but they also work twice as hard.\n\nAlso, lawyers are always in demand.  Everyone is always suing everyone, and with current issues like living wills (think Terri Schiavo), abortion, the increase in e-commerce, technology and the need for new patents, there are plenty of exciting areas to explore.\n\nIf you are asking why law school became important in order to work in a legal field (your question is a bit vague), you can check out the history of the legal field on wiki, etc.  However, some schools used to offer legal degrees without a bachelors many years ago (it wasn't the same Juris Doctorate you get at law school today).  But since the legal field is so increasingly important, and states have the need to license and endorse attorneys (American Bar Association, various state bars) there needs to be an approved type of institution to regulate the minumum educatiional guidelines.\n\nI'm not sure if I have answered your question, but hopefully I've given you something to think about.
811829
Law is the fabric of democracy.  Not everyone needs to be an expert (even lawyers often know relatively little about areas outside their specialization) but knowledge of the law--or, more aptly, knowledge of how to FIND the law when needed in a given situation--empowers the inidvidual to assert his rights and to obtain the benefits that our wonderful system provides.
220726
When you work on your bachelors, you may want to pursue a pre-law degree if your school offers it.  However, no particular degree is needed to go to law school, so pick something interesting.  Math, science, and engineering majors are in demand for law school because that background is needed to be an intellectual property attorney.  Admissions boards like to see unique degrees, a poli sci major is something that everyone has, so it is sometimes better to stand out.  Pick something you enjoy studying, because you may decide in a few years you don't want to go to law school, and you can use your BA for something else.\n\nWhen you go to law school, that's where you earn your JD (juris doctorate).  It's an additonal 3 years after your BA.  Study hard and start thinking about studying for your LSATs in your junior year.
368381
It keeps you busy, but it is actually a lot of fun as well.  We find plenty of time to study and play.  And it goes by very quickly... I am starting to prepare for finals of my first year, and it feels like I just started.  There is lots of reading, you have to write a few papers, but you get used to it.\n\nI posted this answer in reply to a similar question:\n\nI am a 1L, and it is not as bad as I thought. It depends on how challenging your school is. Yes, there is lots of reading, and professors that call on you with the Socratic method, but you get used to it. The hardest thing is just time management.\n\nOn the other hand it is lots of fun. Most schools will have sections with the same group in all the same classes. It's a lot like high school - you get to know your classmates really well, there's plenty of gossip and dating, and you feel like you have so much to learn. \n\nBut law school is really about training your brain to think like a lawyer - listen to the type of questions your professor asks, and you will be following the same lines of thinking in your exams. You will also learn how to research.\n\nYou can take a law school prep course from BarBri for a crash course in briefing and exam techniques, but many schools will also have workshops on this in the beginning of the year.\n\nThe best thing to do is work hard, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Most schools work on mandatory curves, so even if everyone does really well, they are forced to give out a certain amount of As, Bs and Cs. It can be dissapointing from going from straight As to a B or C average, because you are now among a much more competitive group.\n\nNo matter how difficult it gets, its a lot of fun. My section is like a big family, we are constantly getting together out of class to hang out, and we help each other out when we need it. Some schools are very cut-throat, so check out the schools, talk to the students, and see if you would like it there. Going to the best school for you is the best way to ensure a great first year.
288684
Most of practicing law is research, and very few lawyers are actually trial lawyers.  If that's what you want to do, it may take some time after you get out of law school to work your way up, gain experience, and get more involved at trials.  The type of person who succeeds in law school is someone who can reason, argue, write well and most of all likes it!!  If it's your passion go for it with all you've got, and you'll succeed.
172585
It can be hard to get into a good law school but providing your grades for the Finance/Accounting were good, you should find a suitable law school. Of course the more important question is "Why on earth would any thinking person want to be a lawyer?" Lawyers drive up the cost of doing business and usually add only marginal benefit. Why don't you look at something useful like an MBA.
560500
before you go to Law school, you need to get a bachelors degree at a college.  So get your bachelors degree in something like business or engineering, or even pre-law!!!
910920
Law school opens a lot of doors, including the FBI, CIA and the other government agencies mentioned above.  \n\nYou must realize that in law school there is very little debating and arguing of topics.  You will do a load of reading and writing though.  \n\nFurther, you should realize that an attorney is ultimately a counselor to his or her client and MUST have some empathy or pity or your clients will not be happy.  You will need to be able to identify with your client's position and support it and believe in it to be sucessful.  \n\nI would really consider what your options are.  Remember that law school can cost over $100,000, and unless you go to a top law school or graduate at the very top of your class, you aren't looking at that great of a salary (average is $60,000/year)\n\nGood luck!
172482
It is worth it if it is something you know you really, really want to do. I do not have a lot of money so i am funding my law school entirely through loans. Once you've made such a huge financial committment there really is no turning back. TO be honest, i am not that fond of law school. It is difficult, competitive, and sometimes very dry. However, i still want to be a lawyer and so i am sticking with it. Its not always fun, but if you really want to practice law it is worth the time and effort and even the money. good luck!
324376
Attorneys make more money, of course, but it seems like teaching at the university level would be more rewarding in other ways. Both would be stressful. I hear it's pretty hard to find a professorship, though. But a decent lawyer can always find work. If you're serious about pursuing an MA or a PHD in history, don't expect to have an easy time finding a job after you graduate. I'm thinking about going for an MA in literature. I just think it could be depressing to be a lawyer. I heard a good quote from a lawyer, regarding his job: "There are a lot of trees, but no forest."--In other words, you spend a lot of time poring over papers filled with boring little details, without ever dealing with the things that really matter in life. As a history prof, you'd get to spend more of your time thinking about the bigger issues.
74339
Law schools look for indications that you can do well in law school, and gpa and lsat scores are two major pieces of data that they use to make this judgement. So, your task is to raise both of these if you can. \n\nYour first move is to go to the law advisor at your college. Most have one in either the career center or the advising center, or there is a faculty member who does this job. Go over in some detail your grades and your lsat scores and see if you can figure out what to do.\n\nTwo suggestions for the low gpa: Take a double major, which will delay your graduation but will give you the opportunity to increase your gpa. But, you really have to make the commitment to get all As in your classes from now on or taking all the courses you want will not improve your gpa or your odds of law school.\n\nDid you prepare for the LSAT? Buy several preparation programs on disk and the diagnostic test and look up everything you got wrong, then take another practice test. Look up everything you got wrong. Take another...and another... until you do consistently well on the tests.\n\nFinally, do you know why you have low scores on both of these indicators? Does this mean that you should reconsider law school as a vocational choice? These are questions that you must ask yourself.
878619
Most schools with top-tier law schools have a good pre-law program (or best training for to get into a law school)\n\nSchools like Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Duke, UNC-CH, UCLA, UChicago, Boston College, Boston University, Georgetown, NYU, and yes Columbia should all be excellent for Pre-Law.\n\nWith that said, smaller liberal arts colleges often offer good pre-law too (Swarthmore, Davidson, Haverford, Skidmore, etc.).\n\nI hope this offers a little guidance.
301585
Skills of a good lawyer generally: understanding of basic legal principles, ability to research, to be organized, to write coherently, to follow directions -- all the stuff they talked about in law school; still applies in a firm.\n\nThe thing about a big firm, as opposed to small private practice or even most corporate environments, is the caste-structure. Junior associates are bottom of the food chain. That means long hours, little respect, and everyone telling you what to do. \n\nNow, remember also that just because you've graduated law school and passed the bar, doesn't mean you're ready to practice. I'm graduating in two weeks, and there are huge practical areas that I never learned in school, but that I learned because of internships and real-world cases I was involved with. A firm (or any other knowledgeable employer) knows that a recent graduate probably doesn't have a lot of necessary knowledge about how law works in the real world, as opposed to the theory we learned in school. So, the first few years are designed to teach that, while also dealing with the fact that until you learn it, you are much less useful than a lawyer with a few years practical experience.\n\nFinally, remember that unlike other employment situations, a law firm acts as a collective. What one lawyer in the firm does is imputed against the others, including potential conflicts of interest. So, toeing the party line is important. It's also about fitting in and conforming to what the firm expects, both professionally and socially.\n\nGood luck.
211429
In the US, you need to graduate froma four year college with a Bachelor's degree; then attend a three year law school to obtain a Juris Doctorate, then pass a two day (in some states 3 day) examination on law and be deemed morally fit.  \n\nThen, on your first day, a client asks you what to do and you literally quake in terror.
189995
What and where you study in undergrad is not as important in getting into law school as you may think.  Go to a good university that you like and do your best.  When you apply, they do look at your GPA relative to the school (for example, a lower GPA at UCLA will be just as acceptable as a higher GPA at Cal State LA).  And if you do well at a higher ranked undergrad, it looks great.  Just make sure you are happy with your undergraduate school and major, because in four years you may not even want to go to law school.\n\nBasically, find a school in CO that you like and has a good reputation, where you think you will be happy.  Then do your best and enjoy yourself.  Don't worry too much about that law school admission committee for at least 2 more years.
737478
you can if they don't know you that well. i need a recommendation for law school so i gave my professor a copy of my resume even, that way she can get to know what i did and write better stuff about me. but for the most part you should get to really know professors like talk to them after and before class and meet them on breaks for questions once they get to know you they will write you the best recommendation like ever.
58475
Law school is not always 3 years it can take up to five years. I worked for my dad that was a lawyer till his passing and now im on the road to becomming one. You have to beilive in yourself and ask yourself are you doing this for yourself or the community?; Are you doing this for money or probono.."you are a more successful lawyer if you want to help" I think to myself to know that I am doing this to help people...tells me my own answer...cons are the stressful invoronment...some people crave off of stress and some can't handle it. If you have delt with stressful situations in the past look back on that and see how you took charge...It is a lot of reading and studying to do..if you think you can do it...people will be with you along the way as long as you are happy...you can always try. More information at the following website