Looking for a Career in Law? 4 College Options to Consider

Serious lawyer make a closing statement in the court room. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

A career in law is not only a selective career path, but it is also plenty demanding. Despite that, it can also be very rewarding both personally and financially. Lawyers work in a variety of settings from private firms and government agencies to educational institutions and political organizations. While in college, you will need to do a lot of research to decide if the law is actually the right field for you. Here are some things that can help you decide:

Your Major

The most common undergraduate majors for lawyers are English, Political Science, and History. While there isn’t a required undergraduate major for admission to law school, there is a good reason many students will choose these courses. Liberal arts degrees generally require a lot of reading, research, analyzing, writing, and critical thinking. These are all skills you will need in law school and as a lawyer. Take classes in these fields even if you aren’t necessarily planning to major in a liberal arts area. You will get a feel for how much you like and how good you are at this type of work.

Internships

Internships can be a great way to discover how much you will enjoy the legal environment. Try to find a position in the area of law you think you want to work in. If you want to work in private practice, you might be able to ask a private practice lawyer in your hometown if you can intern for the summer. If you want to work as a public defender, see if you can get an internship at your local courthouse. You will discover how much you like this type of environment. The contacts you make will also be helpful when you need a recommendation for law school.

A Job

If you can find work as a paralegal while you are in college, you will have a great chance to discover whether the legal profession is right for you. Can you juggle your school workload, work, and not feel like you’re drowning. If not, you will want to seriously consider your decision. Law school takes a lot of time and energy. Also, law is not a 9 to 5 job. You can expect to work long hours. Make sure you’re prepared for that.

Discover Your Passions

College is the time to explore and learn. Try out different activities. Take an interest in all of your general studies courses. Volunteer in a variety of settings. If you find yourself drawn to things like student government, debate teams, or are just rocking in your history class, then you can definitely hone in on becoming a lawyer. However, if chemistry truly sparks your interest, and you want to spend a lot of time in the electronics lab, then you are probably headed in the wrong direction.

Finding the right career can be a daunting task that many people struggle with. Many of these decisions are made in college and the path that you set out on should be the right one for you. Try learning more about law and other law-related fields of work before making any long-lasting decisions.

Meghan Belnap

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise as well as researching new topics to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. Meghan recommends researching law careers beforehand and becoming acquainted with firms like the Ladah Law Firm to get the help you need.