The choice of whether or not to attend law school is not a decision to be taken lightly.  The complicated process of applying to various programs pales in comparison to what you’ll experience during your three years as a student.  However, if you make it through the program, you’ll be rewarded with a career that pays well and gives you the opportunity to help people through their legal struggles.

Choosing a Law Program

There are a number of different factors to take into consideration when deciding which law programs to apply for – Harvard Law isn’t for everyone.  To get a better idea of which programs might be a good fit for you, look into the rankings offered by the Princeton Review and the US News & World Report.  These programs will give you more information on the average grades of entering students, as well as on the tuition of each program, the size of the school and the geographic location of each institution.

Law programs are assigned tiers to designate how competitive they are, with tier-one programs being the most competitive.  While it isn’t necessary to graduate from one of these programs to find a job, you’ll find that the top firms tend to recruit students primarily from these schools.  If it’s important to you to obtain one of these positions, you’ll need to work hard to earn the grades and LSAT scores necessary for admission to these schools.  If, on the other hand, you plan to work in a less competitive setting, you may find that a lower-ranked – and typically cheaper – program will suit your needs.

Getting into Law School

Getting into law school requires an application process that’s similar to what you experienced as an undergraduate.  You’ll need to complete an admissions essay, as well as provide information on your volunteer activities, any relevant awards and references from professors who are familiar with your work.  To be considered, you’ll also need to take the LSAT, a standardized exam that’s similar to the SAT and ACT but with the addition of logic and reasoning questions.

Your LSAT scores figure more prominently into the admissions process than GRE scores do for other graduate programs, so it’s in your best interest to study hard for the exam.  Many prospective law students enroll in LSAT preparation courses or hire personal LSAT tutors to get the highest possible scores, although these programs can be costly.  If they’re out of your budget, you can also prepare using LSAT study guides and at-home practice exams, or find other students and form your own study group.

Attending Law School

There’s no other way to put it – expect to work harder than you’ve ever worked before while attending law school.  You’ll learn the ins-and-outs of torts, contracts and other legal statutes, as well as the details of significant cases throughout history.  In addition to the added academic challenges, you’ll be introduced to a new method of teaching called the Socratic Method, in which the professor poses questions in order to stimulate philosophical discussion.  At first, you may feel as if you’re being put on the spot, but eventually, you’ll come to respect the process of sharing opinions with your fellow classmates.

After three years of law school, you’ll be awarded your Juris Doctorate (J.D.).  However, before you begin practicing, you’ll need to pass the bar exam in the state where you plan to work.  Despite all the hard work you’ve put into law school, the exam isn’t easy and you’ll need to spend time preparing for it.  Once you pass, you’ll be eligible to work as a lawyer, but don’t think you’re done yet.  Law is an ever-changing field, so you’ll need to stay on top of new laws and legal precedents in order to stay competitive.