There is more than one path to success in the legal profession. The path you choose should be based upon your ultimate career goals. For example, if you want to pursue environmental law and you are just entering college, you will want to make sure to take some environmental classes and keep up with the environmental issues that are most at play in the modern world. Here are a few areas of law you might be considering, and how you can get started pursuing them.
Legal Assistant
If you want to be a legal clerk, you will need at least an associate’s degree; a bachelor’s degree might be preferred at competitive firms and areas. Legal assistants carry out many of the day-to-day operations of a law firm. They assist lawyers with gathering information, witnessing documents and depositions, and anything else that can streamline the process of a case.
Lawyer
In order to practice law, you must have an appropriate degree. In the US, this is the Juris Doctor degree. A typical program lasts for three years. Most people in law school have already completed a full bachelor’s degree, but this is not always the case. Standout students can sometimes be accepted without an undergraduate degree, but it is rare. There is no one major field of pre-law studies, but many law students major in history, political science, or even English for their undergraduate degree.
The Value of Interning
It cannot be stressed enough how important real legal experience can be. Those that complete internships are ahead of the competition when it comes time to apply for desirable positions. Even internships can be competitive, so make sure that you do well in your studies and keep up with current high-profile cases. Sometimes, internships can lead to employment with a firm as soon as you graduate. Plenty of firms use internships as a way to test someone out before they offer them a permanent position.
International Law
With so many countries developing and breaking into a variety of international trade sectors, there is a demand for lawyers that specialize in international law. For example, a business in the US that wants to trade with another country will want to be sure that they are following the proper protocols for doing business in that country. International Law Firm of Shirkhani & Alavi founding partner Shahram Shirkhani works as a legal consultant for those wishing to trade with countries in the Middle East. The Middle East is developing at a rapid rate and has some of the world’s fastest-emerging economies, so there is great demand for Mr Shirkhani’s services.
Talk to Older Lawyers
It is easy to get excited about pursuing a career in law; however, it can pay off to talk to others that have been in the profession for a long time. They can let you know what skills you need to develop, and you can learn from any mistakes they might have made while building their own careers.