| Consideration #1: Do I Really Want To Be A | | | | estate or intellectual property? There are many |
| Lawyer? | | | | specializations for you to pursue, and some |
| When you're considering applying to law school, | | | | schools are more focused on your area of choice |
| the first thing you should ask yourself is if you | | | | than others are. |
| really, truly want to be a lawyer. There used to | | | | Consideration #3: Who's On The Faculty? |
| be a time when law school was a great default | | | | Check out the faculty of the schools you're |
| option for people who weren't sure about what | | | | considering. This consideration goes hand in hand |
| they wanted to do, but knew they wanted | | | | with consideration #2. If you are a true lover of |
| financial security. Maybe it's because this idea has | | | | the law, then you probably have a wish list of |
| gained so much currency, but the truth is that | | | | legal rock stars you'd love to learn from. Look |
| now a law degree does not automatically equal a | | | | into the biographies of the various professors of |
| high-paying job right out of school. Of course, if | | | | schools you're considering and make sure you'll be |
| you are able to get into one of the top law | | | | able to take classes with the ones you find |
| schools, there will always be a job waiting for you. | | | | fascinating. |
| For those who are not as lucky, however, a | | | | Consideration #4: Where Do I Want To Live |
| fearless look at why you're considering applying to | | | | When I Am Practicing Law? |
| law school is your best course of action. If you | | | | You might not know where you want to live once |
| truly love the law, by all means, go ahead and | | | | you get out of law school. This is also worth |
| apply, but know that the job market for new | | | | some thought for a couple of reasons. First, if |
| lawyers is tougher than ever before. | | | | you study in the state you'd eventually like to |
| Consideration #2: What Type Of Law Do I Want | | | | practice in, you'll have an easier time passing the |
| To Practice? | | | | bar. Secondly, think about the job market. If you |
| So, you've determined that you're not just | | | | go to a school that's well-known in a certain area, |
| applying because you can't think of something else | | | | you'll be a more attractive job candidate than if |
| to do. Then you might already know the answer | | | | you take that degree on the road and have to |
| to the question of what type of law you would | | | | explain its merits to people in a faraway city who |
| like to go into one day. If you don't know, before | | | | are less familiar with the strengths of your law |
| you apply is the time to start mulling it over. | | | | school. |
| Environmental law or corporate contracts? Real | | | | |