Personal Preparation for Law School (making an informed decision)
Careers in the law
Since law schools train lawyers, it is important that potential applicants learn about the various career options that are open to JDs. It is not necessary to have decided in advance which specific field of study or career track one intends to follow, but it is necessary to be aware of the kinds of work that lawyers do, and the skills such work entails.
The Career Advising and Planning Services (CAPS) Resource Center holds many titles and produces additional resources relating to careers in law. CAPS and the Office of the Dean of Students in the College also sponsor law career workshops over the course of the academic year. Taking the Next Step, a career-oriented program held in January for third-year students, is a good source of information and always has a law panel. The American Bar Association Careers in the Law web page contains a wealth of career information for students and lawyers.
Alumni
One way to learn more about law careers is to speak to practitioners. The Alumni Careers Network provides the names and contact information of more than 300 attorneys who have agreed to speak to University of Chicago students about what they do and why. Read about informational interviewing and then start contacting alumni! It is never too early to begin talking to the alumni; even first- and second-year students should feel free to access the network. Alumni also serve as mentors.
Employment and Volunteering
Although law schools do not require applicants to have experience working in the law, a great way to learn more about law careers is to observe lawyers at work. You can learn more about how lawyers spend their time by working as a legal assistant, by securing a law-related internship or an externship, or by volunteering. Law firms, government agencies, and social service providers that might be concerned about hiring (for pay) persons not trained in the law are more likely to accept a serious offer to volunteer one’s time.
The Career Advising and Planning Services office helps students and alumni conduct employment, internship and externship searches.
The University Community Service Center helps students locate relevant volunteer opportunities.
Extracurricular Activities
Lawyers spend considerable time conducting research on behalf of their clients, but they do not reside exclusively in libraries, and neither should you. Attorneys and law students must communicate effectively with clients and colleagues, negotiate with adversaries, prepare briefs, and argue cases before judges and juries. One way for potential applicants can enhance their analytical, research, communication and interpersonal skills is through participation in extracurricular activities.
Law schools do not look for a specific set of extracurricular activities, rather they seek applicants who explored their non-academic interests while in college and who used their time wisely to gain leadership experience. Law schools prefer depth (involvement in one or two activities over time, with increasing responsibility), over breadth (seeming superficial involvement in many unrelated activities, or inconsistent participation over time). Understandably, they view such activities as a reflection of one’s passions. Finally, extracurricular activities need not be law-related.
