So you’ve chosen law as your profession! What can you do now to ensure that you’ll thrive in a legal and academic environment? It’s a competitive field out there and you have to be prepared for what you’re about to face.
Settle For Excellence
One of the best things you can do for your legal career is work hard while you’re studying. If you compile a record of excellence, this will give you a foot up and send you on to better things. Employers will be looking for the best of the best. It’s important to commit fully to this decision to pursue law; otherwise the results will be less than satisfactory.
Challenge Yourself
Your work should be intellectually stimulating and academically challenging. Unless you’re interested in government law and politics, it’s best to avoid political science. Economics is a great major for corporate law; psychology is ideal for criminal law, computer science/engineering for technology and biology for health law; while a strong understanding of Human Resource and even international business is important for working as an employment solicitor.
Before you go further in your studies, you need to decide on your speciality. Becoming niche is a great way to hone your legal skills.
Extra-Curricular
Where possible, get involved with law outside your academic studies. Are there extra law courses you can take or is there a group at your educational institution that will help you improve your skills, such as a debating society? Attend extra-curricular activities that will give you an opportunity to whittle your ability to construct a convincing argument.
Is there a governing board of students? Get on board with that. Prospective employers like to see that you chose law because you’re serious about it and engaging in character-building societies can set you apart from the rest.
Writing!
Share online, write for your student newspaper, or join a creative writing society. Law is a writing intensive career and you need to display a talent for the written word.
Start up a law blog that displays your interest and knowledge about the industry. This will look exceptionally well on your CV; especially if it gets popular. Besides, it’s a great opportunity to network with a world of other lawyers. And they do say that it isn’t what you know…
Be Good
As a representative of the law, you will have to show impeccable moral conduct in your normal life. Volunteering for good causes is a way to show your heart is in the right place. If your personal file is clear, you will appear to be reliable and a good investment for employers.
Work Experience
Sure, it does mean working for free, but gaining work experience at a local law firm such as in Preston or wherever you feel you can contribute and gain experience, this will help you decide if this career path is for you, familiarise you with the legal process, and stand you in good stead for getting a job at the end of your course.
Job shadowing is a great way to put you in an attorney’s shoes. You can learn a lot by watching professionals at work.