| What goes on in your mind whenever you see | | | | related course. |
| lawyers being featured in TV programs in | | | | |
| handsome suits, sitting in elegant desks on | | | | - The applicant must demonstrate an |
| fancy offices, and driving luxury cars? | | | | aptitude to the study of law since this is a |
| | | | deciding factor for most law schools in |
| Have you ever thought about the amount of | | | | acceptance. This can be determined through |
| effort and perseverance they have gone | | | | the following:o Good grades in the |
| through in terms of money, time, education, | | | | undergraduate courseo Passing of the |
| and training in order to attain the things | | | | Law School Admission Test (LSAT)o |
| that you see they are enjoying? If you have | | | | Quality of the undergraduate school where |
| not realized this yet, then it would | | | | applicant studiedo Work experienceo |
| significantly change the way you think and | | | | Personal interview |
| feel towards your lawyer if you realized just | | | | |
| how much hardship he or she has gone through | | | | Upon being a law student: |
| to achieve his or her present status. | | | | |
| | | | During the first 11/2 years in law school, |
| So what really makes a successful lawyer who | | | | students study core law courses and the |
| is also expert on his field of | | | | remaining time, they are given chance to |
| specialization? | | | | choose from elective courses in specialized |
| | | | fields. |
| The course of training undergone by the | | | | |
| lawyers: | | | | Practical experience is also necessary and |
| | | | mostly acquired by the student by continued |
| Requirement in terms of formal education: | | | | participation in |legal clinic" activities |
| | | | and moot court competitions sponsored by the |
| - Four years college degree | | | | school. These activities enhance the |
| | | | students' abilities in conducting appellate |
| - Three years in law school | | | | arguments. |
| | | | |
| - Pass the written bar examination | | | | They also get to practice in handling trial |
| | | | cases through apprenticeship under |
| Before entering a law school: | | | | experienced lawyers and judges. Meanwhile the |
| | | | law journal of the school gives them a chance |
| - To be accepted in a law school would | | | | to practice their writing and researching |
| mean sticking it out with the stiff | | | | skills. |
| competition for admission in many law | | | | |
| schools. | | | | Upon graduating: |
| | | | |
| - In order to succeed in law school, | | | | The degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.) is earned |
| aspiring lawyers must develop a proficiency | | | | as a first professional degree of a graduate |
| in the following skills:o Speaking, | | | | of law school. Those who are interested in |
| Writing, Reading, Researching, Analyzing, | | | | specializing on a particular area of law, |
| Logical thinking | | | | legal researching or teaching may still need |
| | | | to obtain advanced law degrees. This requires |
| Later on, these skills must further be | | | | them to study for additional semester or |
| enhanced when in order for a lawyer to be | | | | another year of study. |
| marked as a success and an expert in his / | | | | |
| her profession. | | | | Lawyers have the responsibility to continue |
| | | | being informed about legal and non-legal |
| - A multidisciplinary background, | | | | developments that have a profound effect on |
| notwithstanding the major, is always | | | | their practice. Continuing legal education is |
| recommended for a prospective law student to | | | | presently mandated by the 40 states and |
| possess. He or she should have taken courses | | | | jurisdictions, this is carried out by most |
| in the following subjects or disciplines for | | | | law schools, local, and State bar |
| they are essential and useful in the study of | | | | associations through various education |
| law:o Public speaking, Government, | | | | courses that will help legal professionals |
| Philosophy, History, English, Foreign | | | | stay updated with recent developments. |
| languages, Economics, Computer science, | | | | |
| Mathematics | | | | Now we know that being an attorney is such a |
| | | | great responsibility and thus cannot be |
| Furthermore, law students who are interested | | | | attained in a breeze, nor is the lavish life |
| in specializing in a particular area of the | | | | associated with being one. |
| law need to have a strong background on a | | | | |