If you are applying to law school but do not yet know what kind of law you want to practice, you are not alone. Many applicants do not know the difference between a litigator and a transactions attorney, nor what getting hired as an attorney entails. Still, anyone in this position has agreed to dedicate three extra years of their life to school—a time when they will not receive an income—and will likely pay tens of thousands of dollars for this opportunity. This demonstrates a clear interest in the law. Reflecting on this interest can help you figure out what type of law you want to practice.
In this post, we at Stratus offer tips on exploring different areas of law and deciding which suits you best.
Ask Yourself: “Why the Law?”
Now, the questions “Why law?” and “Why law school?” are thrown around a lot during the admissions process. Although it is easy to feel stressed about answering that question correctly in an application essay, when you reflect on what kind of law you want to practice, you should set aside all of that and think about why you decided to go to law school. No matter the reason, this can help guide you toward a type of law.
Some applicants say they are applying to law school because they feel directionless or that they have exhausted their current career path. If this applies to you, look for legal professions that offer something your current employment situation does not. If you feel you make too little money, then look for areas of law that pay more. If you believe that your work environment does not have much structure, search out areas of the law that provide more certainty such as an in-house attorney at a corporation or the federal government.
Moreover, consider what other factors drove you to the law. If a true crime podcast made you interested in law, then research whether criminal law is right for you. If you liked the courtroom scenes in Legally Blonde or My Cousin Vinny, then litigation might appeal to you (though remember those are just movies).
Finally, reflect on whether any issues connect you to the law. Some people whose families have gone through divorce become interested in the law as a result of their own experiences; family law might appeal to these individuals. Others care about issues in their hometown, such as the treatment of tenants or migrants in their communities. Housing law and immigration law might be areas these people would want to pursue.
Research Different Areas of Law
If you come up with areas of law that interest you, try to learn more about them. First, you can simply search on the Internet. Most areas of law will have “lay” articles, such as Wikipedia pages or national news articles on particular types of law. Furthermore, there are specific legal pieces concerning any kind of law, such as a post on a law school or law firm’s site.
You can conduct your research through multiple approaches. You can start by looking up generally what a particular legal field entails, and then zero in on specific questions, such as what the day-to-day looks like, average salaries, drawbacks, competitiveness for employment, types of clients, and anything else that might interest you.
Additionally, you can conduct informational interviews with people who work in the areas of law that interest you. You can search on LinkedIn or various law firms’ sites to look into people’s backgrounds and then reach out to them. Request 20 to 30 minutes of their time over the phone to ask them questions about their profession. People who have attended your undergrad school and/or your law school (if you are already in law school) will likely be particularly keen to speak with you, but do not let that limit your outreach.
Similarly, you can go to legal events or post on legal Internet forums to learn more about different fields. The American Bar Association, ideological legal groups, and affinity legal communities all have general legal events and ones specific to different areas of law. Some of these groups will even let you volunteer on their committees. Sites such as Reddit and LinkedIn have subcommunities for law overall and specific types of law, where you can post questions.
If you are in law school, you can also speak with professors who specialize in areas that might interest you, along with other students who are involved in clubs or have completed internships in areas of law that you are considering.
Even if you feel there is no apparent aspect of the law that interests you, it is a good idea to research a wide range of areas to see if anything piques your interest.
Look for Hands-on Experience
Whether you are interested in a specific area of law or not, gaining hands-on experience can give you a better idea of the areas where you might want to practice. Volunteering, interning, or working for a government legal office, a big law firm, a local law firm, or a nonprofit organization can provide you with a close-up view of how the law works. It also gives you a network of people to contact for further advice.
When you get into law school, you will have many opportunities to work in new types of law. Law schools often have student practice organizations, clinics, and clubs that do real legal work under the supervision of lawyers. All of these groups can give you an opportunity to see if a particular area appeals to you.
Moreover, you have two summers during law school to intern in areas of law that might interest you. Many people have “dream internships” in mind. But even if you cannot land the “perfect” internship, you can find a position in a field of interest if you start looking for a position early enough and remain persistent.
Many applicants and law students get overwhelmed about the complexity of the law and feel lost regarding what they want to practice. There is nothing wrong with feeling this way. Fortunately, an array of resources (including the experts at Stratus!) can help you figure out what area of law will put you on the path to a fulfilling career. Take this search step by step, and never feel it is too late to figure out what you want to practice.