Lawyers, also called attorneys, are responsible for interpreting the laws that govern our social, political and economic relationships. Interpretation of the law is usually done to protect the interests of an individual or agency, either public or private.
The lawyer's task is to research the laws and legal history relevant to a case and to take legal action or to provide counsel based upon their findings. The amount of research required varies from case to case.
Some legal tasks, such as drawing up a will or contract, are fairly routine and do not require extensive preparation. Other tasks, such as challenging an existing law, require substantially greater efforts.
Since the effectiveness of lawyers rests largely on their ability to make written and verbal presentations, it is important that they possess good communication skills. Attorneys should plan on continuing their education throughout their lifetimes.
About three-fourths of all lawyers contract for services either by setting up a private practice or by joining a law firm. Others work for agencies such as business firms or various branches of the government. A relatively small number of attorneys teach full time in law schools. Many salaried lawyers also do consulting work in addition to their regular duties.
Because the number of law school graduates has increased in recent years, the competition for jobs is intense. Employment opportunities, however, are expected to grow faster than the average for other occupations because increased business activity and population generate a need for more legal services.
Attorneys interested in establishing a private practice will fare best in small towns and growing suburban areas.
The Pre-Law Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato has been extremely successful with placement of students in such outstanding law schools as University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern, Stanford, UCLA, and Yale.
Law school placement has been close to 100 percent during the past several years. Since 1990, well over 250 students have been placed into law schools around the country.
Language is the most important working tool used by the lawyer. In the drafting of legal instruments the precise meaning of words must be clearly and effectively communicated. In both oral argument and written briefs, the attorney must be able to comprehend the language of others -- to grasp the :: exact meaning of factual statements and legal provisions. To this end, pre-law students should take courses that will give them extensive practice in:
Now that the three important areas in which every pre-law student should gain proficiency have been set forth, you may ask, "How do I gain an education in these areas?" The answer is quite open-ended.
Law schools do not prescribe a definite pre-law curriculum for the prospective student to follow. Therefore, you will have to make your own selection of courses in undergraduate school which will assist you in achieving the three goals described above. Select your major in a field of interest to you; then, choose electives in other areas that will round out your education.
Courses in the following specific disciplines should be of value to the future law student:
In selecting specific academic work in college, you should consider three principles.
If there is one point that can be impressed upon you, it is: Learn to write! This may sound facetious, but it is not. Far too many students do not perform as well as they might because they cannot express themselves clearly and correctly. It is vital for a law student to be proficient in writing a short essay that explains and reasons to a point of conclusion
Writing skills are gained by practice, of course, but also by reading good books and articles. In this way you can gain a sense of style. You will probably find that the best writers are those who are simple and concise in their choice of language, yet well organized, logical, and imaginative in their thinking.
Finally, before embarking on a career involving hard work and dedication to the law, you should really find out if being an attorney appeals to you.
This does not mean the television image of the courtroom crusader, but the realistic, day-to-day activities of the practicing lawyer. To discover. this, you should visit courtrooms to sit in on civil and criminal trials. Talk to attorneys or judges you may know for an honest evaluation of the opportunities and requirements of the profession. You may also find Professor Harold Pickering's book, Preview of Law Study, and Educational Testing Service's Prelaw Handbook very helpful in answering your questions. Both books are available in undergraduate libraries.
Once you have decided to enter the study of law, whatever you do in college, do it well! Best wishes for your success!
The preceding advice for prospective law students has been given by Gordon D. Schaber, former dean of the McGeorge Law School.
The Pre-Law Society is a student organization that meets bi-weekly to share the personal experiences of its members in their dealings with specific law schools, as well as to discuss other law-related topics. Since the group is made up of students at different classification levels (freshmen to senior), the underclassmen can learn from the firsthand experience of the seniors about such things as the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and registering with the Law School Assembly Service (LSDAS). The meeting dates of the Pre Law Society are posted on the Pre-Law Information Board which is outside MH 210 or online at the Pre-Law website.
Law school admission is based upon a student's grade point average and score on the Law School Admission Test. Since the competition for law school admission is keen, students interested in law school must be serious students.
An applicant to law school must possess a bachelor's degree in a field of the student's choice. While there is no prescribed set of courses required for application, it is in the student's interest to select a major that will provide a substantial academic foundation. College studies should concentrate on developing analytical, philosophical, and written and verbal skills.
Elective courses might include accounting, statistics, corporate finance, constitutional law and history, jurisprudence, logic, political theory and at least one course in English composition beyond the freshman level.
Students should contact the pre-law advisor for assistance in planning a pre-law program.
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MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.
This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the Department of Political Science/Law Enforcement at 507-389-2721 (V), 800-627-2529 or 711 (MRS/TTY).
