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Is Law School A Good Fit? Most undergraduates, when entering law school and beginning a legal career, have had little exposure to the practice of law beyond television shows and feature films. Yet despite this relative lack of knowledge, they may embark on a costly and demanding course of study without exploring its vocational suitability. Before you begin the process of applying to law school, it is often a wise idea to evaluate your skills, abilities, interests, and goals. For example, you may want to ask yourself:
These are some, but certainly not all, of the aptitudes and traits that many lawyers view as important in the practice of law and may give you a place to start in evaluating whether law is a good fit for you. Once you feel confident that law might be an exciting and well-suited career choice, it is usually helpful to begin to research the areas of law that interest you. There are options to consider in environmental law, government, employment law, intellectual property, public interest/ human rights law, corporate law, and international/ comparative law, just to name a few. There are many ways to learn more about the legal field, including securing a law-related internship, conducting informational interviews with practicing (and non-practicing) attorneys, and shadowing a lawyer you know or one in the Penn Career Network. Career Services also has an active Alumni Network which includes a list of attorneys who are happy to talk with Penn students about what they do. Find out their educational and professional background, what a typical day is like in their field, their likes and dislikes about their job, and what skills and abilities they believe are important in the practice of law. Learning about the legal profession from those currently working in it will very likely provide you with a more informed perspective on various fields of law, not to mention the profession overall. In the last decade or two, the practice of law has changed dramatically. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with both current and future trends by reading a breadth of newspapers, magazines and journals, not to mention relevant websites and blogs, to help you to determine whether you have a realistic view of the profession. The study and practice of law can be stimulating, challenging, and provide some exciting opportunities--just be sure it's right for you.
© Career Services, University of Pennsylvania. Not to be copied or distributed without permission.
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