What are some tips for aspiring lawyers - Mesothelioma lawyer

Some Tips for Aspiring Lawyers

The degree itself is of course academically challenging, but that is a given. All the general advice - start assignments and revision early, do your reading prior to lectures etc apply. One advice that I have specifically for aspiring law students is to choose a variety of optional modules.

Even if you are sure that you know the area you would like to specialise in, you never know what can catch your interest. No one is born thinking they want to be tax lawyers when they grow up, but many find the field interesting once they start studying it.

When your degree is over, even with the best grades from a reputable university, job search will be long and difficult. My advice is to enquire at firms which do not have any vacancies posted online and explaining that should an opportunity come up, you would be the perfect fit for that particular company (explain why).

Out of university, I secured an internship at a start-up which not only did not have any vacancies online, but was not law related in the first place - it was a medical device company. I showed enthusiasm for medical law and their product, and they created a paid internship position for me, giving them legal advice on a range of regulatory matters.

It is easier to get the place when the competition is not as high. Also, as a general rule, the smaller the company, the more responsibilities you will be entrusted, giving you a lot to talk about on your CV or in subsequent interviews.

With legal applications, grammar is a very big deal. Lawyers know the effect a misplaced Oxford comma can have on a case, and incorrect punctuation will cost you the place. I was told once by an admissions officer that if they ever let an application with a grammatical error progress to the next stage and be thus read by one of the lawyers, they themselves would get into trouble for not spotting the error.

No matter how good the content of your application is, they will not put their own reputation on line for you.

Do not underestimate the power of networking. This does not only apply to senior lawyers and lecturers, but to your fellow students too. Large portion of the 300 people in your lecture theatre will in 15 years turn into valuable connections and a source of expertise.

As one of the answers bellow pointed out, people skills are essential and cannot be stressed enough.

Lastly, do not choose a field just because the pay is good. This will likely be your job for a very long time and you should enjoy it.

After long nights at the office when motivation is scarce, interest in the field makes a huge difference. Additionally, when someone asks you why a particular area interests you, if you are genuinely passionate about it, it will show.

Hope this helps! Enjoy the legal field, it has a lot to offer for anyone - from contract lawyers to human rights activists and everything in between!