When choosing a degree, most of us are naive and tend to opt for something far from our interest and passion. It could be because of social and family pressure or false expectations from life. But unfortunately, we tend to learn the hard way the importance of being better informed of the interested area of study in order to avoid regrets and despair.
Law is a popular career option among students across the globe due to various reasons: financial security, fighting injustice, job stability, and more. A survey suggests that those who pursued law and paralegal studies have had over 75% full-time employment rates, with some getting a whopping $35,000 starting salary!
But the thing is, you have to overcome countless hurdles before you secure full-time employment with a fat paycheck. Below I have enlisted ten things shared by current and past law students that you MUST consider before choosing law as your major.
Legal career prospects are at risk
Unquestionably, the law is a respected degree and demands 200% effort from its prospects. However, law firms are lately cutting down or cancelling legal training programmes to select trainees. From the earning aspect, the difference between what people think lawyers earn and what they ACTUALLY make is huge. It ultimately depends on your skills, knowledge and academic background.
You have to read A LOT
When discussing degree programmes like medicine, engineering, and law, it’s a general idea that they involve a lot of reading. But the reality is a horror story. The entire course revolves around A LOT of reading, where most days, you may find yourself stuck in the library throughout the day and night for an assignment or case study. So, heads up on that!
Technology is the future
It needs no mention that technology has influenced every sector, including law. Experts believe that all future lawyers must develop a knack for technology and learn about AI, machine learning, and Blockchain technology and their usages in the legal field.
Since technology aims to reduce the time needed and reduce charges, not upgrading your tech skills and knowledge can disrupt your legal dreams. If you want to upskill and increase your tech expertise, several tech-savvies are available online, offering different courses for beginners. You can enrol in such programmes and hire professional tutors who offer services like AI assignment help or Law assignment help for personalised guidance.
Tutorials and seminars are important
The mere idea of attending back-to-back seminars can be exhausting. Imagine doing the same regularly. You would be mentally drained, to say the least. For starters, you have the regular lectures, assignments, case studies, and suggested case reading to complete. Seminars and tutorials will seem like a burden. However, if you focus on the bright side, you can use these methods to identify your weak areas. You can identify where you are lagging and devote more time and attention to improving yourself.
Law education is demanding
Your struggle doesn’t end with you securing a seat at the best law school in town – that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The whole programme is intense and will leave you under high pressure, with you wanting to quit at every step. From struggling with a humongous syllabus to dealing with peers ready to backstab you and gain personal benefits for your misery, law school will leave you gasping for breath time and again.
It’s costlier than you anticipated
A degree course in legal studies doesn’t come cheap and is probably one of the costliest academic programmes in the world. So regardless of nationality, the course fees, textbook expenses, journals, and case files, other charges lined up every step of the way create major financial pressure. If you don’t have solid financial support through your course, I advise you to rethink and plan your finances before enrolling on legal studies.
Learning is a continuous process
As a law student, staying current and keeping yourself updated with everything happening around you is crucial. And that is only possible by reading and learning about the relevant cases from your field. Hence, you must develop the habit of reading early on so that you don’t struggle and drown in your reading list. Remember, you can only stay relevant when you are thorough about everything happening around you.
Demands long-term commitment
Even though most people these days scare easily by strong words like “commitment,” you have to be committed to the programme from day one to excel and fetch good grades. Unlike regular courses, almost all law programs take about five years to complete. Now that’s a serious commitment, especially with the complexities of the subject area. Therefore, as a first-year law student, get your mind straight and prepare for the journey ahead.
People will fish for free legal support
Even when you are a law student, nobody will miss the chance to pawn legal suggestions for free. Why? Since law students tend to read a lot and have access to all legal resources, people generally perceive that law students are knowledgeable and well aware of the legalities. In reality, that’s anything but true. Even in my final semester, I needed to be more confident about the legal intricacies and restricted myself from giving legal advice. If I did, it was always followed by disclaimers.
Don’t complicate things by overthinking
As bitter as it may sound, you will likely run low on the motivation level and find yourself contemplating your career choice. I know I did it too – so you won’t be the only one. Law education is EXPENSIVE and DRILLING, and there’s no way about it. You must determine beforehand if you are really ready to get into something that requires immense commitment and not just good grades. If unsure, I suggest you choose another degree course, complete it with honours, and decide whether you want to study law or pursue higher studies in another subject.
Wrapping up
Law is undoubtedly an honourable career choice. That said, clearly understanding what you plan to get into is imperative. Therefore, ensure you know what you want and your abilities to achieve your goals. If you are still trying to figure it out, you can talk to your professors, lawyers, or even academic counsellors for a better assignment help of the legal industry.
