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Monday, March 30, 2009

The Role of Law Schools In The Legal System

By Richard Gallund

Nowadays if you want to work as a lawyer then you will need some form of sector specific education. This will usually take place in a law school although the actual qualification process that you have to go through may vary according to the country in which you live.

In many cases law schools are attended by students who have already gained an undergraduate degree. So, once you have left college with your first degree you may need to spend another few years (on average three) at a law school to gain the legal qualifications that you need.

In most cases study at a law school will be done on a full time basis although there are cases where you can study part time here in certain jurisdictions. The qualifications that you can achieve here include Doctor of Law (JD) and the Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

In order to get accepted by most law schools you will have to pass a specific exam to test your suitability for this sector. This is commonly known as the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. Once you pass this exam you can apply for the school of your choice to see if they will offer you a place.

Once your study is done at law school you will also need to take the State Bar Association exams. Passing these exams will allow you to take up employment as a lawyer. Tests here are state specific and are held on a regular basis.

Not all countries have law schools that operate in the same way. You can, for example, study for an undergraduate legal degree in the UK and do not have to wait until you reach a post graduate level to start your studies here.

As with most other countries, however, studying for a legal degree at undergraduate level in the UK does not mean that you can immediately practice law. You will need to take on some form of post graduate study/exams affiliated to the Bar or Law Society.

The UK university that you attend on an undergraduate basis may call itself a law school but it will technically probably be a simple university department rather than an entity in its own right. Students in the UK can also gain their qualification to practice in law via the College of Law which is the closest thing that the country has to typical USA law schools.

If you are thinking about going to law school then remember that competition is fierce. It is not enough to simply buckle down and concentrate on getting good grades to find a job once you have graduated. Nowadays law firms of all sizes can afford to pick and choose the law graduates that they hire.

So, make sure to become as involved as you can in non-academic activities while you are at law school. You can, for example, join the Bar Review and take up work experience or internships to get some real-life legal experience. Any extra experience you can demonstrate here could make it easier to get a good position when you graduate. - 23211

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