LAW School :
By Monica Dohnji
Monica Dohnji received her Bachelors of Science in Computer Information Sciences from Minnesota State University-Mankato and has a Masters in International Management from University of Maryland University College- Maryland. She is currently pursuing a Law Degree at North Carolina Central University in Durham- North Carolina.
Are you thinking about going to Law School? There are many talented Cameroonians in the United States today who are thinking about becoming attorneys. Law school education is a good and solid background for many professions. Many teachers, business people and writers today obtained a legal education before pursuing their respective careers. A legal education is designed to develop your analytical, creative and logical reasoning abilities, reading and debating skills - no doubt people in different professions are using the legal education as a base for their respective careers. As a practicing attorney, you can be sure to be called upon to play all of the following roles;
Counselor, Negotiator, Drafter and/or Adovcate
Find our more about Law School below [Click on a link to access the appropriate section]:
Most Law schools offer two major programs, the Juris Doctor (JD) program and the LL.M program. As a law student, you can also pursue a joint degree program - a JD/MBA, JD/MPA program.
- Juris Doctor (J.D)
The JD program is a three year program for full time students and a four year program for part time students (this might vary from school to school). The JD program is offered in all Law schools in the United States. The purpose of this program is to provide professional training to those individuals who wish to become lawyers. In the U.S, the JD degree is the required degree for admission into the bar.
- Masters in Law (LL.M)
The LL.M or Masters in Law is a post JD degree in law usually held in specialized areas. Some schools offer an LL.M in Comparative Law or a Masters of Comparative Law degree for graduates of non U.S law schools. The LL.M program generally focuses on specific aspects of the law such as tax law, international law etc. Not all Law schools in the U.S offer this program. It is generally a one year program aimed at making the non U.S law school graduates familiar with the U.S laws.
For undergraduate and advance degree holders who are interested in pursuing a Legal career,
visit
http://www.lsac.org to find the information needed for applying to Law school. Visit the website of the
Law schools you intend to attend to familiarize yourself with the admission requirements of the schools.
Apply to several law schools. Most law schools focus only on the undergraduate degree GPA,
advanced degree GPAs are rarely taken into consideration.
If you are still in college and intend to pursue a legal career, visit the pre-law advisor at your undergraduate institution, they are normally a good source of information about law school. Although there is no set degree program or required course work for law school, Law schools do however look for students who can think critically and write well. These attributes can be acquires in a variety of college degree programs - Political science, Sociology, English, Computer science, Business, Marketing, Psychology, Education, Medicine, Criminal Justice etc.
LSAT: If you plan on attending law school after graduation from college, you need to start preparing at least six
months before you take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is a standardized test required for
admission into all ABA approved law schools. This exam is administered four times a year - February, June,
October and December. Because most law schools admit first year students only in the fall semester, be sure
to take the exam no later than February of the year you intend to begin law school (verify the application
deadline with the law school you intend to attend). Register with the Law School Admission Data Services
(LSDAS). You can register with the LSDAS at
http://www.lsac.org. Take LSAT preparatory classed from Kaplan,
Princeton etc if you think you need it to improve your chances of having a higher LSAT score.
The higher your LSAT score, the better your chances of getting admitted and also getting a scholarship -
Strive to take the LSAT once. Submit transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions to LSDAS.
Apply to Law schools online through
http://www.lsac.org or through the school's website.
GPA: While in college, strive to maintain at least an overall GPA of 3.0/4.0 as most
Law Schools look at the undergraduate GPA in their admissions selection process. A higher GPA will increase
your chances of getting admitted. With the increase in the number of students applying to Law school,
admission into law schools is very competitive. The evaluation for admissions is based heavily on the
LSAT scores and the undergraduate GPA. However, some schools will evaluate academic achievements,
personal and professional experiences, judgment and maturity, oral and written communication skills,
integrity and leadership skills, etc.
Personal Statement: While the topic choice of the personal statement doesn't matter, the personal
statement has to tell the law schools something about you. This is normally a 2 page essay that presents
a clear and vibrant image of you. Law schools do not offer interview thus, your personal statement will
determine how effectively you communicate so, be clear and elaborate. Show your personal statement to
friends, teachers or an advisor. Ask for impressions and recommendations about style and content.
Write separate personal statements for each school you apply to. Make sure you answer the questions
asked in the personal statement section of the school.
Strive to distinguish yourself through your personal statement - this will make you memorable.
You can find more information about writing personal statements online.
Recommendation Letters: Send recommendation letters directly to LSAC letter of
recommendation services. The address can be found online at
http://www.lsac.org.
If you are still in school or in touch with professors at your undergraduate program, get recommendation letter from them.
For those who have been out of school for a while, recommendation letters from employers who know
your academic potentials will be acceptable.
Interview Process: Most law schools do not require or grant personal interviews.
The best place to sell yourself is through your personal statement. Attend law school sponsored open-house.
- Apply for loans by filling out a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Apply for personal loans through Sallie Mae, banks, credit unions - credit check might be required.
- Scholarships and Grants
- LSAT score will affect the amount of scholarship you receive.
- Your first year GPA in law school can land you scholarships and internships.
- Check with your law school for grants and scholarship awards on the
basis of need or academic achievements.
- Take the Bar exams - you start preparing for the bar exam your first year in law school.
- There are tons of jobs available for new graduates as legal researchers, judicial clerks, litigators etc in the public and private sectors.
- Visit the career service department of your law school to find job openings, help you with your resumes, cover letters and interview tips.
- Volunteering while in law school will give you the experience you need when you graduate.
- Most law school graduates are offered employment by the firms or organizations they intern for based on their performance during the internship.
