We asked Alumni: What advice do you have for students on the cusp of their law school journey?
Here is what they shared:
- Enroll in Symbolic Logic
- Find Your Legal Specialty
- View Law School as a Journey
- Prepare Thoroughly for the LSAT
Enroll in Symbolic Logic
My advice is to take a class in Symbolic Logic in the Philosophy Department. Symbolic Logic is a great framework to prepare you for the rigors of the Socratic method of teaching, where law professors put you on the spot with hard questions, and you need to reply in a structured and logical manner.
Marsh Sutherland, MBA & JD ‘94, Senior Technical Recruiter, Ocient
Find Your Legal Specialty
There is a place in the practice of law for people of all different strengths and interests. Outgoing, social people may enjoy the litigation process. Academics may enjoy legal research or the drafting of memorandums or briefs. If you are thinking about the practice of law as a career, know that there is a rewarding legal specialty waiting for you. Your undergraduate degree should be in a major you enjoy. But law students that I’ve met have had many varied undergraduate degrees; drama, art, education, business, and the like. No undergraduate degree has prevented them from becoming outstanding lawyers. That said, I have a degree in business, and it is very useful as I represent businesses and understand business planning and financial statements. Study what you love. If the law is calling you, answer the call.
Michael Rooney, ASU Law & B.S. in Business, Lawyer, Sacks Tierney pa
View Law School as a Journey
Students thinking about law school need to remember that it’s a stop along the journey, not the final destination. Law school will teach you to think logically, read critically, and write persuasively, but in most cases, it won’t prepare you for the practice of law. Students will also need to take the Bar exam after graduation. My suggestion is to tackle law school logically. Take Bar-topic classes, find skill-based classes (writing, writing, writing), and get as much practical/real-world experience as possible.
Joshua Offenhartz, JD ‘15, Attorney, Knoeller Nebeker Carlson and Haluck
Prepare Thoroughly for the LSAT
Take time to prepare for the LSAT. Specifically, learn about the test and take a lot of practice exams. Your LSAT score will have a significant impact on scholarships and where you get accepted, which will have a significant impact on how long it takes to return your investment. Studying is also a good primer for the program. If you find you can’t get into studying for the LSAT, it’s a fraction of the time required to complete law school.
Zach Hubbell, JD ‘19, VP of Legal
Featured creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at featured.com to answer questions and get published.
