All You Need to Know About Law School
Law school has always been one of the most traditional and sought after by students from all over the world who wish to have higher education and good job opportunities. But is it still worth going to law school? When choosing a higher education course, regardless of the area, expectations are as high as possible, but unfortunately, a degree does not always mean guaranteed professional success.
Therefore, you must pay attention from the moment you decide to take a certain course. The student must research the area they want to work in, the job market, and professional options.
And precisely because the law school is one of the most sought after, in this article we bring a comprehensive outlook about this training, which will help you learn a little more about the course and the opportunities in this area of work.
Is it worth going to a law school?
There are many law schools around the world. In addition to the many vacancies, this also means that every year thousands of law graduates go to the job market in search of opportunities. The good news is that this is a career that reinvents itself and remains current. In addition, the job market always offers good job options for these professionals. But this information alone is not enough to say with 100% certainty that it is worth going to law school. To be successful in a career, it is necessary, above all, to have an affinity with the chosen profession. Therefore, even though Law is a traditional, solid profession that offers good opportunities, before deciding to go to college, it is necessary to know if this training is aligned with your future goals.
How to identify whether it’s worth going to law school?
To identify whether it is worthwhile to study both in a law school, and any other area in which you are interested, it is necessary to know in depth not only the profession but the details of the college, such as the disciplines, for example. Therefore, research the law schools and learn about the course’s curriculum. If possible, talk to students and professionals who have already graduated and try to understand the main activities they perform. This closer view will give you more clarity on whether you are making the right choice when entering law school.
How is the law course?
A law degree is a bachelor’s degree that lasts for five years. During this period of study, the student will have a curriculum, mostly made up of theoretical subjects, which requires a lot of reading and concentration. Among the main subjects of this course are:
- Sociology
- Political science
- Introduction to Law
- Juridical Psychology
- Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Economic, Labour, Administrative, Criminal, Procedural, Tax, Civil, Business Law.
- Legal Practice (Civil)
- Legal Practice (Criminal)
- Electoral Law
- Public International Law
- Legal Professional Ethics
- Legal Practice (Labour)
- Legal Practice (Administrative)
In the practical part of the course, the student must work on public speaking and argumentation skills, skills considered fundamental for the exercise of this profession. The training in a law school gives the student a broad field of action. But, for that, it takes dedication to studies and a good search for the best job opportunities.
What are the main areas of law?
During law school, students learn about the main areas of the profession by studying specific subjects. And after the training, the student usually chooses one of these areas to specialize in. The main areas of law are:
1. Civil right
This area of law is responsible for defending individual interests, that is, those related to goods and properties.
2. Criminal law
Criminal Law, on the other hand, is the area that focuses on the defence or prosecution of those involved in actions of crimes and misdemeanours.
3. Labour law
This area of Law studies the rights and duties of labour relations and this professional can represent workers as well as companies and even union entities.
4. Environmental Law
Area in which the lawyer works with bureaucratic processes related to licensing and environmental infractions. Another way this specialist work is related to civil and criminal lawsuits related to the environment.
5. Business law
The lawyer who chooses this area works to defend the interests of private companies and entrepreneurs and can also provide assistance in opening and closing companies. This professional also works in the drafting of contracts, bylaws, trademarks, patents, among other documents related to an organization.
What can you do after law school?
Upon leaving law school, the student has two options:
- Become an advocate
- Exercise a legal career in the public sector
Advocacy
To act as a lawyer, the student must pass the exam of the Bar Association of his or her country. Once this is done, this professional will be able to work in the defence and representation of their clients and specialize in one of the areas of Law, as mentioned above. Quite simply, we can say that among its main activities is the mediation of conflicts and the promotion of understanding between parties involved in any legal process.
A legal career in the public sector
The professional who wants to pursue a legal career must be approved in a public examination. Among the legal careers most sought after by legal professionals are:
1. Public Defender
A legal professional who provides legal assistance to those who are unable to hire a lawyer.
2. Public Prosecutor
The Public Prosecutor is a representative of the Public Ministry responsible for prosecuting the trials and acting to seek the conviction of the defendants in the case of crimes that affect the general social order. Thus, the prosecutor plays the opposite role of the lawyer who seeks to defend the accused, as he seeks to indict the defendants. In addition to the above, those in the position also exercise the role of inspector of the law and act in the defence of collective rights (such as public property, environment, among others).
3. Police Chief
Responsible for presiding over investigations and coordinating processes in police stations or other police bodies. In other words, the police chief is responsible for conducting interrogations, gathering statements, initiating police investigations, drawing up records of occurrences, among other activities. After completing his investigation, the delegate sends the magistrate a report containing the crime that was committed and its perpetrator, as the criminal judge is the person responsible for forwarding the investigation to the Public Ministry – in this case, it is the Public Prosecutor who decides whether to file the complaint.
4. Judge of Law
One of the most desired careers by professionals in the area, both for its stability and for its high salaries. The judge is responsible for directing cases and making decisions related to judgments and sentences. The magistrate is the person responsible for resolving impartially the problems that are taken to the judiciary based on the current legislation of the country.
Conclusion
We hope with this article, you know what paths to follow to find out whether a law school is worth enrolling in or not for you.
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