Entering law school is the first of many challenges you will face as you aim for a career in the world of law. There is also the dilemma of knowing the kind of lawyer you want to be. There is a wide variety of specialties to choose from and you might find it difficult to pick one where you will excel.
While it’s possible to become a generalist that can work in diverse areas as a means to enhance your professional profile, being a specialist offers better career prospects. Since you know more about your area of expertise, you are more likely to get noticed by law firms that focus on that area. Whether it’s corporate law or civil law, your experience in the field can help you work more effectively compared to a generalist lawyer. If you are looking for a specialty that guarantees your success, here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Consider your pre-law training
What bachelor’s program did you take up in college? From the start, your pre-law degree will help you define your potential in certain areas of the law. Graduates of political science, criminology, and philosophy often have the most advantage in law school, but that doesn’t mean having a degree outside the liberal arts won’t make you a good lawyer.
For instance, if you took up biology, you could opt to work as a medical malpractice lawyer. In case you graduated with a degree in professional teaching, you could work in firms like Stewart Lee Karlin Law Group, PC which specializes in education law.
- Set a roadmap
Before you set out to establish your legal career, you need a roadmap that will take you to where you want to end up. As you begin your professional journey, you might want to identify what you want to achieve in the short term. Are you planning to build your network first? Do you want to gain experience as a personal injury attorney and work your way up to taking medical negligence cases?
Apart from answering these questions, you should also have a good idea of how long you will be spending in your area of expertise. What if being a personal injury lawyer doesn’t appeal to you? Do you have a plan B in mind? Thinking ahead will help you narrow down your choices until you’ve picked your ideal specialty.
- Seek professional advice
If you are still not sure which specialty to take up, you might want to ask your professors or advisors in law school. Ask them about their areas of specialty and weigh the pros and cons of each one. Let them know about your proficiencies and your attitude towards work.
They can give you valuable advice based on their firsthand experience so you won’t have to stress over your job prospects. Keep in mind that they will only suggest what’s right from their perspective. It’s still you who gets to call the shots.
Are you planning to take up a specialty in the legal world? You need to know if you are going in the right direction. Keep these tips in mind as you make your mark as an attorney.
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