The Bar Blues

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Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Lawyer?

It is a question that every aspiring LSAT taker and law school applicant should spend some serious time pondering—especially in this climate. But the question extends beyond that. Do you have what it takes to be a lawyer and will you enjoy it?
It is no secret being an attorney isn’t exactly as glamorous as portrayed on the boob tube. It takes hard work. It takes long and sometimes lonely hours scouring case briefs and notes. So, do you have what it takes to be a lawyer?
This week, the Kaplan Blog provides some traits that are necessary for success in the law profession. First, you have to be a people person. Turns out, the vast majority of court cases never reach a courtroom. They are largely settled through negotiations before ever reaching trial. This means lawyers should be adept at working with a diverse group of people—the client, other counsel, and the judge, in the very least.
Next, the art of persuasion is very helpful. Duh. The point of being an attorney is to convince the judge and jury that your client is in the right. This means that skilled written and oral persuasion are musts. It is also essential to be independent and self-disciplined. Attorneys do not have time for hand-holding. Green attorneys should be able to work independently, be enterprising, and work as self-starters. Once in the big, scary world of law, attorneys are expected to swim by themselves. Sinking is not an option.
It is also essential to be able to put your head down and endure the grind. Law is tedious. There is lots of research and grunt work—especially as a young lawyer. It is best to accept it, embrace it, and grind on. Next, don’t take things at face value. You must examine the argument or stance for the underlying gaps and flaws. Finally, like most professions, you should network. This doesn’t mean working the room. It means creating deep and lasting relationships with others from the moment one sets foot into law school.
If you are skilled at any or all of these, you will probably end up being a successful and happy lawyer. If not, you might want to think about developing the skills or exploring life outside of the LSAT practice tests.
Source: Kaplan Blog
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