Well, it’s fall. The leaves are changing color and there will soon be pumpkin spice flavored everything. Along with the usual festivities, autumn is typically the time when prospective students apply to law school. Given that I am currently one of these students, I thought it would be useful to explore some reasons why someone should apply to law school.

• You don’t care about the money- The media representation of lawyers is often one of fancy cars and luxurious living. However, this is often not the case. On average, the starting salary for a freshly-minted attorney is sixty-two thousand dollars. Couple that with the astronomical student debt crisis in this country, and the law is not as luxurious a profession as it once was. This is a field where you need to genuinely like what you do. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for future unhappiness.
• You are passionate about a certain legal field- Being a lawyer entails many long hours working on a complex case, reading through tedious contracts, or studying case law. If you are not passionate about a certain field of the law, these tasks can quickly become both overwhelming and stressful.
• You don’t seek validation or acceptance- Being a lawyer, especially someone involved in criminal defense, can often be a thankless existence. No one wants you to succeed. Most people have a visceral, gut reaction when they hear about crimes. They want the accused to be punished swiftly. You need to be comfortable standing up for our system of laws and less concerned about what the judges, families of the victims, and the police think of you. This is not a career to get into if you’re uncomfortable with criticism.
• You are willing to challenge authority- A successful lawyer is not the person who sits meekly in a corner, unwilling or uncomfortable with speaking their mind. A successful lawyer does not care who they offend or upset as long as they advocate for their client or cause. Furthermore, you must be comfortable standing up to systems of power, be they an influential corporation or an unfriendly judge.
• You are comfortable advocating for others- At its core, being a lawyer is about being an effective advocate. It is important to realize that you may not particularly like, or even outright dislike, some of your clients. But that shouldn’t get in the way of providing competent and effective legal representation.
• You are able to separate your emotions from your logic- It is certainly true that many courtroom trials are replete with dramatic intensity and passion. However, a trial is essentially a highly structured argument. Yes, you should be passionate and intense, but do not let your emotions effect the presentation of your argument. It is not about you. It is about who you’re representing.
• You want to be intellectually challenged- The law is a fascinating field. Our legal system affects all of our lives each and every day. Given this, being a lawyer provides a unique perspective on the forces that shape our lives. If classes such as Constitutional Law interest you, a career in law may be just the intellectual challenge you’re looking for.
• You enjoy arguing- This may seem obvious, but it’s actually more nuanced than one may first assume. To be a lawyer, you should really enjoy to debate regardless of the subject matter. You should be excited and enthralled when arguing about an issue. If getting into a disagreement with someone causes you to become upset, consider a different career.
• You enjoy being in school- Becoming a lawyer takes a very long time. Four years of undergraduate work, three years in law school, and a difficult state bar exam are all prerequisites for becoming an attorney. If the prospect of more school and studying after undergrad makes you nervous, this may not be the field for you.
• You’re comfortable being a leader- You don’t have to be president of your SGA or captain of the football team to make a successful attorney, but you should be comfortable with assuming a great deal of responsibility. Your clients will be depending upon you and you’ll often be going up against an, at best, apathetic judicial system.