Law school isn’t easy. In fact, it’s likely a lot harder than you think it is. Law students are expected to work efficiently without distractions and implement rigorous study habits to master the learning material. It’s a field of study and a professional career that requires a lot of grit and perseverance. If you’re aiming to take this path, just know that it requires a lot of real hard work. You’ll be exposed to a variety of issues about equality and fairness. You will spend a lot of your hours buried in reading material. But what’s most important is that you take advantage of your education to become the person you’re meant to be and open doors to a rewarding profession. Here’s what you need to know about studying law.
Studying law involves a lot of reading.
You’ve probably heard the following saying at some point, “If you’re good at math, become an engineer. If you’re good at English, become a lawyer.” This is often said because lawyers spend a lot of their time reading. There are tons of law books out there, and law students are usually holed up in the library trying to learn about different laws and academic opinions. If you plan on studying law, it’s best to be prepared. Think about a large amount of reading you’ve had in the past and double that amount. Then, triple that amount. As a law student, you might end up in the ballpark of the required reading. Start learning how to read efficiently to find the most important details a lot faster.
Getting a good education is crucial to your cause.
Malliha Wilson served as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Ontario Government. She went to McGill University for her undergraduate degree. Then, she obtained her law degree from York University. She attributes her success as an activist to her education. Malliha’s goal to serve underrepresented communities would have never come to fruition if it weren’t for her education. If there is a cause that you’re interested in fighting for, the best way to get there is by educating yourself and studying law in the name of public service.
Small details matter.
Knowing that law school involves a lot of reading, you may be tempted to skip some passages to find the important parts. But in law school, all of the small details matter. In practice, you’ll have to remember a lot of them. And you’ll find that the smallest of details will be crucial to your cases. These give you a better overall picture of what you’re dealing with in key cases.
It’s essential to be organized.
If you want to do well at law school, you need to learn how to work smarter. And if you’re going to work smarter and more efficiently, you need to be organized. Be a planner and prioritize your work. Avoid reading things at the last minute and do your absolute best to set yourself up for success.
Law school will cost you.
If you’re ever going to make an impressive career as a young lawyer, then you’ll have to face all the obstacles of law school. One of those obstacles may be finances. Like most graduate programs, law school is expensive. Hopefully, you’ve earned some high school scholarships to get through your undergraduate degree and saved up for law school when you had the chance. Not only is studying law difficult, but it also costs a lot of money.
While studying law, you might find yourself questioning your decision as to your knee-deep in reading material and spending all of your waking hours in the library. Like any degree program, it has its ups and downs. It’s important to remember your “why” and use it as motivation to keep going.
