Political Science

Part II: Deciding to Pursue a Law Degree

“Law is more an art than a science.  The reality lawyers seek in analyzing a case is not always well-defined.  Legal study, therefore, requires an attentive mind and a tolerance for ambiguity.  Because many people believe incorrectly that the study of law involves the memorization of rules in books and principles dictated by learned professors, law schools often attract those people who especially value structure, authority, and order.  The study of law does not involve this kind of certainty, however; complex legal questions do not have simple legal solutions.” (ABA-LSAC 2005, p. 7)

The decision to pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree should be grounded in a thoughtful, sincere, and informed process in which you honestly evaluate your reasons for coming to that decision.  A legal education can be both challenging and rewarding, as can your preparation for a legal education.  It can be exhilarating, but can also be deadening if you are not prepared intellectually or temperamentally.

The American Bar Association and the Law School Admissions Council identify a number of requisite skills for success in law school and in the practice of law (Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, 2005):

Writing Skills

Writing is the most important skill you can develop in preparation for law school.  Aspiring attorneys must have the capacity to express themselves clearly and concisely.  While law school will develop your writing skills, you should come to law school with a background in rigorous analytical writing, including the preparation of multiple original pieces of substantial length.

Analytic and Problem Solving Skills

This skill set includes a facility with critical thinking about important issues, tolerance for uncertainty, experience in structuring and evaluating arguments for and against propositions open to reasoned debate.  In addition, students should come to law school with highly developed problem-solving skills with which they can apply previously developed principles or theories to new situations and develop solutions to those new problems.

Critical Reading Abilities

Students should have substantial experience at close reading and critical analysis of complex textual material.  Law school should not be the first occasion for you to engage in the enterprise of carefully reading and understanding, and critically analyzing, complex material of substantial length.  Law schools regularly expect students to read, understand, and assess large amounts of material in a very short period of time.

Oral Communication and Listening Abilities

In addition to effective written communication, the ability to speak clearly and persuasively is another essential skill for success in law school and in the practice of law.  Also, students must have excellent listening skills to succeed in law school and in their practice when communicating with clients.

General Research Skills

While you will learn many helpful research skills that are specific to the law, you should come to law school with substantial experience with rigorous research.  If you go to law school without ever having undertaken a project that required significant library research and the analysis of large amounts of information obtained from that research, you would be at a severe disadvantage.

Task Organization and Management Skills

Legal reasoning requires the ability to organize large amounts of information, to identify objectives, and to create a structure for applying that information in a concise manner to achieve the desired results.  This is often expected to be accomplished in a very short amount of time.  Thus, you must be prepared to organize and assimilate large amounts of information in a way that facilitates the recall and application of that information in an effective and efficient manner.

Serving Others and Promoting Justice

Each member of the legal system must be dedicated both to the objectives of serving others honestly, competently, and responsibly, and to the goals of improving fairness and the quality of justice in the legal system.

Knowledge

As law has become more pervasive throughout our society, and as our society is increasingly influenced by a multiplicity of national and global forces, a broad knowledge base is essential for success in law school and in the legal profession.  You will acquire an in-depth understanding of many areas of specific law in law school, but you should enter law school with a solid fundamental foundation upon which your legal education can be built.  For example, you should have:

• A broad understanding of history, particularly American history, and the multiple dimensions of that history (including social, economic, political, cultural dimensions).
• A fundamental understanding of political philosophy, and of the contemporary American political system.
• A fundamental understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice, liberty, and equality.
• A solid grounding in economics, including microeconomics, and an understanding of the relationship between economic theory and public policy.
• Fundamental mathematical and financial skills, including basic precalculus.
• A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.
• A fundamental understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities of our world.