Pre-Law Opportunities Newsletter

Posted in Announcements News | Tagged pre-law

May 5, 2022 – Upcoming Events, Opportunities & Resources

FROM THE ADVISOR:

Deciding whether or not to attend law school and become a lawyer is a big decision. Completing law school entails a massive investment of time, energy, and money. Before you make this commitment, be sure to reflect at least a little on whether law school and law are for you. If you’re one of those people who has long possessed a deep desire to attend law school and become a lawyer and are sure in this determination, great! If not, here are some brief exercises that you might consider engaging in.

First, think about potential jobs that seem attractive to you (click here for a multitude of potential legal fields to practice in). Do they require a Juris Doctor (JD) degree? Do they require that you pass a state bar exam? If not, take a step back and think about the avenues, educational and otherwise, that might lead to those jobs. Look up individuals who hold those positions and see what degrees and experiences they possess, and reach out to them to inquire into what they found important to reach their current positions. Law school may still end up being the route for you, but there may also be other avenues that might be more effective at getting you where you want to be.

Second, consider checking out a free law course offered by an online course portal like Coursera or Edx. Many law schools and law professors offer such courses. See what a law course is like and what sort of information and skills are focused on and imparted. Do you find the material interesting? Does analyzing such material in such a manner seem enticing academically and professionally? Third, reach out to alums or non-alums who are attorneys, perhaps working in legal fields that seem appealing to you. Ask if they mind having a brief phone conversation or coffee chat with you about law school, the legal profession, and their jobs specifically. Most people are happy to have short meetings with students to talk about their experiences and answer questions. You can also seek out legal education opportunities here at Georgetown, like constitutional law classes and the Prisons and Justice Initiative.

Finally, look into internship and externship opportunities in legal offices to work with lawyers and see what they do day-to-day. And consider working for a year or two following graduation as a paralegal or legal assistant to gain similar experience and exposure to legal professions.

Have at it!

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Please note that this is a sampling of jobs and internships with approaching application deadlines. Go to Handshake to see the complete list.

Seven Steps to Choosing the Best Law School for You

(PreLaw Magazine) You can’t find the right school if you don’t know what you want from the beginning. But how do you choose a school that will lend its name to the rest of your career? (Read More)

Industry Advisor:
Andreas Kuersten
andreas.kuersten@georgetown.edu

Resources:
Writing Resumes & Cover Letters
Networking Skills
Interviewing Skills
What Can I Do with My Georgetown Major?

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Visit Handshake to schedule an appointment with your industry advisor.

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