Work Experience Before Law School

One of the best things you can do before going to law school is to work in a law firm or at a government agency. Many law firms have internship programs; failing that, you can take a job as a paralegal. In larger firms, paralegal pay can be quite good and you'll get to see how a law firm really works. Litigation paralegals do a variety of jobs, ranging from the mundane (cataloging files, going through documents) to the complex (research) to the downright dull (organizing boxes of documents, alphabetizing, copying). Paralegals are general helpers in the case and, although they cannot practice law, they can become quite adept at identifying and working on legal issues. Paralegals might even be the employees most familiar with the legal arguments and supporting documents in a case. Paralegals see many different kinds of legal documents and whether they're editing or merely copying them, this familiarity will give them a leg up in law school. There is a difference between those who have seen real legal briefs and those who get their knowledge from Court TV.

If law firm life doesn't appeal, consider working at a government agency. Whether it's the local district attorney's office, the public defender's office or the EEOC, government agencies deal with legal issues and the court system on a daily basis. As an intern, there's no guarantee that your tasks will be exciting or that you'll get to see the really interesting cases. And chances are, you'll be working for free. But working with government lawyers, as well as seeing whom they represent, can give you a real sense of what litigators in the government sector do. It's also a good way to get rid of preconceptions you may have gained from the media about the glamorous life of some prosecutors and defense attorneys and the drama of the courtroom.

If you don't have or can't afford to get legal experience, then general work experience is handy as well. You might think that embarking on a second career in law is a step back, but it's a step that a large percentage of your law class is probably taking. Most law schools do focus on undergraduate grades and LSAT scores, but many also consider relevant work experience in their decision-making process. If you don't get legal work experience, make sure you talk to as many litigators as you can find, particularly those who practice in the fields that interest you. They can tell you about their day-to-day experiences and offer you some tips for success.