Greetings! If you ever find yourself reading this article I hope it can assist you with your choices before applying for law school. First off, to answer your question whether or not you should know which area of law you want to practice in the future, the simplest answer is no, at least for me. When I first applied for law school I had really vague ideas of what law school is like and I only knew criminal law and contract law from popular culture portraying lawyers in television shows like Suits and Legally Blonde.
Before I dive into the topic I believe that it is crucial that before you wish to pursue a field of study one thing that you should always keep in mind is to ask yourself whether or not it is something you would devote yourself to in 5 to 10 years in the future. Law school requires hours of reading and not to mention recognizing key principles from case studies and applying them in examinations or hypothetical questions during tutorial sessions. However, if you are a voracious reader, the law could be just the right field of study to consider.
1.Researching
Firstly, researching the areas of law you are going to learn in law school could be really helpful just to get a rough idea before deciding to apply. I was quite lucky since I had relatives who were lawyers and law professors to give me some insights about areas of law. I could vividly remember visiting my uncle’s law firm and was in total awe of their working culture, the stacks of legal documents, the hardcover law textbooks and statutes. I was mesmerized by how these lawyers carry themselves in a way that they have brilliant strategies to win a case in court. He even showed me a previous personal injury case he handled and it gave me a rough idea about negligence while I was still in my foundation years. However, if you do not have any relatives with any background in law, the internet is the best source for you to do your research. There are plenty of articles and blog posts written by law students in Malaysia to give you some insights or exposure to the courses and their materials. Although quizzes and tests to determine which area of law suits your passion are available online do keep in mind they are not totally accurate but it's worth a try. All in all, just remember to keep an open mind during your research.
2. Extracurricular and faculty activities
During my 1st year, I decided to join ALSA just after orientation week. I was convinced to join a law association club but was particularly drawn to ALSA’s events which one of the activities they previously conducted was a client consultation event. I am grateful for the opportunities I was granted while joining ALSA to assist in handling webinar events and participate in events that invite human rights activists, animal rights activists, successful corporate and environmental law lawyers and esteemed law scholars and professors with expertise in various areas of law. It was never a dull moment and it kept my law journey memorable and enjoyable despite being in online distance learning mode. More importantly, it taught me to keep an open mind during my first year with regards to different types of areas of law and I am always eager to learn.
3. Internships
Lastly, during semester breaks, I encourage you to apply for internships in law firms specialising in an area of law that you might be interested in. It could give you plenty of exposure from lawyers handling cases in the area of law that you are considering practising in the future. I have yet to start any internships but you should always approach your seniors in law school to hear from their experiences doing internships.
To sum it all up, if you have done your research before applying and are passionate about learning law, you should not be compelled or make up your mind once you are in your 1st year just yet. Just remember to keep an open mind along with your journey and master analytical thinking skills as well as being able to apply key principles and law in your exam questions! I hope this article will be helpful to future candidates and all the best!
Kommentare