i am a lawyer essay

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

What I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Lawyer

• Dustin S. McCrary

There is always going to be more work — we can’t say the same about our health.

In the past few years, we’ve learned how common burnout is. In this article, the author opens up about their experience of prioritizing their job as a lawyer over their own mental health, and shares some strategies young lawyers or new grads can use to avoid falling into this trap.

• Before taking a job, gauge the company culture. If you take a job in a work environment that doesn’t value you beyond your skills or take care of your psychological health, it’s going to be unsustainable in the long run.
• Don’t ignore your physical triggers. If you feel stressed during your workday, practice small things like staying hydrated, breathing deeply for a few seconds, or taking a short walk around your office to physically disconnect.
• The hard truth is that the legal profession is extremely draining. So, build a life outside work. This could look like taking regular time off such as vacation or personal days. Another option is to look for hobbies and activities outside work that energize you and give you joy.
• Finally, give yourself a little grace. At the end of the day, remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

When I started law school, I loved it. The hypercompetitive classroom, the demanding coursework, and the adrenaline rush of solving complex cases drove me to pursue this career. Once I officially earned the job title “lawyer,” I was drawn even more to the fast-paced work culture. I wanted to stand out, make a difference, and find my own niche. My work was my passion and it empowered me.

• Dustin S. McCrary  is the founder of the Law Office of Dustin S. McCrary, PLLC based in Statesville, N.C. He focuses his practice on the legal needs of divorce and separation serving his clients in all aspects of the process including separation, child custody, child support, alimony and spousal support, property distribution, and domestic violence. McCrary recently published a new book called “Helping Your Children Cope with Divorce.”

Partner Center

Sign up to our Newsletter

How to write a 'why this law school' essay with examples.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 2/6/24

Entering law school? Knowing how to approach the “why law” school essay is vital—it's your tool to articulate why their institution is the ideal match for your legal goals. Let's get straight to it.

Getting into law school involves more than just grades—it's about convincing the admissions team why their school is the perfect fit for you. 

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of crafting a strong "Why This Law School" essay, using clear examples and practical advice to help your application stand out in the competitive pool of applicants. So, let's get down to the essentials that will make your essay a key asset in securing your spot at the law school of your choice.

Writing the "Why This Law School" Essay

When writing your "Why This Law School" essay, it's important to thoughtfully consider key elements to express your connection with clarity and purpose. So, let’s take a look at how to write a “why law” school essay.

Generating Ideas for Impactful Content

When you're getting ready to write your “why law” school essay, start by doing some research. Dig into the school's culture, mission, faculty, and special projects. Learn about their history and what campus life is like.

Next, think about what genuinely interests you about the school. It could be their commitment to diversity, a specific course they offer, or interesting internship opportunities . Write down these things that catch your attention.

Now, connect your own experiences, events, and skills with the things you found interesting about the school. If they're big on diversity, share your own experiences supporting inclusivity. 

If there's a specific course you like, talk about how your past courses and work experiences make you a great fit. Basically, show them why you're not just any applicant but someone who can really add to what makes the school unique.

Stating Academic and Career Goals

A concise statement sets the stage, pinpointing what draws you to the school. Perhaps it's the renowned faculty or the emphasis on practical skills. Illustrate with a personal example—maybe a transformative moment during an internship or a class—that aligns with the school's values. Showcase your connection.

Highlight how your future aspirations intertwine with the school's strengths. Whether it's honing specific legal skills or contributing to a particular aspect of the academic community, paint a vivid picture of what you aim to achieve. Keep it focused, emphasizing the tapestry of alignment between your goals and the school's offerings.

Exploring Unique Opportunities Related to Your Interests

When explaining why a specific law school captures your attention, it's crucial to move beyond generic features and explore the distinctive opportunities the institution offers. For instance, consider the case of the UC Berkeley School of Law .

Dive into specific clinics like the Environmental Law Clinic, renowned professors such as Professor Abhay Aneja , or cutting-edge research projects like the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology. By delving into these unique aspects, you showcase genuine interest in what sets Berkeley Law apart.

Establishing a personal connection to these opportunities is key. It's not just about what Berkeley Law provides; it's about how programs like these align with your personal and professional goals. 

This connection adds depth to your application, demonstrating how you'll not only benefit from these opportunities but also contribute positively to the overall Berkeley Law community. Effectively communicating this alignment enhances your case for being an ideal fit for the institution.

Adding Top Academic and Extracurricular/Social Reasons for Application

Crafting a compelling application involves presenting a balanced approach that seamlessly integrates both academic and extracurricular or social reasons for your choice. Showcase a comprehensive understanding of the law school's offerings, not only in terms of curriculum but also in the broader context of the overall student experience.

To demonstrate fit, articulate how your academic pursuits align harmoniously with the school's curriculum. Illustrate how the courses, faculty expertise, and academic environment resonate with your educational goals. Simultaneously, emphasize how your extracurricular interests contribute meaningfully to the broader community. 

Whether it's involvement in student organizations, community service, or social initiatives, conveying a holistic engagement paints a picture of a candidate who will not only excel academically but also enrich the social fabric of the law school.

Knowing the Right Essay Length

If there are no guidelines, aim for around one double-spaced page, roughly 250–350 words. Format your essay like your personal statement, using "Interest in School X" in the header unless the application specifies otherwise (e.g., "Supplemental Essay One"). This ensures a smooth and organized flow of your thoughts throughout your application.

Thinking about length isn't just a detail; it's a sign of respecting the application process and the committee's time. This consideration makes your response more impactful and shows you get the importance of being concise without losing depth.

Seeking Professional Assistance

Starting your law school journey involves complexities, from crafting a strong application to excelling in standardized tests like the LSAT , GRE, Bar Exam, or MPRE. At Juris Education, our experienced admissions counselors are here to guide you through every step.

Navigating the details of expressing your achievements and overcoming setbacks can be challenging. Our team offers personalized guidance to help you strategically present your unique strengths, ensuring they connect with admissions committees.

Our consulting services are more than just advice; they make a real difference. Specifically designed for applicants dealing with challenges like low GPAs or LSAT scores, we specialize in turning setbacks into strengths, significantly improving your chances of acceptance.

We work closely with you to identify and highlight your standout qualities, tailoring your application to showcase what makes you exceptional. This personal touch sets you apart and boosts your appeal to admissions committees.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your “Why This Law School” Essay

Avoiding common pitfalls in your "Why This Law School" essay is crucial for clarity:

1. Vague Statements

When writing your essay, steer clear of vague language that could apply to any law school. Instead, focus on specific elements that make the institution unique, such as distinctive programs, esteemed faculty, or unparalleled opportunities. 

Get into the details when discussing academic offerings—highlight faculty members aligned with your interests and pinpoint programs resonating with your academic goals. This specificity not only reveals your research depth but also establishes a thoughtful connection to the school.

2. Overemphasis on Reputation

While acknowledging a law school's prestige is vital, avoid fixating solely on reputation without linking it to your personal and professional goals. Admission committees want to understand how the school's reputation aligns with your aspirations and why it's the ideal place for your legal education. 

Connect the school's reputation to your objectives to provide a nuanced perspective. For instance, if a law school is renowned for environmental law , emphasize this alignment if you're passionate about environmental advocacy.

3. Ignoring Extracurricular/Social Aspects

Don't overlook the significance of social and extracurricular factors in your decision-making process. Law school extends beyond academics; it's a comprehensive experience involving a community, networking opportunities, and extracurricular activities . Integrate both academic and extracurricular aspects into your essay. 

Discuss how the law school's social environment, student organizations, and community engagement contribute to a holistic educational experience. This showcases a well-rounded understanding of the institution and its role in your overall legal education.

Structuring Your "Why This Law School?" Essay Effectively

Let's dive into how to make your "Why This Law School?" essay stand out by structuring it effectively.

Outlining Key Points and Themes

Making your "Why This Law School?" essay easy to understand involves a strategic approach:

1. Identify School-Specific Elements

Begin by pinpointing specific aspects of the law school that catch your interest—unique programs, esteemed faculty, or notable achievements. This lays the groundwork for a focused and impactful essay.

For instance, if the law school is known for its environmental law program and you're passionate about sustainability, highlight this in your essay. Show a deep understanding of the school's offerings and how they align with your personal and professional goals.

2. Prioritize Impactful Points

Once you've figured out what matters to you, rank them based on how much they affect your decision. What stands out the most to you? What fits well with your career goals? Putting the most impactful points first helps keep your essay clear and persuasive.

For instance, if the law school has a special program where you can work directly with clients, and this lines up with your goal of getting hands-on legal experience, make sure to highlight this. The goal is to show a sincere and careful tie to the institution.

3. Create a Logical Flow

Plan your essay with a clear order, starting with the most important points. Transition smoothly between your academic, extracurricular, and personal experiences to create a cohesive story that highlights your deep understanding of the law school and why it suits you.

For example, if your interest in environmental law relates to your commitment to community service, make sure to emphasize this connection. A well-structured and logically flowing essay enhances readability and strengthens your overall argument for why the law school is an ideal match for you.

Combining Academic and Extracurricular/Social Reasons

Ensuring balance is key when shaping your "Why This Law School?" essay. It's not just about academics; it's about capturing the broader law school experience. Avoid going all-in on one side; try to reflect your appreciation for academic offerings and your potential impact on the law school community.

Discuss how your academic path blends seamlessly with the social dynamics of law school. Share how your classes and extracurricular interests harmonize, illustrating how your involvement in student organizations weaves effortlessly into your coursework.

For instance, if the law school's clinical programs align with your academic groove, delve into how it extends beyond conventional study methods. Emphasize the practical, real-world learning experiences it offers. 

By showcasing this interconnected approach, you demonstrate a well-thought-out perspective on your entire law school journey, adding an authentic and profound dimension to your essay.

Using Feedback and Editing Wisely

As you fine-tune your "Why This Law School" essay, let's talk about using feedback and editing in a smart and effective way.

1. Reach Out for Help

Before finishing your essay, get input from people you trust. Share your essay with mentors, peers, or advisors to get helpful feedback. Others can offer insights and spot areas for improvement that you might miss.

Choose people who know about the law school application process and can give constructive feedback on what you've written. Their input is essential for polishing both the content and presentation of your essay.

2. Revision Time

Revise your essay based on feedback, focusing on clarity, coherence, and strengthening your argument. Make sure to pay attention to suggestions that take your narrative to the next level. If feedback aligns with your goals, try to incorporate it. But, most importantly, trust your judgment and maintain the integrity of your narrative if a suggestion doesn't make sense with your vision.

3. Final Polishing

Before you submit your essay, focus on a last edit for grammar, style, and overall coherence. Make sure it fits the word or character limit and stays well-organized. Check how ideas flow, transitions between paragraphs, and the general readability.

A refined essay shows your dedication to a thoughtful application. Spend a moment on this final review to catch any remaining errors and guarantee your essay leaves the intended impression.

3 Examples of Successful “Why This Law School” Essays

Explore three successful examples of "Why This Law School" essays to gain practical insights into crafting compelling narratives and building strategic connections. Each “why law” school essay example has something to offer. Let’s get into them.

1. "Why Northwestern" Essay Example

Prompt : While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community. In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond. (300 words max)

Essay Example

“I love Northwestern’s academic flexibility, including the freedom of the curriculum to explore a variety of fields and the emphasis on cross-department study. Also, the quarter system provides a faster pace of learning and the opportunity to take more classes than a semester school.

Specifically, I am excited by the Spanish and Portuguese departments and the classes on Hispanic and Lusophone culture, literature, and phonetics. 

For example, the accelerated Portuguese program is a perfect way to pick up the language at a faster pace using my prior knowledge of Spanish. I intend to supplement my language acquisition through the study abroad programs offered at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro or an affiliate program in Santiago, Chile. 

Additionally, the GESI program in Costa Rica is another intriguing opportunity through its intersectionality. It will allow me to combine a practical application of my language skills with studies in environmental conservation that I find a pressing and interesting issue. As an open-minded learner keen to forge links between academic fields of study, I believe I would be an excellent fit for the program.

I am also interested in Linguistics and pursuing undergraduate research or possibly undertaking the coterminal BA/MA program. The opportunity to link my research to a modern language of choice and investigate, for example, regional variation in Latin American Spanish or how Portuguese loanwords have infiltrated native Amazonian languages sounds fascinating and exciting.

Finally, the unique sense of community at Northwestern captivated me when I visited campus. The residential college system, the school spirit at Wildcat games, and the friendliness of the students I met, one of whom described the school as “the most welcoming place ever”, were all emblematic of this atmosphere for me. I think I will thrive in such a dynamic and inquisitive place.”

Why This Essay Works

This essay does a great job answering the prompt. It's clear and to the point. The applicant talks about why they're excited about Northwestern, like the flexibility of the curriculum and the quarter system. 

They also get specific about their interests, like the Portuguese program and study abroad opportunities. Plus, they mention their enthusiasm for the community at Northwestern, which is a nice touch.

2. "Why Tufts?" Essay Example

Prompt : Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, "Why Tufts?" (150 words max)

“The cross-curricular focus and freedom of study at Tufts would allow me to pursue an interdisciplinary major and draw together my love for Spanish, Portuguese, Linguistics, and the natural sciences. This unique ability to design my own major by combining elements from a variety of academic fields definitely excites me. To support this, I intend to participate in the study abroad program in Chile or a civic semester in Urubamba, Peru that will allow me to practice my language skills while also benefitting the local community and gaining an invaluable cultural understanding through intimate homestay experience. Other than the academics, the vibrant community at Tufts also attracts me, with the warm and compassionate students acting as flattering adverts for the school. One student I spoke with described the average Jumbo as “goofy and loving” which I feel accurately matches my own character and outlook.

(144/150 words)”

This essay works because it clearly shows how Tufts University's cross-curricular approach aligns with the applicant's academic interests in Spanish, Portuguese, Linguistics, and the natural sciences. 

It also conveys the applicant's intention to craft a unique major and engage in enriching experiences like studying abroad and contributing to local communities. Additionally, it portrays Tufts as a welcoming and compassionate community through the description provided by a current student, making a strong case for why the applicant is interested in the university.

3. "Why Tulane?" Essay Example

Prompt : Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University (optional). (50-800 words)

“Tulane University has a unique history, deeply established in the city it calls home, New Orleans. After transitioning from a medical school to a full college in in 1847, then undergoing a name change from the University of Louisiana to Tulane in 1884, as the city changed, Tulane changed with it. Tulane is the crossroad of two distinctly different ideals: being rooted in tradition and adapting to the needs of modern society.

When the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Tulanians answered the call to serve. Scott S. Cowen, then-President of Tulane, refused to let the hurricane ruin Tulane and the CIty. Tulanians were part of rescue and clean-up teams, devoting time and resources to rebuilding their school and the city it calls home. What was most impressive, however, was their resilience.

It would’ve been easy for the student body and staff to not come back. Being as smart and service-oriented as they are, the students and faculty could’ve found another place to live and learn easily. Yet, they returned. Tulanians have a certain sense of pride and commitment to the school that I admire. 

They could’ve stayed home and not gone back, but they wanted to pick up the pieces of the school they love. It’s clear that Tulanians take ownership in their education. I want to go to a school that my peers want to go to; I want to be immersed in a community as excited about being in it as I am. That’s Tulane.

I could go on and on about Tulane’s teacher education program. I could write about how Tulane-educated teachers are leaders in their fields because they have both a degree in their area of study as well as certification to teach. Maybe I could mention the service learning requirements necessary to graduate and enter the teacher certification program, ensuring that the teachers are prepared to instill morals in the students that walk through their classroom door.

Truthfully, I could go almost anywhere to become a teacher, but only schools like Tulane that synthesize in- and out-of-classroom learning produce great ones. Tulane, like I said before, houses a resilient and altruistic student body. They served New Orleans specifically in 2005, but Tulanians serve their community every single day. Newsweek ranked Tulane 19th for service-minded schools. Likewise, the U.S. News & World Report placed Tulane in the top 25 schools for service learning. It is one of the top schools for producing Peace Corps volunteers, a program that interested me for post-graduate work.

Whether it is through Outreach Tulane, CACTUS, Wave of Green, or another similar program, I will be immersed in service work throughout my four years. Tulane stands alone in its commitment to community. Classroom education is married with service learning, producing empathetic, worldly leaders ready to set the world on fire. In my case, that will be through educating the next generation.

I need a meaningful education to be a meaningful educator. Tulane is unparalleled in its dedication to development of the students, on a personal and intellectual level. From when I touch the Victory Bell after Convocation all the way to when I say farewell at the Wave Goodbye Party at Commencement, I’ll have changed and grown, both in my mind and in my heart.

The Tulane study body is diverse and well-rounded; finding people and groups with shared interests is inevitable. I could see myself writing for the Hullabaloo or being a tutor in the After-School Newcomb Tutoring (which will bridge my learning and my intended career and give practical application to my education classes). But more so, I can just envision myself at Tulane, as a Tulanian. The willowing oak, myrtle, and cypress trees, the world-renowned research facilities, the dedicated faculty, the motivated and inspired student body, and the timeless school spirit all lend itself to a picture I can see myself in.”

This essay does a great job of showing why the applicant wants to attend Tulane University. It talks about the university's history, how it responded to Hurricane Katrina, and why the applicant is interested in their teacher education program. 

It also mentions the strong commitment to service and personal growth at Tulane. Overall, it makes a strong case for why the applicant is excited about being a part of the Tulane community.

To sum it up, writing your “why law” school essay is all about storytelling. From understanding the unique aspects of law school to combining academic and extracurricular reasons, your essay is a chance to show why you're a perfect fit. 

Explore the unique opportunities the school provides, creating a personal connection that enhances your application. Keep it simple: Steer clear of common mistakes, and make sure your essay is well-structured. And don't forget, the right essay length is more than a detail—it shows respect for the application process.

If you find it helpful, consider getting expert advice for a well-guided path to law school. Take inspiration from successful examples as you start your writing journey, creating a narrative that sets you apart in the competitive realm of law school applications.

Schedule A Free Consultation

You may also like.

UC Berkeley Law School: Acceptance Rate & How to Get In

How To Become a Personal Injury Lawyer

• InterviewPenguin.com – Your best job interview coach since 2011

Why do you want to be a lawyer? Best sample answers

Studying law is no walk in a park . You’ll have to sacrifice a lot , and you will typically pay a lot for your degree–for a mere chance of obtaining it. What’s more, the demand for the places in the study program is incredibly high at any decent university offering law degrees . You will compete with many other people in the admission interviews, and unless you convince the committee of your motivation, they will choose someone else, and you will have to try your luck elsewhere, or wait one more year. So, why law ? Why did you choose law as a career?

Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. I tried to include in my selection a variety of answers, referring to different reasons, including some unconventional answers . Read them slowly, one after one, and consider whether any of them conveys the message you want to convey in your interviews, while trying to impress the admission committee members. Once done, do not forget to check also my notes below the answers, for additional hints on how to stand out and make sure they will remember you once the interviews end, and they decide about the successful applicants.

7 sample answers to “Why are you interested in studying law?” interview question

• I see a lot of injustice in the world . And now I do not talk only about poor countries and inequality we can observe over there. When you have your eyes open, you will see things aren’t much better in the US . Especially in the corporate world, but also in the families. And I’d like to play my part in making things better . I consider specializing either in family law or environmental law , because these two fields are really close to my heart and I consider them incredibly important at the moment , and I also believe there is a lot of room for new quality lawyers, people who can make some difference . I find it fascinating to imagine that I represent interests of people in front of a court one day. And though the road ahead is long, I am motivated and ready to try my best.
• I want to be completely honest with you: money is my main driving force. Let’s look at things as they are. I am lucky enough to belong to the brightest students in my city, and I also enjoy studying and working hard on my skills. With my grades and resume, I could get to almost any college , and study any subject. Because I know I would manage it, and I know they would accept me. So why not to try going for the pinnacle? Lawyers and other legal professionals earn excellent salaries and enjoy a lot of respect in their circles. And I would love to find myself in the same position one day, because I do not dream of earning an average wage. I want to make it big in my career, and provide for my family.
• I find law and excellent match for my personality and strengths . To start with, I have a great memory , excellent communication and argumentation skills. I am also extremely ambitious, but have strong moral codex  at the same time, which I believe is a good combination for any lawyer. And I enjoy talking to people, especially from the business world. That’s why I’d love to specialize in corporate law, and perhaps one day have my own legal office . This is why I want to be a lawyer, and not a doctor for example.
• I see law as a degree which offers one almost unlimited options on the employment market. Sure, the competition is huge. But nowadays, each organization, public or private, need someone with legal knowledge , someone who makes sure they adhere to the laws and regulations and avoid fines, someone who represents them in confrontations with various regulatory bodies. I believe that once I have a degree from your university, I will have many doors open. To sum it up, I see this degree as the best possible start to my professional career .
• Three reasons. First one, love for the field . It fascinates me how a skilled lawyer can save a business millions of dollars, or save an individual from years in prison. Second reason is financial stability . Lawyers do not struggle with monthly bills. And the third, equally important reason, is job security . People and companies will always go to court, needing assistance of legal professionals. Once you establish yourself on the market and get some clientele, you do not have to worry about having little work , or about losing your job…
• I honestly believe that law is such an important part of our life , and basically omnipresent, that each lawyer can make a positive difference in the individual lives of people they work with, and represent in front of the court of justice. The idea of helping people, and at the same time getting excellent compensation for my work , truly fascinates me. I believe you cannot find any other job field with similar characteristics. On the top of that, I am a great student, and have no doubts that I will manage to pass the exams and eventually get my degree. Law is a hard field, but I feel ready to make a great career in the field.
• I’ve always felt this need to help underprivileged people protect their rights. Maybe the main reason is that I also come from an underprivileged family , and I know how hard it was to get some justice, when we needed it the most. What’s more, I just love thinking out of the box , putting things together , and I have great attention to detail. I believe that job of attorney is a perfect choice from someone like me, considering my strengths, career goals, and everything else. And I cannot wait to start.

Special Tip : What if I told you that you can practice your answers to all tricky law school interview questions, getting an immediate feedback from a life-like AI interview coach ? And that you can start doing it for free , and it is a lot of fun too? 🙂 Check out this page on our partner website , Real Mock Interviews, pick a question, enter your email, and start practicing for free , either on your mobile phone or on your computer. Check it out now and see for yourself!

Try to be specific in your answer

I know it is hard to think about your future once you are in your early twenties. You have your entire life in front of you. So many options, but also many challenges this generation faces. Anyway, try to think about your future for a few minutes before going to your law school interview.

What field of law would you prefer to specialize in later on? Criminal, civil rights, family, immigration, or even international law? Once you choose the field, think about the position you’d like to have in it, in ten years from now . Maybe you want to work for a particular company, or on a particular case.

Perhaps you want to represent a particular group of people , or help members of a specific community. And maybe you’d like to start your own legal practice eventually, working for yourself, instead of for someone else. And while your goals may change several times until you earn your degree (if you manage to earn it at all, the average dropout rate at law school is over 20% ), it is still good to have a specific vision for your future , a vision which motivates you, and will help you to handle the heavy workload at school, as well as other challenges. The more specific you are in your answer, the better your chances to succeed. I wish you good luck!

Ready to answer this question? Great! But do not forget to check also other tricky questions you may face in your school admission interview:

• Does your academic record accurately reflect your capabilities?
• Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
• How do you handle success?
• Recent Posts

© InterviewPenguin.com

Privacy Policy

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

College Application Essay Tips for Aspiring Lawyers

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Alexander Oddo in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Describe your reasons why, career goals, the personal statement.

Your aspirations are an important component of what makes you who you are, and if you aspire to become a lawyer, you should share this information with any college or university that you apply to. In the college application process, essays are the best opportunity for you to discuss your passion for the law and your interest in becoming a lawyer. You may incorporate your legal aspirations into your personal statement or they may form the backbone of your supplemental essays where you respond to questions about why you are interested in a particular school, program, or major.

Generally speaking, a smart way to approach your essays is to introduce your interests and connect them to specific personal stories and goals. As a person who aspires to be a lawyer, you want to introduce your interests that relate to the law and describe what attracts you to the legal field. What is it about studying the law and becoming a lawyer that you find most compelling? Why does this path feel meaningful and necessary to you? Draw on specific experiences in your life and lessons you have learned to formulate your rationale for pursuing this career path. 

When you explain why you aspire to be a lawyer, be as specific as possible. “ Lawyers help people. The legal profession is lucrative.” These reasons are too simplistic and generic to provide any useful insight for an admissions officer to understand who you are. If you want to become a lawyer, you should explain your motivation to pursue this career path in terms of: 

• Why you want to help others and who you want to help, such as immigrants or victims of domestic violence
• What areas of the law interest you, such as tax law, family law, or corporate law
• What it is about studying and practicing law that appeals to you intellectually, such as that you have an analytical mind and enjoy solving complex problems
• What disciplinary perspectives you find interesting in relation to the law, such as history, philosophy, political science, public policy, or criminology 
• What experiences you have had and people you have met that have inspired you to pursue a legal career. Any experiences you cite should extend beyond your favorite episode of “Law and Order” or “How to Get Away with Murder.” Maybe a movie or TV show about the law initially sparked your interest, but then you developed this interest into an enduring passion by volunteering at your local courthouse, joining your high school’s mock trial team, or becoming certified as a paralegal. 

After you have thoroughly explained why you are interested in becoming a lawyer, you should look to the future and discuss your career goals. Identify a specific area of the law that you want to practice, and ground this in the various reasons why you want to become a lawyer. It is completely fine if you are not entirely sure what area of law you want to practice. Regardless, the winning strategy is to pick a specific area of law that you want to pursue and cite this consistently throughout your college applications. It will allow you to construct an application that is specific, developed, and memorable rather than overly general, unfocused, and potentially forgettable.

Ultimately, colleges and admissions officers will not hold you accountable for matching the goals and plans you outline in your essays. You are free to start college and decide that you don’t want to pursue a legal career at all. You should know before you apply to and attend law school whether you want to practice law, but undergraduate institutions recognize that you are young and still trying to explore your interests and define your goals. If you do pivot, admissions officers will rest assured because they know you have been through the process of creating a goal and that you can go through this process in any field you choose. 

If you are applying to a school that does not have any supplemental essays as part of its application, then you should discuss your legal aspirations in your Common Application personal statement. Your personal statement is the place in your application where you share your personal story, and you should tell this story in such a way that you weave your past, present, and future together. When you discuss your future, include some information about your interest in becoming a lawyer, drawing connections between this goal and your past experiences and present endeavors that inform and relate to your aspirations.

For more information, review this comprehensive guide on How to Write the Common Application Essays for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Answer the "Why Law School?" Essay Question

Are you struggling with the "Why Law School?" essay question? This article provides expert tips and strategies to help you craft a compelling answer that showcases your passion for the law and your unique qualifications.

Posted May 12, 2023

Featuring Cian S.

Law School: Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

Friday, april 19.

8:00 PM UTC · 45 minutes

If you are considering applying to law school, you will need to write a "Why Law School?" essay. This essay is an opportunity for you to explain why you want to pursue a legal education and why you are a strong candidate for admission to a particular law school. The essay is an important part of the application process and can ultimately make or break your chances of being accepted. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to answer the "Why Law School?" essay question.

The Importance of Addressing the "Why Law School?" Essay Question

The "Why Law School?" essay question is an opportunity for you to showcase your motivation, passion, and qualifications for pursuing a legal education. The essay allows admissions officers to understand your goals and aspirations, as well as your fit with a particular law school. It is important to address the essay question explicitly and thoughtfully as it can significantly impact your application's success.

One way to approach the "Why Law School?" essay question is to research the law school and its programs thoroughly. This will allow you to tailor your essay to the specific school and demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the institution. Additionally, you can use the essay to highlight any unique experiences or skills that make you a strong candidate for law school. Remember, the essay is not just about explaining why you want to go to law school, but also about showcasing why you are a good fit for the school and the legal profession.

Understanding the Purpose of the "Why Law School?" Essay Question

The "Why Law School?" essay question is designed to help admissions officers understand your motivations, goals, and fit with a particular law school. The question is intended to be open-ended, allowing you to provide a unique and personal response. Your essay should demonstrate your understanding of the legal field and showcase your qualifications and interests.

It is important to note that the "Why Law School?" essay question is not just about explaining why you want to attend law school, but also why you want to attend that specific law school. Admissions officers want to see that you have done your research and have a genuine interest in their institution. This can include discussing specific programs, clinics, or professors that align with your career goals. Additionally, your essay should highlight how you can contribute to the law school community and what unique perspectives or experiences you can bring to the table.

Researching Law Schools Before Writing the Essay

Before writing the "Why Law School?" essay, you should research the law schools you are interested in attending. This research will help you understand the school's academic programs, faculty, resources, and culture. It is important to identify how the school aligns with your personal and professional goals, and emphasize this connection in your essay.

One important aspect to consider when researching law schools is their location. Some law schools are located in urban areas, while others are in more rural settings. This can impact your overall experience as a student, as well as your opportunities for internships and networking. Additionally, you should research the school's alumni network and job placement rates to get a sense of the career opportunities available to graduates.

Another factor to consider is the school's approach to teaching and learning. Some law schools emphasize a more theoretical approach, while others focus on practical skills and experiential learning. Understanding the school's teaching philosophy can help you determine if it is a good fit for your learning style and career goals.

Highlighting Your Personal Motivations for Attending Law School

Your "Why Law School?" essay should highlight your personal motivations for attending law school. This can include your interests in law, social justice, advocacy, or any other relevant experiences. Your essay should showcase your passion and enthusiasm for the legal field.

Additionally, it is important to explain how attending law school aligns with your long-term career goals. This can include specific legal fields you are interested in pursuing, such as environmental law or intellectual property law. You can also discuss how a law degree will help you achieve your career aspirations, whether it be working in a law firm, government agency, or non-profit organization. By demonstrating a clear understanding of your career goals and how law school fits into them, you can further emphasize your commitment to pursuing a legal education.

Demonstrating Your Knowledge of the Legal Field

Your "Why Law School?" essay should demonstrate your knowledge of the legal field. This knowledge can come from previous experiences, such as internships or work experience, or through academic coursework. A deep understanding of the legal field will show admissions officers that you are prepared for the rigors of law school and committed to pursuing a legal education.

Additionally, you can also demonstrate your knowledge of the legal field by discussing current events and issues within the industry. This shows that you are not only knowledgeable about the past and present of the legal field, but also aware of its future direction and potential challenges. Including examples of how you have stayed up-to-date with legal news and developments can further strengthen your essay and showcase your passion for the field.

Showcasing Your Career Goals and Aspirations

Your "Why Law School?" essay should showcase your career goals and aspirations. This can include identifying the type of law you want to practice or explaining how a legal education will contribute to your long-term career aspirations. It is important to be specific in your goals and demonstrate how attending law school aligns with your overall career plan.

Additionally, you may want to consider discussing any relevant experiences or skills that have prepared you for a career in law. This could include internships, volunteer work, or previous jobs that have given you exposure to the legal field. By highlighting these experiences, you can demonstrate your commitment to pursuing a career in law and show admissions committees that you have a strong foundation to build upon in law school.

Incorporating Your Background and Life Experiences into the Essay

Your "Why Law School?" essay should incorporate your background and life experiences into your response. This can include explaining how your personal or professional experiences have led you to pursue a legal education. It is important to showcase how your unique perspective and experiences will enrich the law school community.

For example, if you have worked in a non-profit organization, you can discuss how this experience has given you a deeper understanding of the legal system and how it affects marginalized communities. Alternatively, if you have a background in science or engineering, you can explain how this has given you a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and the law.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Writing the "Why Law School?" Essay

When writing the "Why Law School?" essay, it is important to avoid common mistakes. These can include being too generic in your response, not demonstrating your fit with a particular school, or not being specific enough in your career goals or motivations. It is important to carefully read and follow the essay prompt and align your response with the law school's mission and values.

Another common mistake to avoid when writing the "Why Law School?" essay is focusing too much on your academic achievements and not enough on your personal experiences and qualities. Admissions committees want to see that you have a genuine passion for the law and a clear understanding of how pursuing a legal education will help you achieve your goals. Therefore, it is important to showcase your unique perspective and experiences, and how they have shaped your desire to attend law school.

Emphasizing Your Fit with the Law School's Culture and Curriculum

Your "Why Law School?" essay should emphasize your fit with the law school's culture and curriculum. This can include highlighting the school's unique academic programs, extracurricular activities, or faculty. Your essay should showcase why the law school is the best fit for you and how you will contribute to the school's community.

Additionally, it is important to research the law school's mission statement and values to ensure that your essay aligns with their goals. You can also mention any relevant experiences or skills that make you a strong candidate for the school. Remember to be specific and provide examples to support your claims. By demonstrating your fit with the law school's culture and curriculum, you increase your chances of being accepted and thriving in the program.

Using Specific Examples to Support Your Arguments

Your "Why Law School?" essay should use specific examples to support your arguments. This can include citing specific academic programs or faculty at the law school or discussing particular experiences or achievements that demonstrate your fit with the school. It is important to provide evidence to support your claims and demonstrate your unique qualifications.

Crafting a Convincing and Cohesive Narrative in Your Essay

Your "Why Law School?" essay should tell a convincing and cohesive narrative. This means that you should create a clear and logical structure for your essay, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Your essay should have a strong, central theme that ties together your arguments and demonstrates your overall fit with a particular law school.

Polishing and Editing Your "Why Law School?" Essay to Perfection

Before submitting your "Why Law School?" essay, it is important to polish and edit your writing to perfection. This means carefully proofreading your essay for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It also means ensuring that your essay follows the correct word count and formatting guidelines. A polished and well-written essay will make a strong impression on admissions officers.

Tips from Admissions Officers on Writing an Effective "Why Law School?" Essay

Admissions officers recommend that you take the time to carefully read and follow the essay prompt, research the law school thoroughly, and write a unique and personal response. It is important to showcase your passion for the legal field and align your response with the law school's values and mission. A strong and effective essay will make a memorable and positive impression on admissions officers.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Writing a Compelling "Why Law School?" Essay

The "Why Law School?" essay question is an important part of the law school application process. To write a compelling essay, it is important to research the law school, demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the legal field, identify your personal motivations and career goals, and showcase your fit with a particular law school. By following these key steps and tips, you can write a successful "Why Law School?" essay that will help you stand out from other applicants and secure your place in your dream law school.

Browse hundreds of expert coaches

Leland coaches have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. A dedicated mentor can make all the difference.

Browse Related Articles

May 12, 2023

How to Get Off the Law School Application Waitlist: Tips and Strategies for Admission

Are you stuck on the law school application waitlist? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Rising Above Limits: How to Get Into T14 Law Schools with a Low LSAT Score

Discover the secrets to getting into top-tier law schools with a low LSAT score.

7 Law School Essay Tips to Help You Stand Out in 2023

If you're planning to apply to law school in 2023, you'll want to read these 7 essay tips that will help you stand out from the competition.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Law School Admissions Coach

Considering hiring a law school admissions coach? Our article explores the advantages and disadvantages of using one, helping you make an informed decision about whether or not to seek professional guidance in your law school application process..

How to Pick the Perfect Law School Admissions Consultant for Your Background

Are you considering hiring a law school admissions consultant? Learn how to choose the perfect consultant for your unique background and goals with our comprehensive guide.

How to Get Into Law School as a Transfer Applicant

Are you considering transferring to a law school? Our article on "How to Get Into Law School as a Transfer Applicant" provides valuable insights and tips to help you navigate the transfer process successfully.

How to Get Into Law School from a Non-Legal Background

Are you interested in pursuing a career in law but come from a non-legal background? This article will provide you with valuable insights and tips on how to get into law school and succeed in your legal career.

How to Get Into Law School From a STEM Background

Are you a STEM major interested in pursuing a career in law? Our article "How to Get Into Law School From a STEM Background" provides valuable tips and insights on how to make the transition, including advice on preparing for the LSAT, highlighting your unique skills, and choosing the right law school program.

How to Get Into Law School as an Overly-Represented Candidate

Are you an overly-represented candidate looking to get into law school? Our article provides practical tips and strategies to help you stand out in the application process and increase your chances of acceptance.

Breaking Barriers: How to Successfully Apply to T14 Law Schools with a Low GPA

If you have a low GPA but dream of attending a T14 law school, this article is for you.

June 5, 2023

Beyond the LSAT and GPA: Other Factors That Can Impact Law School Admissions

Discover the other factors that can impact your chances of getting into law school beyond just your LSAT and GPA.

How to Get Into Law School as a Non-Traditional Candidate

Are you a non-traditional candidate looking to get into law school? This article provides valuable insights and tips on how to navigate the admissions process, highlight your unique experiences, and stand out among traditional applicants.

• Internships
• Career Advice

Law School Admissions Essays: Why Do I Want to Be a Lawyer?

Published: Mar 31, 2009

A less obvious, more common mistake is to write about how you want to help people. The fact is that most law school graduates, especially from the top schools, go on to work in the private sector. Law school admissions officers are not out to judge the moral value of your career intentions, particularly because they know that people often change their minds. They're well aware that most of their graduates will go on to seek financially rewarding careers. Therefore, applicants who mention clichis about wanting to "improve society" usually sound disingenuous.

Focusing on Specific Legal Areas

If you have a specific goal, such as working for a particular disadvantaged group that lacks advocates, then the situation is different: It's always good to showcase a unique, focused commitment. Even better would be if you had a track record of community service to back up your objectives. For example, you may have worked with handicapped people for several years, and this exposed you to certain injustices that you want to correct. The same approach would work for topics that are not about public service. For example, this applicant describes his background in science and connects this to his current interests in intellectual property law. He recognizes that his unusual background is a strength rather than a liability. His unique reasons for attending law school are clearly grounded in relevant experience and thoughtful consideration.

Personal Interests

Discussing specific areas of law is a surefire way to demonstrate a mature commitment to the study of law. However, admissions officers certainly do not expect this level of decisiveness. Another way to show your reasons for pursuing law is to tie your interest to personal qualities or skills. This applicant shows that her interest in law is grounded in her willingness to seek "justice at any cost." What's important is not that she be the only person with this conviction, because that would not be possible. Instead, the uniqueness comes through her personal details, the evidence that she provides to back up her principled nature.

Brushes With the Law

Some people will discover their interest in law through an unplanned encounter. This applicant describes her involvement in an Equal Employment Opportunity suit, then ties this in with her interest in environmental law. The result is an essay that provides two specific details: first, a concrete event that demonstrates her exposure to law, and second, a distinct field of law for which she has special qualifications to pursue.

This essay focuses even more explicitly on the role that law and lawyers have played in the applicant's life. Though the details of the essay still center on the applicant's background, he uses past encounters with the law to define his current objectives.

• Admission Essay
• Statement of Purpose Editing
• Personal Statement Editing
• Recommendation Letter
• Motivation Letter
• Cover Letter
• Supplemental Essay
• Letter of Continued Interest
• Scholarship Essay
• Role Model Essay
• Our Editors
• College Admission Essay Examples
• College Cover Letter Examples
• College Personal Statement Examples
• Graduate Personal Statement Examples
• Graduate Statement of Purpose Examples
• MBA Essay Examples
• MBA Personal Statement Examples
• MBA Resume Examples
• MBA Recommendation Letter Examples
• Medical School Personal Statement Examples
• Medical School Recommendation Letter Examples
• Pricing Plans
• Public Health
• Dissertation
• Research Paper
• Thesis Editing
• Academic Editing
• Motivation letter
• Letter of Recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Statement of Purpose

Why I Want To Be a Lawyer Essay Sample For Law Student

EssayEdge > Blog > Why I Want To Be a Lawyer Essay Sample For Law Student

Note: This essay appears unedited for instructional purposes. Essays edited by  experienced law editors  are dramatically improved.

This applicant’s lively and unique approach to the “why I want to be a lawyer” essay captures the reader’s interest. Notice that the applicant discusses her religious beliefs sensitively, without proselytizing or preaching.

My interest in the law began with donuts. As a child, I developed early persuasive skills during family disagreements on how to divide boxes of the treats. My parents belonged to the “biggest people deserve the most donuts” school of thought; while as the youngest family member, I was a devout believer in the “one person, one donut” principle. The debates were often cutthroat, but when it came to donut distribution, I sought justice at any cost.

As my family grew older and more health-conscious we stopped eating donuts, and for many years I forgot our childhood debates. However, some recent life decisions have brought to mind those early explorations of justice. When I first arrived at the American International School of Rotterdam, I quickly learned that my colleagues were a diverse and talented group of people. Unsure of how to establish my own place among them, I tried phrases that had always worked to impress college friends. “When I work for the UN . . . ,” I told the second grade teacher, and she answered with an erudite discussion of the problems she faced as a consultant for that organization. “When I’m in law school . . . ,” I told the kindergarten teacher, only to hear about his own experiences in law school. By the time I discovered that even many grade-school students were better travelled than I, I learned to keep my mouth shut!

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

Living alone in a new country, removed from familiar personal and cultural clues to my identity and faced with these extraordinary co-workers, I started to feel meaningless. How, I wondered, could I possibly make a difference in a place as vast as our planet? To my own surprise, I found that answer at church. Although I was raised in the Bahá’í Faith, I have only recently understood the essential place that religion plays in my identity. Bahá’í social beliefs include the need to work against extreme poverty, nationalism, and prejudice; and I now realize that I cannot hold those beliefs without doing something about them. My identity rests on these convictions; I cannot see the need for help and just move on. I have to help; it’s who I am.

The lessons I’ve learned from my international colleagues have channeled my desire for service into the field of international development. I still wish to fight the “‘Biggest Get the Most’ Theory of Donut Distribution,” but now on an international scale.

There’s nothing easier than explaining what made you apply to law school, right? We don’t think so. Well, you can answer this question, but can this answer satisfy the admissions board? If you aren’t sure of your writing capability, don’t test your fate and get help from our law personal statement proofreading service.

Popular Posts

June 2, 2022 How To Start a Scholarship Essay: Catch Reader’s Attention Fast

May 16, 2022 My Role Model Essay: A Few Ways to Elaborate on The Subject

May 3, 2022 How To Start a Personal Statement? | Writing Tips and Samples

Related Posts

May 27, 2022 How to Explain Low GMAT Scores in Your MBA Application

March 27, 2022 SAT Going Digital

January 12, 2022 How To Format a College Essay? A Comprehensive Guide

©2024 Student Media LLC. All rights reserved.

EssayEdge: Essay Editing & Proofreading Service.

Our mission is to prepare you for academic and career success.

•   Log In  
•   Sign Up  
• Forgot password

Unable to log in? Please clear your browser's cache and then refresh this page and try again

Reset password Please enter your email address to request a password reset.

Check your email We’ve just sent a password reset link to your email.

This information is used to create your account

Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer

Students are often asked to write an essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer

Why do you want to be a lawyer.

If you’re drawn to helping others, resolving conflicts, and learning about the law, then a career as a lawyer might be a good fit for you. Lawyers play an important role in our society, ensuring justice and fairness for all. They help people who have been injured or wronged, and they work to protect people’s rights.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

Lawyers do a lot of things to help their clients. They advise them on legal matters, represent them in court, and negotiate settlements. They also help people to create wills and trusts, and they handle real estate transactions.

How To Become A Lawyer

To become a lawyer, you need to have a bachelor’s degree. Then, you need to attend a law school and earn a law degree. Once you have your law degree, you need to pass the bar exam in the state where you want to practice law.

Why I Want To Be A Lawyer

I want to be a lawyer because I want to make a difference in the world. I want to help people who have been wronged, and I want to protect people’s rights. I believe that everyone deserves to have access to justice, and I want to help to make that happen.

250 Words Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer

Help those who need it most.

Advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves is one of the primary reasons why I aspire to become a lawyer. I am particularly passionate about assisting the underprivileged and marginalized members of our society who often face injustice. By becoming a lawyer, I believe I can make a significant impact in their lives by providing them with the legal representation and support they need to overcome their challenges and achieve justice.

Resolve Complex Issues and Make a Difference

The law is a complex and ever-evolving field, presenting numerous opportunities for critical thinking and problem-solving. As a lawyer, I would be constantly engaged in analyzing legal issues, researching precedents, and developing creative solutions to help my clients. The prospect of tackling complex legal challenges and contributing to the resolution of legal disputes is immensely appealing to me. I believe that by becoming a lawyer, I can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and promote a more just and equitable society.

Contribute to the Legal System and Uphold Justice

The legal system plays a vital role in maintaining order, protecting rights, and ensuring justice in society. As a lawyer, I would have the opportunity to contribute to the legal system by upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served. I am eager to use my knowledge, skills, and passion for justice to make a positive impact within the legal system and to help shape a better future for all.

Foster Social Change and Promote Justice and Equality

I am deeply committed to promoting social change and advancing justice and equality for all. By becoming a lawyer, I can use my voice and expertise to advocate for reforms that address systemic injustices and create a more fair and just society. I believe that the law is a powerful tool that can be used to challenge discrimination, protect human rights, and empower marginalized communities. As a lawyer, I would be honored to play a role in fostering positive social change and contributing to a more just and equitable world.

500 Words Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer

My passion for advocacy.

From a young age, I have been captivated by the courtroom dramas that unfolded on television and in books. The eloquent speeches, the intellectual sparring, and the pursuit of justice ignited a passion within me. I was drawn to the idea of advocating for those who could not speak for themselves, fighting for the rights of the oppressed, and making a difference in the lives of others.

Inspiring Role Models

My admiration for lawyers grew as I encountered inspiring role models in my life. Family friends who were lawyers shared their experiences and instilled in me a deep respect for the legal profession. They spoke of the challenges they faced, the victories they achieved, and the satisfaction they derived from making a positive impact on society. Their stories fueled my desire to follow in their footsteps and become a lawyer myself.

Intellectual Challenges

The law is an intellectually stimulating field that demands critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication. It is a profession that continuously evolves, requiring lawyers to stay updated with the latest legal developments. The prospect of engaging in complex legal analysis, constructing persuasive arguments, and advocating for clients in a courtroom setting is immensely appealing to me.

Making a Difference

Lawyers have the unique opportunity to make a real difference in the world. They can fight for social justice, protect the rights of individuals, and help shape the laws that govern our society. Whether it is representing clients in criminal or civil cases, advocating for policy changes, or working in corporate or environmental law, lawyers play a vital role in shaping the course of events and improving the lives of others.

Fulfilling Career Path

Ultimately, I believe that a career in law is more than just a job; it is a calling. It is an opportunity to use my skills, knowledge, and passion to make a meaningful contribution to society. The prospect of working in a dynamic and challenging field, advocating for justice, and leaving a lasting impact on the world fulfills me in a way that no other career could.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Flight Attendant
• Essay on Why Do You Want To Be A Correctional Officer
• Essay on Whale

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 steps to becoming a lawyer: complete guide.

Other High School , College Info

Law is one of the toughest trades to break into—there's a lot of competition out there, and there's a lot at stake (law school isn't exactly cheap). If you're interested in entering the legal profession, you should be well-informed about everything it takes to become a lawyer.

Here, I'll go through all the steps of how to become a lawyer. Before I jump into that, however, I'll begin by touching briefly on what the job market looks like for lawyers both now and in the future.

What Is the Career Outlook for Law?

Before we get into exactly how to become a lawyer, I'll talk a bit about what the job is actually like before jumping into more logistical concerns (like salary and projected job availability). This stuff may not be particularly exciting, but it's helpful to be informed about how easy (or difficult) it'll be to find a job in the field after you're done with school.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

Law is a very broad profession—lawyers can do all sorts of different jobs. They may work in corporate, private, and government settings.

Common responsibilities include providing legal counsel and advice, researching information or evidence, drawing up legal documents, and prosecuting/defending in court.

Occupational Outlook

Here's some important info about the law profession from the Bureau of Labor Statistics :

• 2014 Median Pay: $114,970 per year
• Job Outlook, 2014-2014 (i.e. the average growth in the number of jobs): 6% , which is about average across all professions

The number of jobs may be projected to grow as fast as average, but there are some other important factors at play here. Namely, competition for jobs is likely to be extremely high - the number of students who graduate from law school each year is higher than the number of new jobs available .

In a nutshell: the market is pretty saturated with law graduates at the moment, which means that finding and keeping a job in the field is no small feat. Even the American Bar Association started discouraging people from going to law school after the 2008 market crash—the profession is recovering very, very slowly. If you're on the fence about law school, I'd encourage you to read this article, written by a lawyer, in the Huffington Post (fair warning, it includes plenty of colorful language).

This isn't to say that no one should become a lawyer—if you plan on pursuing this career path, however, you should be aware of all the challenges you'll face along the way.

Step 1: Excel in High School

With such serious competition in the field, it's best to take your academic performance seriously from an early age. One of the best things you can focus on is bettering your chances of getting into a great college or university .

Put simply, better grades in high school → better school for your BA degree → better law school → better chances of getting a job. Law is one profession where it really matters where you go to school. Attending a top-15 law school doesn't guarantee that you'll end up with a great job, but it really helps. Attending a lower-ranked school will likely make it very difficult to find work. As such, you'll want to put yourself in the best position to succeed starting as early as high school.

Follow these tips in high school to start off on the right foot:

There aren't really any specific classes you can take to prep this early for law school, but you can work on developing some of those critical skills that I mentioned earlier, like writing and critical thinking .

Aim to take as many advanced and/or AP courses as possible. Classes in English, Government, Economics, and Math will all you well in college and law school (and will pay off even if you change your mind about becoming a lawyer).

Extracurricular Activities and Leadership

Extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and leadership experience all help boost your college applications. Some activities might double as a way to get a feel for the legal profession. Check out these posts for more information on these activities:

• Complete list of extracurriculars
• How to get leadership experience in your extracurriculars
• 9 best places to do community service

If available at your school, you may want to check out Mock Trial (a club that simulates court trials), Debate, or Model UN —all of these activities help students develop writing, critical thinking, and leadership skills. If your school doesn't have any of these clubs, consider starting one yourself!

Finally, high school is a good time to learn more about what being a lawyer is actually like. Here are some ways to get more hands-on experience:

• Shadow a lawyer.
• Volunteer with a local legal aid organization.
• Talk to any friends or family members who work in the field about how they spend their time at work, what they like/don't like about their jobs, whether they would do anything different, etc.

ACT/SAT Prep

One big part of getting into a good college is doing well on your ACT or SAT. Whichever test you choose , it's best to take it more than once—aim to take your first test fall of junior year (at the latest).

Read more about:

• Whether to take the SAT or ACT
• How long you should study for the SAT or ACT
• Complete study guide for the SAT or ACT
• How to get a perfect score on the SAT or ACT

College Applications

If you end up at a well-ranked school, the following steps you'll have to take to become a lawyer will be that much easier. Like I mentioned earlier, students at top-15 law schools have a much easier time finding a job than students at lower-ranked schools. The better your undergraduate program, the better your chances of getting into one of these top law schools.

So where do you start when it comes to looking at colleges?

You don't have to look for schools with dedicated pre-law programs. In fact, some people argue that students hoping to go to law school should avoid pre-law majors altogether (I'll talk more about this in the next section).

Learn more about how and when to apply for college.

Step 2: Get Involved in College

You need a Bachelor's degree at minimum in order to go on to law school, and it definitely helps if you end up at a school with a strong reputation.

Once you get to college, it's important to keep up your academic performance (your grades will be important when you apply to law school). A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for pretty much every law school in the US, but the truth is that this probably isn't competitive enough. Aim for 3.5+ (the higher the better).

Staying on the Right Side of the Law

The first thing you should keep in mind as a college student is that any sort of criminal record may prevent you from becoming a lawyer . The American Bar Association puts aspiring lawyers through a moral character screening process (I'll speak more about this towards the end). If you're generally honest and haven't broken any laws, you won't have any issues—just try to stay out of trouble as you make your way through the following steps.

Choosing a Program or Major

The American Bar Association (ABA) doesn't recommend any specific major or discipline for students who hope to become lawyers. Some schools have pre-law programs, but (as I've mentioned) they're rare and not necessary in order to get into a great law school.

The most important core skills you can develop include critical thinking, logic & reasoning, reading comprehension, and communication. Some majors which may prove useful for the LSAT/law school include:

• Political Science

You don't have to know exactly what kind of law you hope to go into. If you do have an idea, though, you might use that to inform your choice of major . If you're interested in corporate law, for example, you might major in Business. If you're interested in tax law, consider Math.

Develop Relationships With Professors

You'll need several strong letters of recommendation from respected faculty members when you submit your law school applications—use this to motivate you to network with as many people as possible.

Develop relationships with professors and mentors by going to office hours, participating in class, and taking opportunities to work on research projects.

Get Involved

I'll go into more detail when I discuss law school apps, but most schools are looking for applicants who demonstrate some sort of social and professional engagement, community service, extracurricular involvement, and/or work experience .

Start by looking into volunteering with legal aid services at your university or in your neighborhood. If you'd like more ideas, check out our posts on different community service opportunities and extracurricular activities .

You can gain similar hands-on law experience by getting a student job. A position in a law firm (even in an administrative capacity) will help you get a better idea of the day-to-day work as a lawyer. A paying job also means more funds to cover college and law school expenses.

Prepare for Law School Applications

You'll have the best chances of finding a job (especially a well-paying job) after getting your J.D. if you attend a top-15 law school (remember how I talked about how competitive it is out there for new lawyers)? To optimize your chances of getting into one of these schools, start working on your apps the summer before the year you want to begin your J.D . For example, if you want to start law school right after college, start working on apps the summer before your senior year

First, you should figure out whether you want to go to law school right after you graduate from college. If so, you need to plan on spending most of your senior year preparing for the LSAT and law school applications (I'll go into more detail about the LSAT in the next section). The LSAT should be completed, and applications should be sent off the winter of your senior year if you don't want a gap between college and law school.

A small side note: there is nothing wrong with taking time off from school after college graduation. If this is what you hope to do, you can use this time to get more law experience (e.g. working as a paralegal).

You'll also need to prepare those letters of recommendation—ask professors/mentors if they'd write them for you at least 12 weeks prior to application due dates.

Finally, register for the LSAT, and take the exam (at the latest) in December the same year you submit your apps.

Step 3: Ace the LSAT and Law School Applications

The Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT, is an exam all aspiring law students must take. It's a half-day standardized test for admission to all American Bar Association-approved law schools and serves the same purpose as the SAT and ACT when students apply to colleges.

• Exam scores range from 120-180
• The average score is about 150
• You have to score well over 160 to get into a top 25 law school

The LSAT is a huge part of your law school applications—it might even be as important as your college GPA. As such, it requires that you dedicate some serious study time to the exam.

The recommended study time for the LSAT is 150-300 hours. This comes out to 20-25 hours a week for 2-3 months, which is obviously a serious commitment. You might want to look into a LSAT study program if you have trouble staying on track and/or motivated.

The test is administered only four times a year - usually in February, June, September, and December—so plan on registering months in advance. The latest you can take the LSAT for Fall admission is December of the previous year, although it's best to take it earlier (aim for June or September).

Submitting Your Law School Applications

Just like with college apps, law school apps consist of several parts. Their major components are your personal statement, LSAT score, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and resume. Let's go through what you should do to submit each of these components.

I've already talked about the importance of preparing for the LSAT, forming relationships with profs for letters of rec , and doing well in college for a great transcript.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the only ways that admissions offices will get any insight into who you are and why you care about going to law school. You should write several drafts, well in advance of your application deadlines. Have a trusted prof or mentor read over your personal statement and give comments 3-4 months before the deadline.

Read more about how to write a great personal statement .

Your personal statement may demonstrate what you think and believe, but your resume demonstrates what you actually do.

According to UChicago's Law School admissions office, schools are looking for several things in an applicant's resume, including:

• Evidence of a strong work ethic
• Social and professional engagement
• Some combination of community service, extracurricular involvement, or work experience

It should be polished and professional—visit your school's career center for guidance.

Submitting Your Applications

All materials should be submitted by the winter before you hope to go to law school.

Competition for a reputable school is tougher than it is for colleges, so you should plan on submitting more apps. Most applicants apply to at least four schools , but I would encourage you to apply to 8-10. Whatever you do, only apply to American Bar Association-approved law schools —an unapproved law school degree is basically worthless.

Don't wait until the last minute to submit all of your materials . This doesn't leave you any extra time to fill any gaps in your application, or opportunities to fix any issues.

Finally, you should be prepared for potentially uncomfortable application costs. Some applications are free, but others may cost $100 or more. It may be helpful to start budgeting for these expenses a few months before applications are due.

Step 4: Earn Your JD at Law School

It'll take you three years to earn your law school degree. If you want one to find success after graduation—no matter what type of law you hope to go into—you've got to do well in law school. The way students are graded here is very different from how they're graded in college.

Here are some important things you should know before heading off to law school:

• Your first year is really important. Law firms usually hire summer associates at the beginning of the second year—at this point, only grades from your first year will be available. The type of jobs available to you as a student—and after graduation—will be heavily dependent on your grades from 1L.
• Your grades are mostly dependent on your exam performance . You'll receive few (if any) graded assignments outside of your final exams. This means that it's important to keep up with your work and your reading through the entire semester.
• Plan on keeping meticulous notes. You'll be learning about a lot of cases, and it's important that you're able to easily access notes from class about each one. It's not uncommon for professors to allow notes in some final exams. Many successful students form study groups to work together to share notes.
• Do your readings and prepare to get cold-called . Law professors are notorious for cold-calling on students in class, so you'll want to do the reading (and take notes) prior to heading to lecture. You want to make a good impression on your profs!

You'd think that acing your classes is the last big step to becoming a lawyer—but there's so much more to do.

While you're in law school, you may have to take the MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination) , which is required for admission to the bars of most states. The examination is meant to test students' knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer's professional conduct.

When you need to take it, and the minimum passing score, varies based on your jurisdiction. For example, some states require you to pass it before you take the bar exam (sometimes months in advance).

Do your research on what's required in your jurisdiction (or where you hope to practice in the future) early on in law school.

Professional Experience

A big part of law school involves networking (and just plain working) in an effort to secure a job before you even graduate.

You're going to be very busy keeping up with your schoolwork, but, if possible, it's to your advantage to work part-time at a law firm. Examples of possible jobs include assistant, file clerk, messenger, or intern (paid or unpaid).

More importantly, you'll want to start thinking about landing those summer associate and internship positions . The best way to secure these jobs while you're in school is to network as much as possible—attend student events, communicate with your profs, and be on the lookout for recruiters.

Unfortunately for students without a ton of available resources, many legal internships (even at very prestigious firms) are unpaid. Some law students take out loans, in addition to loans that they use to pay for tuition, to cover expenses associated with taking summer internships. This is important to consider as you budget for both law school and your career after you pass the bar.

Be conscious of the sort of internships and associate positions you seek out for yourself. Oftentimes (if you do well), these employers will offer you a full-time job after you graduate. In fact, it's pretty normal to have a job like this lined up in your third year of law school.

To sum up: the better your grades (especially your first year), the better your summer job opportunities. The better your summer job opportunities, the more likely you are to land an awesome job after graduation.

Step 5: Pass the Bar Exam

In order to practice law in the US, you have to pass the Bar exam . Most students do this the summer after they graduate from law school, when information is still fresh in their minds. The exam varies by state, but some parts are standardized:

• MEE: Essay exam
• MPT: Performance Test
• The Bar: A separate test administered by each jurisdiction/area

Most exams last two days total, although some states (e.g. CA) have 3-day exams. To find out more about what the exam is like in different jurisdictions, check out the National Conference of Bar Examiners' website .

Preparing for the Bar

The Bar is a notoriously difficult exam. Pass rates vary by state, although some states (again, like CA) have rates as low as 46.6% . It doesn't matter how well you do as compared to other test-takers, as long as you pass .

You'll have to prep for all areas of law that will show up on the test, even if you don't plan on practicing in most of them. These areas include:

• Constitutional law
• Criminal law and procedure
• Real property

One expert suggested that if you're preparing for the California Bar Exam—one of the most difficult in the country—you should study for 400 to 600 hours . If you study for 20 hours a week, that comes out to 20-30 weeks of prep time.

There are a few different ways to prep for the bar exam:

• Independent study. This may work for students at a well-reputed law school who are also performing well in their classes. A quality education + strong foundational knowledge are the factors that most positively affect performance on the bar, but students would still of course need to spend significant time preparing.
• A bar prep course. Law students commonly take prep courses when they want a solid review schedule that will keep them on track. There's a lot of material to cover, and a good course helps you make sure there aren't any major gaps in your knowledge of content or strategy. They can be very expensive, however—most are several thousand dollars. Check out Barbri.com , Kaptest.com , and Adaptibar.com (a less expensive, supplemental option).
• A private tutor. Students who attend a poorly-ranked law school, whose grades weren't up to par, or who have failed the bar before may want to consider this option. If you choose to seek out a tutor, choose someone with glowing recommendations and years of tutoring experience—they won't come cheap, but they're also less likely to waste your time and money.

Like I mentioned earlier, most students plan on taking the bar (in the jurisdiction they plan to practice) the summer after they graduate from law school. Read a more detailed guide on preparing for and taking the bar exam .

Final Steps: Beyond the Bar

If you've made it this far, you know that there are so many hoops to jump through for aspiring lawyers. Once you've passed the bar and gotten a job, however, you should know you're not quite done!

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) is an important part of staying informed and up-to-date. Information on state-by-state requirements for CLE available through the American Bar Association. Fortunately, it's not too big of a deal when compared to all of the education and exams you would have to endure through this point.

Finally, The ABA puts aspiring lawyers through a moral character screening process. If you're generally honest and haven't broken any laws, you won't have any issues. The process varies by state—see CA as an example .

How to Become a Lawyer: Summary

This is a ton of information to take on at once, especially if you're at the beginning of this process (or even if you're still unsure about becoming a lawyer). Let's review the five main steps:

#1: Do well in high school.

#2: Study hard and get involved in your community in college.

#3: Prepare for the LSAT and give careful thought to your applications.

#4: Attend law school.

#5: Pass the bar exam and become licensed to practice law.

This process may feel overwhelming, but here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• The path to becoming a lawyer is fairly flexible until you actually have to submit law school applications. This gives you tons of time to figure out whether the path is right for you.
• You don't have to think about all of these steps at the same time. Once you're in law school, your peers will be thinking about (and worrying about) the same things—there's no way you'll forget any important steps.

Becoming a lawyer is definitely not for everyone—it's a particularly competitive field right now, and most lawyers' jobs are nothing like what you see on TV. But if you decide you want to enter the legal profession, you now have the info you need to start off on the right foot.

What's Next?

You have a lot to think about, but remember: you just have to take it one step at a time.

To give yourself a head start, think about seriously preparing to get into a great college. Read about how to get a perfect score on the ACT or the SAT , and check out our guide on how to get into an Ivy League school .

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

[email protected]

+44 (0)20 8834 4579

How to Write a First-Class Law Essay

Studying law at university entails lots of essay writing. This article takes you through the key steps to writing a top law essay.

Writing a law essay can be a challenging task. As a law student, you’ll be expected to analyse complex legal issues and apply legal principles to real-world scenarios. At the same time, you’ll need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively. In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to guide you through the process of planning, researching, structuring and writing a first-class law essay with confidence. 

1. Start In Advance

Give yourself plenty of time to plan, research and write your law essay. Always aim to start your law essay as soon as you have the question. Leaving it until the last minute does not only create unnecessary stress, but it also leaves you insufficient time to write, reference and perfect your work.

2. Understand The Question

Do not begin until you fully comprehend the question. Take the time to read the question carefully and make sure that you understand what it’s asking you to do. Highlight key terms and annotate the question with definitions of key concepts and any questions that you have have. Think about how the question links back to what you’ve learned during your lectures or through your readings.

3. Conduct Thorough Research

Conducting thorough research around your topic is one of the most fundamental parts of the essay writing process. You should aim to use a range of relevant sources, such as cases, academic articles, books and any other legal materials. Ensure that the information you collect is taken from relevant, reliable and up to date sources. Use primary over secondary material as much as possible.

Avoid using outdated laws and obscure blog posts as sources of information. Always aim to choose authoritative sources from experts within the field, such as academics, politicians, lawyers and judges. Using high-quality and authoritative sources and demonstrating profound and critical insight into your topic are what will earn you top marks.

4. Write A Detailed Plan

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to plan your essay. When writing your plan, you’ll need to create an outline that clearly identifies the main points that you wish to make throughout your article. Try to write down what you wish to achieve in each paragraph, what concepts you want to discuss and arguments you want to make.

Your outline should be organised in a clear, coherent and logical manner to ensure that the person grading your essay can follow your line of thought and arguments easily.  You may also wish to include headings and subheadings to structure your essay effectively This makes it easier when it comes to writing the essay as starting without a plan can get messy. The essay must answer the question and nothing but the question so ensure all of your points relate to it.

Start Writing Like A Lawyer

Read our legal writing tips now

5. Write A Compelling Introduction

A great introduction should, firstly, outline the research topic.  The introduction is one of the most crucial parts of the law essay as it sets the tone for the rest of the paper. It should capture the readers attention and provide the background context on the topic. Most importantly, it should state the thesis of your essay.

When writing your introduction, avoid simply repeating the given question. Secondly, create a road map for the reader, letting them know how the essay will approach the question. Your introduction must be concise. The main body of the essay is where you will go into detail.

6. Include A Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis should clearly set out the argument you are going to be making throughout your essay and should normally go in the introduction. Your thesis should adopt a clear stance rather than being overly general or wishy-washy. To obtain the best grades, you’ll need to show a unique perspective based upon a critical analysis of the topic rather than adopting the most obvious point of view.

Once you’ve conducted your research and had a chance to reflect on your topic, ask yourself whether you can prove your argument within the given word count or whether you would need to adopt a more modest position for your paper. Always have a clear idea of what your thesis statement is before you begin writing the content of your essay. 

7. Present the Counter-argument

To demonstrate your deeper understanding of the topic, it’s important to show your ability to consider the counter-arguments and address them in a careful and reasoned manner. When presenting your counterarguments, aim to depict them in the best possible light, aiming to be fair and reasonable before moving on to your rebuttal. To ensure that your essay is convincing, you will need to have a strong rebuttal that explains why your argument is stronger and more persuasive. This will demonstrate your capacity for critical analysis, showing the reader that you have carefully considered differing perspectives before coming to a well-supported conclusion.

8. End With A Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion is your opportunity to summarise the key points made throughout your essay and to restate the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner.  Avoid simply repeating what has already been mentioned in the body of the essay. For top grades, you should use the conclusion as an opportunity to provide critical reflection and analysis on the topic. You may also wish to share any further insights or recommendations into alternative avenues to consider or implications for further research that could add value to the topic. 

9. Review The Content Of Your Essay

Make sure you factor in time to edit the content of your essay.  Once you’ve finished your first draft, come back to it the next day. Re-read your essay with a critical perspective. Do your arguments make sense? Do your paragraphs flow in a logical manner? You may also consider asking someone to read your paper and give you critical feedback. They may be able to add another perspective you haven’t considered or suggest another research paper that could add value to your essay. 

10. Proofread For Grammatical Mistakes

Once you’re happy with the content of your essay, the last step is to thoroughly proofread your essay for any grammatical errors. Ensure that you take time to ensure that there are no grammar, spelling or punctuation errors as these can be one of the easiest ways to lose marks. You can ask anyone to proofread your paper, as they would not necessarily need to have a legal background – just strong grammar and spelling skills! 

11. Check Submission Guidelines

Before submitting, ensure that your paper conforms with the style, referencing and presentation guidelines set out by your university. This includes the correct font, font size and line spacing as well as elements such as page numbers, table of content etc. Referencing is also incredibly important as you’ll need to make sure that you are following the correct referencing system chosen by your university. Check your university’s guidelines about what the word count is and whether you need to include your student identification number in your essay as well. Be thorough and don’t lose marks for minor reasons!

12. Use Legal Terms Accurately

Always make sure that you are using legal terms accurately throughout your essay. Check an authoritative resource if you are unsure of any definitions. While being sophisticated is great, legal jargon if not used correctly or appropriately can weaken your essay. Aim to be concise and to stick to the point. Don’t use ten words when only two will do.

12. Create a Vocabulary Bank

One recurring piece of advice from seasoned law students is to take note of phrases from books and articles, key definitions or concepts and even quotes from your professors. When it comes to writing your law essay, you will have a whole range of ideas and vocabulary that will help you to develop your understanding and thoughts on a given topic. This will make writing your law essay even easier!

13. Finally, Take Care of Yourself

Last but certainly not least, looking after your health can improve your attitude towards writing your law essay your coursework in general. Sleep, eat, drink and exercise appropriately. Take regular breaks and try not to stress. Do not forget to enjoy writing the essay!

Words by Karen Fulton

Free Guides

Our free guides cover everything from deciding on law to studying and practising law abroad. Search through our vast directory.

Upcoming Events

Explore our events for aspiring lawyers. Sponsored by top institutions, they offer fantastic insights into the legal profession.

Join Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list for weekly updates and advice on how to get into law.

Law Quizzes

Try our selection of quizzes for aspiring lawyers for a fun way to gain insight into the legal profession!

PREVIOUS ARTICLE

Legal Writing: Start Writing Like a Lawyer!

NEXT ARTICLE

LLM Jobs for Graduates

Loading More Content

Essay on Why I Want to Become a Lawyer

A lawyer is a person, in which, people deal with judicial actions and help others to get their rights. They can help people from any kind of social problem. There is a law in every country and one should definitely follow it and when someone disobeys or creates problems for others, then people need a lawyer to deal with them. Get here some essays on this topic; I am sure these will be helpful in your academic needs:

Short and Long Essays on why I want to become a Lawyer in English

Essay on Why I want to become a Lawyer for students of class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and class 12 in English in 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 500 words. Also find short Why I want to become a Lawyer essay 10 lines.

Why I want to become a Lawyer Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Since childhood, I loved the profession of a lawyer and want to become the same.

2) From a younger age, I like to fight for the rights of others.

3) I want to be a lawyer because I am a great supporter of truth.

4) By becoming a lawyer I want to aware people of their rights.

5) I want to become a lawyer because I want to fight for justice.

6) Every issue can be solved through law and order and I want to be that resolver.

7) I pose logical thinking and influence talks, thus I’m perfect for this profession.

8) I would love to be a lawyer because I can see a better career prospect in this profession.

9) I would love to fight for the poor whose rights are always neglected.

10) Finding evidence and punishing the culprit attracts me to this profession.

Essay 1 (250 Words) – Why I want to become a Lawyer?

Introduction

When we ask a child what he really wants to become, some of them want to be a doctor, whereas some of them want to be an engineer. Similarly, when I was young, I wanted to become a lawyer. I like this profession because it is all about getting our rights. I like to solve other’s problems and I found this profession perfect for me.

My Hidden Inspiration

When I was young, I use to watch TV a lot and also use to watch news channels. I liked news channels because they use to tell us various incidents all across the world. When I use to see something awkward, it uses to provoke me to find the thieves or criminals and punish them. But I had no rights and was also very young.

So, one day I ask my mother, as if how can I bring justice to the poor. Then she told me that I have to become a lawyer, to deal with such situations. From that day this profession started attracting me. I decided to become a lawyer and will definitely become someday.

Do whatever attracts you and this will definitely make you successful one day. When our profession becomes our passion then no one can stop us. Bring that spirit and see the change in yourself. I love to deal with the truth, justice, so I chose this profession. Your reason can be something else to choose yours.

Essay 2 (400 Words) – Law as a Profession

Different people like different colours similarly when we talk about professions, all of us have different opinions. Suppose all of us become a doctor and if one of them have to make his house. When society is full of doctors who will build his house? So, he needs an engineer too in the society. Similarly, different professions have their own different importance. We need police to maintain the peace, a lawyer to deal with judiciary problems, a sweeper to sweep your dust, etc. No profession is either small or big. A doctor’s clinic will not be clean if there are no cleaning professionals. All of us have different taste and we choose our profession accordingly.

Some Positive Aspects of Being a Lawyer

• Being a Lawyer is not only a profession but also helps us to know our potential. Sometimes we don’t even know how much we can do and what are the powers of a commoner. This profession helps us to know our own powers.
• They also know how to deal with a problem; actually our law has a solution for every problem. So, in my onion, it is one of the best professions.
• A lawyer should be smart and should have a very good logical power because this helps them to find evidence and also helps them to have a good verbal battle in the court.
• Believe me or not but people never like to mess-up with a lawyer because they know they themselves can become the victim. So, many people stay away from them and it is a good thing.
• People like me love this profession because I like to dig the truth at any cost. This profession teaches how professionally I can handle a case and help people.

Educational Qualification of a Lawyer

If you are willing to be a lawyer then you have to peruse the below;

• After completing senior secondary one should complete his graduation in Law stream. They can have LLB with some other bachelor courses like BA, BBA, B.Com, etc.
• One should complete his graduation in any stream and should also peruse LLB. There are many colleges which provide this course together and it takes near about 5 years to complete the entire course. Apart from this, there are many foreign colleges which also provide different courses for law students.

If you have good learning abilities and are also good at remembering things, then you should definitely go for it; because one should have to byheart a lot of Acts and Rules. One should have a sharp mind to understand all these. One more thing, I would like to say, if you are really passionate about your profession, no one can stop you.

Essay 3 (500 – 600 Words) – Why One should be a Lawyer?

A lawyer is a wonderful profession where a person should know all types of laws and should be well aware of judiciary actions. He should be capable to deal with any kind of law actions. Lawyers are also known as legal practitioners, attorneys, barristers, law agents, advocate, barrister, etc.

The First-Ever Lawyer

The description of this post was very first mentioned in the Bible and it was ‘Zenas’ the first-ever known Lawyer.

Apart from the Bible, the evidence of lawyers can also be seen in Ancient Greece, where the orators use to do the same job. So, they also get the credit of ancient lawyers in our history and we can say the evidence of lawyers can also be seen the ancient Rome.

When we had lawyers in the ancient period of Roam then they also furnished and progressed in this area first. Slowly it was 1848 when the United States bought this profession into existence.

There are different names proving the title of the first-ever lawyer in the world in the male category. Whereas there are some worldwide famous females’ in this profession like ‘Arabella Mansfield’ was the first female lawyer in the United States of America; whereas ‘Cornelia Sorabji’ was the first female who was from India and studied Law at Oxford University.

Why do I like this Profession?

There are many factors that attract me in this profession; I have listed them below;

• In my opinion, one should know his rights and should also know his powers. This is only possible if you have a deep knowledge of the law. Apart from our fundamental rights, there are also some rules and regulations that one should know. Like knowledge of your property and its successors, etc.
• Law helps us to deal with many problems. Sometimes many of us don’t even know what we can do in a particular case and we easily forget it. Actually, a person can even fight for his single penny but very few of us know about the right procedure and we leave it.
• If you are one of those who like to fight for the truth then you can stick to this profession. Sometimes we see one of our known sufferings and although they are correct, lack of evidence and some social powers they suffer. In such type of case this profession can really help and you can also work as a professional lawyer or can also work for charity.
• After winning some cases and gaining experience, one can also earn a lot and there are many lawyers who also earn even a crore for a single hearing. So, the money factor, which is one of the important things nowadays.
• If you want to do some charity and help the poor and helpless people who do not have money to hire a good lawyer, then you can help them by becoming a lawyer.
• Lawyers have a very good presence of mind and they are intelligent, challenging, brave, etc all these qualities can also make you a smart person.

I am one of those who love to figure out the truth and I find this profession suitable for me. This not only helps people but also helps us and in our daily life. Generally, lawyers charge a lot of money and there is a stage of life when all of us need them. So, it is better to choose this profession and if needed you can also earn, can also help people as social work. In my opinion, it is one of the best professions.

Related Posts

Essay on digital india, cashless india essay, essay on child is father of the man, essay on causes, effects and prevention of corona virus, essay on dr. sarvepalli radhakrishnan, durga puja essay, essay on summer vacation, essay on my plans for summer vacation, essay on holiday, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Career Goals — Law – A Career I Want To Pursue

Law – a Career I Want to Pursue

• Categories: Career Goals Lawyer

About this sample

Words: 705 |

Published: Jul 15, 2020

Words: 705 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life Law, Crime & Punishment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1038 words

1 pages / 483 words

2 pages / 894 words

2 pages / 790 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Career Goals

Cyber Degrees. (2020). Cyber Security Analyst: Job Description, Salary, Skills, & More. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm

The topic of this essay is why I want to become a nurse. As just an only child from Canyon Lake, Texas, I have always been a helper. From taking out the trash to folding the laundry. This trait has followed me forever and I [...]

My passion for pursuing a career in law stems from a deep-rooted interest in understanding our legal system. When asked, 'why I want to become a lawyer,' I reflect upon my growth as an individual and my eagerness to comprehend [...]

Nurse practitioner is a master’s prepared registered nurse that has received additional training, education, and certification and is qualified to provide primary patient care. Many often wonder, "why I want to be a nurse [...]

Social work stands as a vocation that garners significant interest among students, primarily because it offers the promise of job satisfaction and the opportunity to contribute profoundly to the lives of others (Humprey, 2011). [...]

The personality of Cristiano Ronaldo has brought a significant impact in my soccer career. It is with high regards that I decide to express the impact Cristiano Ronaldo brought to my learning life as a role model. Cristiano [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

The Supreme Court Got It Wrong: Abortion Is Not Settled Law

By Melissa Murray and Kate Shaw

Ms. Murray is a law professor at New York University. Ms. Shaw is a contributing Opinion writer.

In his majority opinion in the case overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito insisted that the high court was finally settling the vexed abortion debate by returning the “authority to regulate abortion” to the “people and their elected representatives.”

Despite these assurances, less than two years after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion is back at the Supreme Court. In the next month, the justices will hear arguments in two high-stakes cases that may shape the future of access to medication abortion and to lifesaving care for pregnancy emergencies. These cases make clear that Dobbs did not settle the question of abortion in America — instead, it generated a new slate of questions. One of those questions involves the interaction of existing legal rules with the concept of fetal personhood — the view, held by many in the anti-abortion movement, that a fetus is a person entitled to the same rights and protections as any other person.

The first case , scheduled for argument on Tuesday, F.D.A. v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, is a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s protocols for approving and regulating mifepristone, one of the two drugs used for medication abortions. An anti-abortion physicians’ group argues that the F.D.A. acted unlawfully when it relaxed existing restrictions on the use and distribution of mifepristone in 2016 and 2021. In 2016, the agency implemented changes that allowed the use of mifepristone up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, rather than seven; reduced the number of required in-person visits for dispensing the drug from three to one; and allowed the drug to be prescribed by individuals like nurse practitioners. In 2021, it eliminated the in-person visit requirement, clearing the way for the drug to be dispensed by mail. The physicians’ group has urged the court to throw out those regulations and reinstate the previous, more restrictive regulations surrounding the drug — a ruling that could affect access to the drug in every state, regardless of the state’s abortion politics.

The second case, scheduled for argument on April 24, involves the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (known by doctors and health policymakers as EMTALA ), which requires federally funded hospitals to provide patients, including pregnant patients, with stabilizing care or transfer to a hospital that can provide such care. At issue is the law’s interaction with state laws that severely restrict abortion, like an Idaho law that bans abortion except in cases of rape or incest and circumstances where abortion is “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.”

Although the Idaho law limits the provision of abortion care to circumstances where death is imminent, the federal government argues that under EMTALA and basic principles of federal supremacy, pregnant patients experiencing emergencies at federally funded hospitals in Idaho are entitled to abortion care, even if they are not in danger of imminent death.

These cases may be framed in the technical jargon of administrative law and federal pre-emption doctrine, but both cases involve incredibly high-stakes issues for the lives and health of pregnant persons — and offer the court an opportunity to shape the landscape of abortion access in the post-Roe era.

These two cases may also give the court a chance to seed new ground for fetal personhood. Woven throughout both cases are arguments that gesture toward the view that a fetus is a person.

If that is the case, the legal rules that would typically hold sway in these cases might not apply. If these questions must account for the rights and entitlements of the fetus, the entire calculus is upended.

In this new scenario, the issue is not simply whether EMTALA’s protections for pregnant patients pre-empt Idaho’s abortion ban, but rather which set of interests — the patient’s or the fetus’s — should be prioritized in the contest between state and federal law. Likewise, the analysis of F.D.A. regulatory protocols is entirely different if one of the arguments is that the drug to be regulated may be used to end a life.

Neither case presents the justices with a clear opportunity to endorse the notion of fetal personhood — but such claims are lurking beneath the surface. The Idaho abortion ban is called the Defense of Life Act, and in its first bill introduced in 2024, the Idaho Legislature proposed replacing the term “fetus” with “preborn child” in existing Idaho law. In its briefs before the court, Idaho continues to beat the drum of fetal personhood, insisting that EMTALA protects the unborn — rather than pregnant women who need abortions during health emergencies.

According to the state, nothing in EMTALA imposes an obligation to provide stabilizing abortion care for pregnant women. Rather, the law “actually requires stabilizing treatment for the unborn children of pregnant women.” In the mifepristone case, advocates referred to fetuses as “unborn children,” while the district judge in Texas who invalidated F.D.A. approval of the drug described it as one that “starves the unborn human until death.”

Fetal personhood language is in ascent throughout the country. In a recent decision , the Alabama Supreme Court allowed a wrongful-death suit for the destruction of frozen embryos intended for in vitro fertilization, or I.V.F. — embryos that the court characterized as “extrauterine children.”

Less discussed but as worrisome is a recent oral argument at the Florida Supreme Court concerning a proposed ballot initiative intended to enshrine a right to reproductive freedom in the state’s Constitution. In considering the proposed initiative, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court repeatedly peppered Nathan Forrester, the senior deputy solicitor general who was representing the state, with questions about whether the state recognized the fetus as a person under the Florida Constitution. The point was plain: If the fetus was a person, then the proposed ballot initiative, and its protections for reproductive rights, would change the fetus’s rights under the law, raising constitutional questions.

As these cases make clear, the drive toward fetal personhood goes beyond simply recasting abortion as homicide. If the fetus is a person, any act that involves reproduction may implicate fetal rights. Fetal personhood thus has strong potential to raise questions about access to abortion, contraception and various forms of assisted reproductive technology, including I.V.F.

In response to the shifting landscape of reproductive rights, President Biden has pledged to “restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.” Roe and its successor, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, were far from perfect; they afforded states significant leeway to impose onerous restrictions on abortion, making meaningful access an empty promise for many women and families of limited means. But the two decisions reflected a constitutional vision that, at least in theory, protected the liberty to make certain intimate choices — including choices surrounding if, when and how to become a parent.

Under the logic of Roe and Casey, the enforceability of EMTALA, the F.D.A.’s power to regulate mifepristone and access to I.V.F. weren’t in question. But in the post-Dobbs landscape, all bets are off. We no longer live in a world in which a shared conception of constitutional liberty makes a ban on I.V.F. or certain forms of contraception beyond the pale.

Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University and a host of the Supreme Court podcast “ Strict Scrutiny ,” is a co-author of “ The Trump Indictments : The Historic Charging Documents With Commentary.”

Kate Shaw is a contributing Opinion writer, a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a host of the Supreme Court podcast “Strict Scrutiny.” She served as a law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens and Judge Richard Posner.

• Bills this Week
• Office of the Clerk
• Majority Leader
• Committee on Rules
• U.S. House of Representatives

• Document Search

Markup of H.R. 5302, the "Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act"; H.R. 7404, the "Subterranean Border Defense Act"; H.R. 7433, the "Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Hotline Act"; H.R. 7443, the "Combating Transnational Repression Act of 2024"; H.R. 7439, the "Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act"; and H.R. 7832, the "Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act." Committee on Homeland Security

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (10:00 AM)

310 CHOB Washington, D.C.

Text of Legislation

• H.R. 5302, (Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon) The ‘‘Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act’’ [ PDF ]
• H.R. 7404, (Mr. Crane) The ‘‘Subterranean Border Defense Act’’ [ PDF ]
• H.R. 7433, (Mr. D'Esposito) The “Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Hotline Act” [ PDF ]
• H.R. 7443, (Mr. Pfluger) The “Combating Transnational Repression Act of 2024” [ PDF ]
• H.R. 7439, (Mr. Magaziner) The “Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act” [ PDF ]
• H.R. 7832, (Mr. Correa) The “Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act” [ PDF ]
• Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 7433 offered by Mr. D'Esposito [ PDF ]
• Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 7443 offered by Mr. Pfluger [ PDF ]
• Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 7439 offered by Mr. Magaziner [ PDF ]

Support Documents

• Markup Notice [ PDF ]

First Published: April 5, 2024 at 11:10 AM Last Updated: April 5, 2024 at 11:10 AM