answer to why you want to be a lawyer

What does it mean to be a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer means learning how to negotiate with and manage people. The Carnegie Institute says that while 13% of financial success relates to technical skills, 87% is based on three factors: (1) personality, (2) ability to negotiate, (3) ability to manage people.

Why is law important?

Law encourages and promotes discussion and argument as a way to uncover the truth. The law allows individuals to engage in some of the most important discussions that people consider such as self-governance, the inherent good of man, and the fair treatment of man. The world needs great lawyers.

Do attorneys have personality issues?

While many people may consider attorneys to generally have personality issues, the lack thereof may be compensated for with negotiation and people management skills, the other two factors that determine financial success.

What does a lawyer do?

Lawyers solve people's problems for them. For example, a client may say that they want to buy a particular business but are unsure what steps they need to take. We help them achieve that goal by working out the best way to buy that business and then help them do it.

What does it mean to work in law?

Working in the law means that you will deal with people. It is a client-facing industry and you will have to liaise with clients on the telephone, in meetings, via email and at events. This may not appeal to everyone but a good firm will make sure that you are comfortable.

Focusing on Specific Legal Areas

If you have specific goals 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.

Unique 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.

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.

Why do law schools look for applicants?

That's one reason why they look for applicants who have the capacity to speak with authority and conviction in a way that inspires others .

What does Ittleman say about practice interviews?

Ittleman says practice interviews help students discover the right words to use to clearly express their thoughts. With that in mind, attorneys say that law school applicants should figure out how they'd like to answer the following questions before their admissions interviews. 1.

How to write a good lawyer interview?

1. Tell me about yourself. This is where you should have your personal story ready. This should be a quick 1-2 minute summary (but no more than 2 minutes!) of what you did before law school, how that path led you to law school, and why you want to be a lawyer at your interviewer’s firm.

How to decide to go to law school?

First, reflect on your past personal, educational, and work-related experiences. Second, discuss how each experience logically led to the next. This should eventually lead to why you decided to go to law school and why you want to practice law. Third, reflect on your current set of skills and past work experiences.

What do attorneys do in 1L?

Practicing attorneys are usually only experts in their practice area. It’s also been years since they have stepped into a law school classroom. During your 1L course, you covered a variety of topics (e.g., criminal law, property, torts, contracts). Look at your interviewer.

Is an interview conversational?

Don’t Forget: Interviews are Conversational. Keep in mind that your interviews will be very conversational and your interviewers may interject during your responses with questions. Don’t plan on actually giving your whole spiel. Go along with the conversational flow. Below, are commonly asked questions.

Can you practice in front of a mirror?

When your interviewer asks you a question, it’s perfectly okay to take a few seconds to digest the question and formulate a response.