Are you contemplating studying law in the university or already a law student and wondering what is it about this profession?
Today, we bring you 25 unpopular things you probably didn’t know about studying law, so that you have a better idea of what you are getting into. This Article is brought to you by After School Africa. If you are new here, welcome. Love videos? Click the subscribe button on our YouTube channel to continue exploring amazing opportunities.
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Now, let’s get to it.
1. The future lawyer must be tech Savvy
Lawyers are often said to be good with even the most unnecessary arguments. But if you choose to argue against the impact of technology in the legal field, you may find yourself out of business shortly. For example, in the area of document review, advanced platforms such as Luminance can combine pattern-recognition algorithms, statistical analysis, and unsupervised machine learning to read, understand and learn from past interactions between lawyers and documents. The program can then accurately flag the potential areas of concern in a contract. This can cut down up to 85% of the time needed for contract review.
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2. The legal profession is at risk
Here is one of many examples that suggest this. OCBC Bank in Singapore rolled out an online service to help Singaporeans prepare a will. Compared to hiring a lawyer for this purpose, which can be costly, this online service is provided free of charge and enables users to complete the will-making process in just 10 minutes. AI, Blockchain technology and machine learning have the potential to radically disrupt the legal profession.
3. Alternatives to legal services is gaining ground
Another way technology is leaving a telling mark on the legal profession is through the “alternative legal service providers” or “ALSPs” who have broken the mould of the traditional legal service delivery model by leveraging technology. According to a report, ALSPs in North America and the UK have grown by a quarter in size in the last two years.
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4. Accountants are your direct competitors
Some of these ALPSs are the major accounting firms which have perhaps the greatest potential to make significant inroads into the legal services market. Indeed, the largest accounting firms “spend more on technology and training each year than the revenue of any law firm”. It is surely just a matter of time before they will be able to “run entire legal departments through a managed service or outsourcing model”.
5. Law education is expensive
Law education is not cheap, irrespective of the part of the world where you are studying. Tuition fees for legal studies are among the highest in the world, and basically, every stage of the process is lined with expenses. If you do not have a solid plan for financing your law studies, you may need to have a rethink.
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6. Prepare to read a lot, then some more
Maybe you have some idea that there would be a lot of reading while studying law. But you have no idea how much time law students spend reading. Law students read an awful lot! Maybe that’s why many lawyers use spectacles. Be prepared to study long and hard hours as a law student.
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7. You never stop learning
Legal studies and practice require constant reading, and a lot of emphasis is placed on updating knowledge and staying current. The more up-to-date you are, the more relevant you are in the field.
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8. Law textbooks are not cheap
Law texts include articles, journals, publications, constitutions, case law files, and a host of textbooks and publications. And they are all known to be quite expensive, and highly relevant for your coursework.
9. You will spend more time in school than students in other programs
Law students spend more time in school than students in other programs. For instance, in many countries in Africa, an undergraduate degree in Law takes five years to complete, as opposed to several other regular programs that take four years.
10. You must spend one extra year in Law School
Once you are through with your undergraduate law degree, you are required to proceed to law school for further studies, usually not more than a year. It is similar to the one-year residency that medical doctors spend in hospitals in the concluding parts of their medical education.
11. The practice of law takes hard work
While law schools can teach you the law, the application to real-life situations which involve judgment calls, the need to identify what the client wants and what is in the client’s best interests, and the responsibility of making decisions that affect a person’s life, are all new challenges. It is a world where you are always learning
12. Scholarships to study law are not common
It is common to hear about scholarships to study engineering, international development and biology, but scholarships for law degrees are not common. But you can still find them. Click here to find available scholarships for law degrees.
13. People will solicit free legal advice from you
Even as a law student, expect people around you to attempt to nibble some legal advice from you now and then. They somehow expect you to know everything about law, even when you are still a student. And they’ll expect to get this service for free.
14. You get opportunities to travel
Travel opportunities are very common in the field of law. Many large law firms send employees abroad for periodic training, all fully funded. You’ll also get to travel for court cases and other professional purpose.
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15. You wear only white and black
As a law student, with all your fashion sense, you are only limited to dressing in two colours; black and white; and you cannot style your gowns or wigs to suit your preference. There are laws for dress colours and designs, and thou shall not depart from them!
16. If you do not graduate from law school, you cannot practice law
If you fail a course, you will not be allowed to graduate from law school; so no legal practice for you. Before you can seek employment as a lawyer, solicitor or barrister, you must go to law school, pass all requirements, graduate, and be called to the bar.
17. You do not have to go to court
This is another thing you didn’t know about studying law. If all you see in a legal profession is the court, docks, witnesses and a judge, think again. There are many career pathways in the field of law, some of which do not require you to appear in court. You can work in charity, civil service, activism, property law, finance, and even academics.
18. You must pay close attention to detail
Many lawyers thrive on spotting discrepancies in the evidence and exploring gaps in the Constitution to secure a favourable judgment for their clients. As a law student, you must hone your skills in paying attention to detail. You must see where everything fits before you begin, and you must prepare for every eventuality along the way.
19. In some countries Lawyers and Law firms cannot advertise
In many countries, lawyers and law firms are prohibited from advertising their practice in the market. While there is an outright prohibition in some countries like India, law firms can advertise in some countries but under strict guidelines.
20. Career prospects are not what people think
Another interesting thing about studying law is the fact that Law is a well-respected degree but its graduate prospects are not as good as universities like to make out. Entry-level salaries are quite low in developing countries. A good number of lawyers pursue their careers in real estate and private practice. There is a stark contrast between what people think lawyers earn versus what they are paid.
21. You must have great work ethics
The workload will become easier if you are well organized and focus on working efficiently. This is not something you are taught; but you’ll have to learn to work hard, work smart and be organized during a law degree.
22. Life revolves around your next tutorial or seminar
To start with, you will have lectures. Then you will be assigned reading to do, and answers to prepare for tutorials and seminars. Smaller group teaching sessions are key opportunities to test your understanding and give structure to your learning. The more effort you put into them, the more you will learn.
23. You’ll do a lot of online research
With readily available technology tools, law students don’t have to spend hours sitting at the library and searching for the right book. They can find good legal and law material online. This makes the work a lot simpler, but you’ll have to be mindful of where you get your information online.
24. You will encounter some Latin language
Law is the exclusive domain of the Latin language. Most of the legal terminologies are derived from Latin. As a law student, you will have to deal with some technical definitions and translations from Latin. This simply means that you will encounter several Latin phrases in the course of your study.
25. You will study outdated information
It’s common for law students to study historical events and laws that are considered outdated or abolished. It’s just part of the trade. You have to know what you need to know and what you don’t have to know.
The legal profession is still an honourable profession. However, you deserve to have a picture of what it’s like in the present and the future. Which of these points interest you the most? Let us know in the comment section. If you are yet to subscribe to After School Africa, now is a good time to subscribe. Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!!
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