If you are a law student anxious and uncertain about your career post-graduation, and still trying to sort your preferred professional role, this Article is for you. It is designed to help you do research on both yourself and the legal profession so that you can enhance your opportunity to find the right professional role for you.
This Article is based on a simple premise: You should prepare for a career in law in the same way you would prepare for oral argument in court by writing a meticulously-researched and comprehensive legal brief.
Like many young lawyers, you may be planning to look for a job at a firm after graduation to try it out. The legal market, however, has become more challenging than ever, and it is often difficult to find entry-level positions in law firms. Furthermore, despite the time and effort spent in the placement process, many lawyers find themselves dissatisfied with their careers. Do you really want to leave your future to chance? Finally, what if you want to use your legal training for a purpose outside conventional law practice? Where would you begin to look?
There ought to be a better way. For the last twenty-five years, the author has offered a course at Suffolk University Law School in which students examine themselves and opportunities within the profession to find legal careers that fit them. This class also provides students the ability to strategize to make these professional opportunities a reality. This Article is based on that course.