The American Legal Profession

Christopher P. Banks - Kent State University, USA

Courses:
Constitutional Law | Introduction to American Government | Introduction to Law | Judicial Process | Law & Society

July 2017 | 144 pages | CQ Press

While emphasizing that lawyers fulfill a vital but often misunderstood public function in society, The American Legal Profession: The Myths and Realities of Practicing Law dispels some of the common misconceptions about the legal profession to show that the reality of being a lawyer is much different from what many students believe it to be. Many students know little about what law school is like or how it differs from undergraduate study, and this book corrects common myths about graduating law school and life after passing the bar. This brief primer is a nuts-and-bolts analysis of what it is really like to go into the legal profession, from start to finish, giving students considering a career in law a realistic overview of their potential legal careers.

Available Formats

ISBN: 9781506333120	Paperback	Suggested Retail Price: $42.00	Bookstore Price: $33.60
ISBN: 9781506333113	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $36.00	Bookstore Price: $28.80

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List of Tables and Figures

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

1 The Myths and Realities of Being a Lawyer

The Trial Lawyer Myth

The “Law School Is a Good Investment” Myth

The Diversity and Egalitarian Myth

The Plan of the Book

Selected Readings

Web Links

Endnotes

2 Applying to Law School

A Brief Introduction to the American Legal Profession

Preparing for Law School: “Prelaw” Undergraduate Studies

Applying to Law School

Conclusion

Selected Readings

Web Links

Endnotes

3 Law School

The Casebook Method: “Learning to Think Like a Lawyer”

The Law School Curriculum

Licensing Requirements and Bar Admissions

Conclusion

Selected Readings

Web Links

Endnotes

4 The Practice of Law

The Business of Legal Practice

Big Law and Its Impact on the Legal Profession

Private Practice and Other Legal Employment Settings

Alternative Careers: Nonlegal Jobs

Conclusion

Selected Readings

Web Links

Endnotes

5 Future Trends and Reform Issues in the Legal Profession

The Legal Profession’s Insularity

The Difficulties of Traditional Law School Instruction

The Competitive Delivery of Legal Services in the Future

Conclusion

Selected Readings

Web Links

Endnotes

Index

Key features

KEY FEATURES:

Introduces students to the myths and realities of the legal profession in order to dispel the misconceptions about what it is like to go to law school and engage in legal practice.
Provides a simple yet comprehensive overview of the timing and logistics of preparing law school applications.
Offers guidance for evaluating law school rankings in order to select the most appropriate law school when making decisions about where to apply.
Explores the journey from law school to legal practice, illuminating what students can expect upon matriculating into law school and what kind of employment they can secure after they graduate.