Asking the right questions to find the law school
On life, law and the profession.
A day in the life of a senior law professional.
Demonetisation and Law
It is important to ask the right questions to find the law school right for you.
Growth and globalization of business have led to a substantial increase in the growth of legal complexities. As the result of this growth and globalization, the demand for skilled legal professionals has increased exponentially. Subsequently, new opportunities for legal professionals may arise, especially when foreign law firms begin to enter the markets in India. Students aspiring to make the law their career will have new opportunities and growth prospects if they meet the expectations of the legal community.
Having a law degree is not enough in the current market for someone to enter into a successful career in the legal profession. Students must stand out from the other graduates. Standing out requires proper planning and hardworking legal skills. Those who are aspiring to enter law school must consider a crucial question: “Which law school should I attend to obtain the right training and knowledge to be a successful legal professional?” It is a difficult and crucial choice that must be diligently researched by the potential student. An incorrect choice for a law school that does not match the particular student’s needs and desires could result in a waste of five foundational years of that student’s educational life and not properly prepare that student for the particular legal career he or she may desire. While a school’s reputation and ranking certainly should represent important aspects of the decision making process, especially when looking at the current job market, ranking and reputation can be deceiving and should not be the only factors to consider.
Most of the students and parents ask only one question, and that is about placements. This is not the crucial question that should be considered. Rather, the question a potential student should ask is: “Does the law school prepare me for a sustainable career in the legal profession?” After all, the student has to be ready for placement and should have the capability to be selected for a placement interview. Universities can bring recruiters on campus but ultimately the law school should also prepare the student for a life-long career in the legal profession.
On the journey to finding a law school that is the right fit for the student, there are four key factors to consider beyond the reputation and ranking of the law school. Those four factors include:
Before deciding on any law school, it is advisable to visit the campus, to speak to the students, their parents, faculty members and the Dean of the law school to get an overall holistic view of the law school. Websites may be misleading and may not provide complete and accurate information to the student. It is also important in the current economy to consider the Career Services Center at the law school as this Center assists the departing student with his or her career search. Investigate the Center to determine how much personalized assistance is provided to each student and whether the Center is dedicated to law firms or the public sector. Ideally, a student should choose a law school to attend where a substantial portion of the Career Services staff is focused on that student’s particular area of interest. Another consideration should be the location of the law school as it is important to attend a law school in the geographic area in which the student intends to reside. This will provide the student with additional job opportunities, as the majority of law firms, businesses, and public entities recruiting at the law school will be local.
It is important to ask the right questions to find the right law school for you. The right questions include looking at the four factors mentioned herein of the law school program structure, the faculty, the research at the law school, and the library. It is also important to consider the location of the law school and the Career Services Center. Conducting careful due diligence and asking important questions will ensure that you find the law school that is right for you.
Dr. Rhishikesh Dave is a Ph.D. in Law (International Criminal Law (Saurashtra University, India); LL. M (Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws) and LLB (Saurashtra University, India) and has over 13+ years of experience in the field of teaching, administration, and research. Before joining NMIMS School of Law as Dean, he was associated as Dean & Professor, School of Law with Galgotias University, Greater Noida, UP. Dr. Rhishikesh Dave completed his LL.M with specialization in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws. His doctoral research (Ph.D.) was on the subject of the concept of Sovereign Immunity and International Criminal Law. He was awarded Doctoral Scholarship by The Hague Academy of International Law. His areas of interest are Human Rights, International Humanitarian Laws, Conflict of Laws, Criminal Law and Law of Evidence. His academic career spanning a decade has seen him working as Assistant Professor at Gujarat National Law University and later on Registrar of the same University. Dr. Dave served as Assistant/Associate Professor, Area Head, Criminal Law and Academic Coordinator at Institute of Law, Nirma University. He has conducted various workshops with National and International Agencies and has also been judging Moot Court Competitions; Inter American Human Rights Moot Court Competition, Hong Kong Red Cross Moot Court Competition to name a few. He has done research projects funded by Tribal Commissioner, Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Ecology Commission.