There are millions of women who aspire to have a career in the law profession. There are many different opportunities to change the world for the better through this line of work. However, there are also many challenges working women face in the industry today. In addition, the cost of law school can be difficult to deal with. Here are a couple of tips for anyone who is interested in starting a career in the legal field.
Surviving Law School
Law school is difficult for anyone to finish. There are many different challenges that go along with attending law school. In order to finish on time, you need to be organized and focused. Many students also try to juggle a job while attending school. If you decide to work, it would be best if it had something to do with the field of law. Females who graduate with some job experience have a much better chance of landing a job after graduation. After law school, passing the exams required to practice law is another challenge.
“A legal career is a challenging one, and giving yourself the best start possible is fundamental to your future success.” – MastersAvenue
First Job Advice
After graduating from school and passing all of the required exams, it is vital that you have success in your first job out of school. The first law firm that you work for can play a huge role in your future career progression. There are many people who use their professional contacts from their first company for their entire career. It is vital to find a law firm that is willing to put in some work in training a new person right out of law school.
Financial Planning
One of the reasons that the field of law is so popular revolves around the salary that is offered to workers. There are many people who make great money in their first job out of college. However, many females also have large amounts of student loans to pay off. The average law school graduate has well over $100,000 in student loan debt (source). Many women want to have flexibility in working and spending time with their family. Having a large debt burden can make it difficult to have any flexibility in this area. It can be difficult to do, but it is vital that young lawyers work to get their student loan debt paid off in a timely manner. Just because the new salary is leaving a lot of extra money to spend, this does not mean it would be a wise decision to put off paying the student loans. Over the long term, your finances will be much better off with this issue cleaned up.
Finding Your Passion
The most important aspect of choosing a career is finding your passion. Many people are attracted to the field of law because it gives them an opportunity to make an impact in the world. If you are someone who wants to make a difference in another person’s life, it is important to find a specific area of law that fits your passion. There are many women who enjoy working with female victims of domestic abuse. Another avenue would be working with young girls who have had to endure a lot of issues growing up. Whatever the specific niche, it is vital to have a passion that will keep you motivated every day when going to work. This will lead to long-term career success and an opportunity to make an impact in the world.
