选择成为一名律师

　　The　decision　to　become　a　lawyer　is　a　highly　personal　one,　based　on　a　number　of　factors　that　you　must　weigh　for　yourself.　It s　not　a　step　to　be　taken　lightly.　

　　Your　Direction　你的方向

　　Having　a　law　degree　no　longer　automatically　means　having　to　be　a　lawyer.　There s　a　wealth　of　opportunities　for　people　with　law　degrees.　The　truth　of　the　matter　is　that,　despite　all　the　jokes,　a　law　degree　will　always　be　an　attractive　commodity　in　the　job　market.　Take　a　few　minutes　to　jot¹　down　your　personal　reasons　for　wanting　to　go　to　law　school.　Rank　them　in　order　of　importance　so　that　you　can　maintain　a　sharper　focus　as　you　move　along　in　the　planning　of　your　application　itinerary².　

　　Being　able　to　articulate　why　you　want　to　go　to　law　school　will　not　only　help　ensure　your　happiness　as　an　attorney,　but　will　also　help　you　to　gain　admission.　The　top　schools　are　looking　for　people　who　know　why　they　want　to　go　to　law　school　and　have　focus　and　direction　in　their　lives.　
　　Good　Reasons　好的理由

　　Versatility³:

　　Law　may　be　an　option　if　you　are　not　entirely⁴　sure　of　your　career　dream　and　feel　more　than　half-certain　that　you ll　change　careers　at　some　point　in　the　future.　

　　Excitement:
　　There　are　aspects　of　lawyering　that　can　be　a　great　deal　of　fun,　such　as　preparing　for　a　trial,　defending　a　client,　or　putting　together　a　business　deal.　

　　Empowerment:

　　Many　people　pursue　a　law　degree　in　order　to　be　more　effective　or　influential⁵　in　　　Job　Security:

　　The　fundamental　role　that　legal　systems　play　in　our　increasingly　global　working　world　is　striking.　Your　training　and　skills　can　allow　you　to　stay　employed　and　prepare　you　for　a　variety　of　situations.

　　Personal　Experience:

　　Whatever　your　other　reasons　for　wanting　to　obtain　a　law　degree,　don t　lose　sight　of　your　personal　investment　in　the　process.　

Bad　Reasons　蹩脚的理由

　　"I　have　nothing　better　to　do　with　my　history,　English,　or　poli-sci　degree."

　　There　are　better　career　moves　than　spending　three　very　hard　years　in　grad　school,　going　heavily　into　debt,　and　then　emerging　with　a　degree　in　a　field　in　which　you　have　very　little　interest.　

　　"I m　good　at　arguing."

　　Oral　argument　is　a　very　small　part　of　law　school　life　and　for　the　vast　majority　of　lawyers,　it s　a　fairly　small　part　of　their　practice.　Additionally,　a　legal　oral　argument　is　quite　different　from　the　average　debate　with　your　housemate　over　who　gets　to　choose　what　channel　to　watch.　

　　"I ll　be　making　six　figures　before　I　hit　30."

　　Most　attorneys　do　make　six-figure　incomes,　but　don t　be　deceived;　they　earn　every　cent.　70-80　hour　weeks,　mounting　pressure　to　bill　more　hours,　and　a　lot　of　research　work　are　usually　part　of　the　deal.　Even　if　you　decide　you re　willing　to　do　the　hard　work,　the　opportunities　to　make　the　big　bucks⁶　are　not　always　there.　

　　"My　family　wants　me　to　be　a　lawyer."

　　That s　a　long　time　to　fulfill⁷　someone　else s　expectations.　If　your　parents　are　adamant⁸　about　the　idea,　maybe　they　should　go　to　law　school　themselves.　Age　is　no　limitation　to　the　feasibility　of　practicing　law.　
　　The　Bottom　Line　最底线

　　If　you　enjoy　thinking,　writing,　solving　problems,　negotiating　compromises,　and　advocating　on　behalf　of　people　or　causes,　then　law　school　will　be　a　good　fit　for　you.　If　you d　rather　have　someone　else　tell　you　how　to　solve　a　problem　or　how　to　think　about　a　dilemma⁹,　then　you　might　find　that　law　is　not　your　best　option.　

　　Think　seriously　about　the　"fit"　-　be　honest　with　yourself　as　you　contemplate¹⁰　your　future　career.　Be　certain　that　you　have　chosen　the　right　destination　before　you　begin　planning　your　trip

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