what type of law should i study??

Question

so im a jr. in college; majoring in poli. sci/history and a minor in polit. philosophy.... i know i should figure out what kind of law i want to study, but i haven't been able.....like i dont think i could be a crim. defense attorney (too much of a conscience knowing i could defend some1 who i rightfully know is guilty)........ like from any law ppl. out there, what is big right now/ in the future and what not

Answer 1

Hey Drew ...

The persons above me have some great areas to consider, however, the fastest growing field of law right now is Educational Law believe it or not. I am a teacher and it is HUGE due to discrimination, Special Ed, and other various aspects. I am seriously considering going back to law school and getting a law degree in this area at some point. While getting my Masters degree my Educational Law teacher told us that if we ever want to make some really good money ... go into this field. There are hardly any attorneys in this area now and they are desperately needed.

I agree with you on the DA opinion ... I could never defend a lowlife criminal if I knew he was guilty. I'd go to jail for takin' him out myself! lol Anyhow .. .it sounds like you've gotten some good ideas here ... environmental and tax law will also continue to expand. (I read that tax law is also hugely needed because it's bit boring and not as many law students really want to go into it) Hey ... boring maybe ... but great $$ and a guaranteed job are things to consider! =)

Hope this may have helped ... good luck to you ... and if you do become an attorney ... stay honest and have integrity! There are some out there ... but they are few and far between. Make a difference!
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Answer 2

One of the purposes behind law school is to empower the student to make this choice. The first year curriculum is pretty well-set, and many schools don't allow any significant electives during the first year. You'll get to see a number of case studies embracing a wide variety of substantive and adjective contexts.

Some specialties, such as taxation, generally dictate following a defined progressive track as soon as the second year begins. Other specialties, such as trial law, do not demand immediate devotion to a track. You have time to peruse the courses available and change tracks if that suits you.

Without knowing you and/or interviewing you, there is no way on God's green earth I can tell you what will work for you.

Bankruptcy/creditors' remedies/debtors' rights will always be a viable field.

Technology law is now deeply entrenched in basic corporate law, but most law schools are mired in the 20th Century. The courses most likely won't be relevant to the field, and as a social science major, you've already cut yourself off from patent law. IP work is likely going to remain viable as well, though how to hit the ball out of the park at this point in history is beyond me.

As far as the moral qualm: St. Thomas More is the patron saint of the legal profession. During the troubles concerning Catherine of Aragon, More was accused of being willing to give the Devil himself due process of law. More anwered, yes he would: take away due process of law and what man in the Kingdom could stand upright in the storm that would follow, yes, he'd give the Devil due process of law, "but for my own good sake, not his."

In other words, get over it. There are things done in law that are far more "ambiguous" than defending a person whom you "rightfully" know to be guilty.

Answer 3

I know people like to say that environmental, immigration, and intellectual property are "big" now. Of course, all you need is for Congress to change the law or the economy to tank and these areas will no longer be big. My feeling is that if you want to open up a practice and have work until the day you die, practice family law (divorces). For the record, I am not a family lawyer.

Answer 4

In the US, you need to go to law school to practice law -- and you need to study all of the basics -- tort, contract, criminal, property, constitutional law, rules of procedure and evidence, etc.

Then you get to pick electives while you are in law school, as part of your total studies. This could include environmental, tax, immigration, civil rights, intellectual property, patent, etc.

Don't try to figure out now what you want to do -- just get a good general education, then actually study the areas before trying to figure out which one you really like.

If you get the chance, I found it very helpful to have taken some paralegal classes as an undergrad -- it make many of the concepts familiar when I got to law school

Good luck.

Answer 5

I'd think environmental law will only get much, much bigger as we finally begin to deal with climate disruption, pollution, etc. But please, if you really have a conscience, don't help big corporations circumvent whatever laws are in place to protect the rest of us. At least criminal defense attorneys play a role in protecting constitutional rights.

Answer 6

I know that I am studying intellectual property, since it is one of the fastest growing fields, but other hot areas are business, environmental law, and litigation.