You may have a teenage son or daughter who has leadership abilities, a passion for making positive contributions to their community and beyond, and who would like to pursue a career where they can help individuals from all backgrounds. Many teens find themselves wanting to become involved in their communities through volunteer work and community service while in high school. If this sounds like your teen, they may consider pursuing law school in their future. A career as a lawyer allows for an individual to help people and communities alike through an array of specialties. Keep reading to learn more about what a career as a lawyer entails as well as three reasons your teen should consider law school.

Becoming a Lawyer

Becoming a lawyer requires a great deal of work and dedication. To become a lawyer, an individual must first attain a bachelor’s degree. Legal studies, criminology, political science, and English are common bachelor’s degrees to obtain before pursuing law school. Then, a candidate must take the LSAT and apply to law school. Upon completion of coursework, passing the bar examination allows Juris Doctor (J.D.) to be added to a lawyer’s title and for the practice of law to ensue.

1. Ability to Help Businesses, Communities, and Individuals

Lawyers have the ability to make significant contributions to their communities and the businesses within them. For example, a lawyer can provide pro-bono services to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). Eligible DBEs must be at least 51% owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. DBE corporations require individuals to own at least 51% of each class of voting stock outstanding and 51% of the aggregate of all stock outstanding. Especially during the pandemic, many businesses are in need of legal and business help, and many lawyers have stepped up and offered services free of charge in order to keep businesses from collapsing.

Lawyers can also significantly help individuals and families. Family law is a field in which lawyers can help couples seeking a divorce or, alternatively, start families through adoption or foster parenting. Lawyers can help families struggling through difficult times, and they can also help bring families together, too.

2. Specific Passions Can Be Pursued Through a Specialty

Lawyers can also choose specialties based on personal interests and passions. For example, a lawyer interested in helping DBEs may choose to specialize in business law. Additionally, specializing in environmental law would likely involve a lawyer seeking to improve the environment and promote eco-friendly business practices, such as further increasing the contributions of recycling in the manufacturing industry, as recycling saves 75% of the energy costs utilized in making steel. Furthermore, criminal law is a common specialty for lawyers who would like to help individuals accused of crimes and who have a passion for and perhaps a skill at solving puzzles.

3. Ability to Utilize Strong Reading and Writing Abilities

Voice actors must be able to read quickly, synthesize direction, and attach meaning to words on a page in order to be successful. Interestingly enough, these abilities are also important for lawyers to acquire, too. Getting through law school requires a great deal of reading and writing. Being able to read, analyze, and write summaries, responses, and form questions and answers to passages, articles, books, and legal documents are crucial to understanding the law and being able to put it into practice.

If your teen has a passion for reading and writing but also has an interest in being a community leader, law school may be a great opportunity for your teen to think about as they’re applying for four-year schools to obtain their bachelor’s degree. Majoring in English and/or Legal Studies would be ideal for candidates who have strong reading and writing abilities, as they can carry on what they learn in their undergraduate studies to law school, too.

Other Careers in the Legal Field

Other careers in the legal field include becoming a mediator, paralegal, or legal secretary. Mediators help two parties come to an agreement outside of the courtroom. Many states are requiring mediation for divorcing couples before bringing their case in front of a judge. Paralegals assist lawyers by performing research, assisting clients, and drafting legal documents. Legal secretaries provide administrative assistance to lawyers and paralegals, and they often perform duties that directly help clients, too. If your teen wants a job in the legal field but isn’t interested in attending law school, these are great career options as well.

Becoming a lawyer requires a passion for and commitment to the career. Lawyers have the ability to help people and entities, pursue particular passions and interests through specialties, and utilize reading and writing skills for the greater good. If your teen has an interest in public service and has the ability to do great things, look to these reasons as to why they should consider pursuing a law degree in their future.