why i chose to study law essay

why i chose to study law essay

Why I Chose to Study Law

1. Introduction

I have also decided to study law because I am competent at arguing, a skill that is crucial for a lawyer, and I actually enjoy arguing. When I say arguing, I do not mean it in the true sense of the word as in shouting at someone until I’m blue in the face. I see arguing as an art form. Being able to meticulously construct a point and present it in a way that is both rational and persuasive is an impressive skill. This is the kind of arguing that is done in a court of law, and this is something that I could see myself doing. Many a time I have come out on top in an argument, only to have lost it due to poor presentation or lack of tangible evidence. With a law degree, I would not lose arguments.

Another reason I want to study law is because of the prestige and respect that comes with a degree in law. Nowadays, everyone is university educated and a degree has lost much of its value. The job market is becoming ever more competitive and degrees are becoming ever more expensive. This has led to an overshoot in the proportion of people going to university, and in consequence, a degree is simply not enough to guarantee a high-flying career. I feel that the lessening percentage of people from my generation going on to study law will mean that a law degree will place me in much stead in getting a good job later on in life. A law degree is still highly thought of and is still seen as solid groundwork for a career in the corporate world.

Some of the reasons why I chose to study law are quite simple – I want to change the world for the better, and I realized that with a law degree I could achieve more than with any other degree. That in itself is a good enough reason to study law. Lawyers can change lives, they can change whole societies for the better, and if you become a good enough lawyer, you can even change the world. Now that is something that not many other professions can offer.

2. Personal Interest in Law

My focus is to become a barrister, and I am aware of the challenge this is to achieve. I believe that I am determined and driven enough to be able to do it, and aspire to be a powerful force in the courtroom. I am a strong believer in the concept of fairness and that everyone has a right to a fair trial, and I would hope to be able to further this cause. I also believe that a law degree is a strong and versatile qualification with a lot of positive prospects, and having talked to a lot of people currently working in the legal profession, I am encouraged about my future once qualified.

I have always had an interest in how the world works, particularly with regards to how order and justice are maintained. This curiosity influenced me to take up law, as I believe the legal profession would provide a demanding and intellectually challenging environment. Additionally, I am a big fan of reading and writing, and have strong persuasive skills. I am confident that I would be able to fully apply myself to my studies and would really enjoy them. Having completed Law at A-Level, I am certain that law is the right choice for me to study at university, and I feel that I am well prepared and enthusiastic about beginning this course.

3. Desire for Justice and Fairness

The ban ended up being overruled at an appeal some weeks later and I was called in as a witness to the said incident. Although it may sound like a trivial matter, it was a stepping stone which led me to believe that I can make a difference in the justice system and fight for what I believe is right.

Another factor contributing to my fascination with injustice and fairness was when I was 14 years of age. I play a lot of basketball and at this time I was involved in the representative squad for the Wynnum Vikings. After a very heated and physical match against the North Gold Coast Seahawks, the coach at the time instructed me to fill out a form of misconduct on the Seahawks Coach because of some slanderous comments he had made. The form was eventually lodged and resulted in a 5-year coaching ban for the Coach on all junior basketball teams.

When I was growing up, my parents had me under a greatly strict regime. To them, discipline was very important and the form of discipline 80% of the time was physical. Because of this, Dad was an individual who was constantly in and out of court fighting legal battles and attempting to settle disputes, from custody issues to minor traffic offences. I eventually sat back and thought to myself, “What makes him tick?” It then came to me that he was looking for justice. He believed that he had been wronged in some way and was in search of the fair judgement.

4. Career Opportunities in Law

There really are endless possibilities for a law graduate. The key to making the most of your law degree lies in making informed choices about your career and being proactive in gaining the relevant work experience. At the careers network, we take the stance that it is never too early to start thinking about a future career, and we encourage students to consider their career options from day one.

On a more lighthearted note, the law degree has been used as a stepping-stone to careers in the arts and high-profile sports. Popular TV quiz personality Clive Anderson and The Who’s lead singer Roger Daltrey both undertook law degrees. Hugh Laurie managed to juggle his string of comedy roles with studying for a law degree from Cambridge, and the actor Gerard Butler worked in a legal firm following his graduation from law school. Gary Slapper (law author and Times columnist) even found time from his legal career to play bass guitar for the pop group Wonderstuff.

At the careers network, we provide an extensive multilingual Career Resource Library. If you are wanting to use your language skills, a law degree combined with fluency in numerous languages can lead to work as an international aid worker or for organizations such as the United Nations or the European Union.

There are also several careers that involve using the law degree in less conventional ways. Politicians and MPs often have legal backgrounds, and the degree provides a good foundation for those wanting to pursue a career in politics. The legal and regulatory knowledge is also important for those working in finance and banking. Often those working in legal publishing and media-based careers require knowledge of the law, and there are opportunities for law graduates in these areas.

A law degree also provides a range of skills that are sought after by alternative industries. The analytical and critical thinking skills combined with an in-depth knowledge of the law are excellent attributes for those looking to pursue careers in the police force, social work, educational services, and charity institutes. The ability to communicate is a key skill for all of these sectors, and the law degree provides a thorough grounding of how to articulate information both written and spoken.

Once qualified, you can work in private practice as a solicitor or barrister, in-house in a company’s legal department or within the public sector, working in agencies or government departments. There are also opportunities to work abroad, and a law degree can lead you to practice internationally.

The law degree is an immensely flexible qualification to have and the career options are vast. Although people often think that being a lawyer is the only career option, a law degree can also lead to successful careers in business, media, and the arts.

5. Conclusion

Throughout the course of this writing, I have emphasized several reasons underpinning my choice to study law. It is a varied and challenging course that will widen my knowledge and understanding of the world. Law is a universal tool and a profound knowledge of this field can be a powerful asset to anyone. This is especially so for me because I have enjoyed helping people and making a positive influence on others. With such a wide range of career opportunities, the chance of doing something I enjoy or making a difference in this world is a reality. From law school to the world of practice, the sky is the limit.

Today’s reality is a lot different from that in the 20th century. There is a constant need to evolve in today’s society to catch up to the rest of the world. This encapsulates my fourth reason to study law. As a future law graduate, I foresee possibilities of getting into the political world. With the introduction of globalization, foreign policies and several other agreements between countries are put into place. This also may evolve to conform with the rest of the world or to best protect a country’s interest. The chances are that these policies and agreements may not always serve their purpose or may result in a conflict of interest between countries. This prodigious occurrence often leads to international disputes. With my interest in a particular International Relations and having studied and understood foreign policies and the like, it would be an ideal venture for me to solve disputes of this nature.

With the ever-increasing pace of globalization and the diversification of socio-economic and political spheres, society has seen ever more scopes of professional fields emerging. Clumping with the different spheres of profession, the probability of different kinds of disputes and disagreements are ever more likely. These factors are particularly what enticed me to study law, which I find as the spine of all professional fields. My iron determination and enjoyment in solving disputes meant that there could be no other career suitable for me. Hence, I have chosen to study law due to these factors.