Should I become a Lawyer?

Well I'm not really one of the experts on here at all, but you could just become a solicitor instead of a barrister. It's usually the barristers that stand up in court and defend people. Solicitors are more advice and paperwork comparatively.

Heh, my career to date destroyed in one paragraph.

I was actually looking into different types of law and was thinking about corporate law, which is apparently less full on, in the confidence sense anyway. (and the pay is meant to be immense, but that is'nt a major factor - any better types of Law you would advise would be fine!)

Whilst "corporate law" (really bad term, but anyway) involves, generally, less court work (i.e. less standing up in court) it is definitely not "less full on"! Probably the most competitive field in law. No offence to the OP but you'll find a lot of people saying that want to "corporate law" if you ask them. Usually means: a) they don't know what field they want to pracitce, and most of the time won't go into corporate law or b) they are attracted by the perceived moey side of coporate law (as the OP hinted at), which is again a bit of a myth really. There is money in all fields of law (even criminal work, despite what a lot of criminal barristers may tell you!). But that money if for the top people in those fields, and you're only going to get good at something that you enjoy, especially with "corporate law" as it inovles more paperwork, more direct legal argument (generally) that other forms of law.

I have no idea what stage of study you're at, but best thing to do is do some mini-pupillages + some vac schemes in solicitors' firms. And do them in differing areas of law, see which one you prefer, it'll help you make a decision.

Well I did say I wasn't one of the experts and was only giving general advice. The 'just' solicitor bit was probably misplaced but more a figure of speech than me actively trying to suggest solicitors were inferior lol, I mean why on earth would I. I think saying that Barristers do more work standing up in court compared to solicitors is justified though.

Don't take it too hard, that guy is a bit of a penis, he has a massive chip on his shoulder about something or other, I'm guessing he's an Oxbridge reject or something along those lines.

Don't take it too hard, that guy is a bit of a penis, he has a massive chip on his shoulder about something or other, I'm guessing he's an Oxbridge reject or something along those lines.

You couldn't be further from the truth. TTKK.

In the meantime, suck your dead nan with a straw.

Whilst "corporate law" (really bad term, but anyway) involves, generally, less court work (i.e. less standing up in court) it is definitely not "less full on"! Probably the most competitive field in law. No offence to the OP but you'll find a lot of people saying that want to "corporate law" if you ask them. Usually means: a) they don't know what field they want to pracitce, and most of the time won't go into corporate law or b) they are attracted by the perceived moey side of coporate law (as the OP hinted at), which is again a bit of a myth really. There is money in all fields of law (even criminal work, despite what a lot of criminal barristers may tell you!). But that money if for the top people in those fields, and you're only going to get good at something that you enjoy, especially with "corporate law" as it inovles more paperwork, more direct legal argument (generally) that other forms of law.

I have no idea what stage of study you're at, but best thing to do is do some mini-pupillages + some vac schemes in solicitors' firms. And do them in differing areas of law, see which one you prefer, it'll help you make a decision.

Hi,
I am defo interested in Law and always have been. My only concern is my lack of confidence, I dont know if i could cut it. I recently went to a MiniTrial, just to get a feel for things, and there was this Law student who was embarassingly confident, a real loud mouth, which made me think 'would i have to defend a client agains people like this?' and could I?

Is law school (once you are in) dead competitive? Would it be something easily improved (my lack of confidence) Any advice at all?

I was actually looking into different types of law and was thinking about corporate law, which is apparently less full on, in the confidence sense anyway. (and the pay is meant to be immense, but that is'nt a major factor - any better types of Law you would advise would be fine!)

Thank you.

Hi there,

If you are interested in law as a subject to study at university, then I don't think you should worry too much at this stage about whether you have the confidence to be a lawyer.

I'm assuming that you are the usual age for a university entrant - if that is the case then your confidence is going to grow immeasurably over the next few years and during your time at University.

I suspect that the 'embarrassingly confident' student was probably actually extremely nervous - overt confidence is often a sham.

I teach (LLM students who have already completed their undergraduate studies) and can tell you that there is often no correlation between apparent confidence and ability.

You will find that there are some students who appear to be of the view that a budding lawyer must be pompous and belligerent at all times - this appears to be an affliction that is a particular problem for those who want to study for the bar. In my humble opinion, however, this sort of affectation is unnecessary - the most accomplished advocates I have seen in action are incredibly gracious in their advocacy.

When I first started studying law I was also very shy - and a bit of a blusher as well. I was determined to overcome this and threw myself into every public speaking situation available. It was a bit daunting at first, but I definitely have my nerves under control now - to the extent that I lecture and am qualifying to be a barrister. Moreover when I confided in other people that I was nervous of public speaking, they were stunned. Clearly although I was terrified on the inside – this wasn’t something that other people perceived. Confidence, in my book, is simply the art of not letting anyone see that you’re crapping yourself.

Even top QCs will tell you that they get nervous – so it's nothing to be afraid of.

So it is not necessary to be supremely confident in order to be a good lawyer - whether you decide ultimately to qualify as a solicitor or a barrister -and it is certainly possible to increase your confidence.

Hope that helps.

On a general note, would getting 1A*, 6As and 3Bs - at GCSE level - be at an advantage or disadvantage to me studying law at warwick University (obviously i know I must get straight As at A-level). Thanks
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