Final Reflection

November 15, 2006 – 1:42 pm

Looking at the different colleges made me realized that I must think real hard about my decisions and are my choices realistic. This assignment showed me how much money it cost to go to college and which ones are more money then others. I noticed that private colleges are a lot more then public so I’m not going to apply to a lot of private colleges because I’m not going to be able to afford it. I also thought very hard about where I am going to attend school and at first I wanted to stay in the city and work but I noticed it’s really hard for me to do work in my house so now I want to go away to a SUNY college. Colleges away from home like SUNY schools cost more then city colleges but some are still affordable and are really great schools. My parents are not going to give me money for college so I am going to have to apply for financial aid and scholarships. I already have one scholarship I know I am going to get from the 52nd Street Project. They give a thousand dollars to kids that were part of the program and got accepted to a college. They will also keep giving you a thousand dollars a year if you get a 3.0 or higher. I don’t want to take out loans because its going to take really long to pay back and I don’t want to be in debt so that would be my last choice. Some things I am going to do next year is apply to a lot off scholarships all over the city and fill out my financial aid papers.

By jeremy | Posted in law, myfuture, finances | Comments (2)

Why Law?

October 31, 2006 – 10:44 am

As a kid I was always interested in law I would watch shows like “Law and Order” or movies about lawyers. I also argued a lot with my friends and family and would not stop until I proved them wrong. My family would always tell me I would make a good lawyer and that’s what made me start thinking about becoming a lawyer. I also feel that some people get treated unfair and I would like to make a difference.
A lawyer’s job is to provide legal advice and services to individuals and businesses. In law there is not only one type of lawyers there are many different lawyers that specialize in different fields of law. Each specialize field fits under one of the main three types of lawyers: criminal lawyers, corporate lawyers, and civil lawyers. Criminal lawyers are hired by the people facing prosecution, corporate lawyers focus on business-related matters, like taxation, commercial transactions, and the incorporation of new companies, and civil lawyers deal with small cases like divorces or damage suits.
A lawyer’s job can involve different things. They conduct criminal and civil lawsuits, advice clients as to legal rights, and draws up legal documents. Lawyers also have to gather evidence to show in divorce, civil, and criminal cases.
A lawyer’s job usually takes place in an office or building. Lawyers that work for the government can work in the Attorney General’s office or Department of Justice. Lawyers that work for a law firm typically employed in a private office with other lawyers, which can include from five to 500 lawyers. Lawyers also spend a lot of time in law libraries looking up information for a case. Lawyers work long hours and work from about 8 to 11 hours a day but during trials or big negotiations they can work from 15 to 16 hours a day.
Compared to other jobs a lawyer’s salary is more and is a decent pay. A lawyer’s salary can start from $40,000 to $140,000 a year. A lawyers salary all depends on what they practice, who they work for, and where they work. For example a person starting off in a small town may make about $30,000 a year but a tax lawyer working for a corporation may make as much as $500,000 a year. Most lawyers that work for little firms get paid by the hour but lawyers that work for big firms or the government get paid a salary and is given more regular hours. Law firm lawyers get raises regularly if they take on more responsibilities and after years of experience they may become partners and receive a percentage of the firms profits.
To become a lawyer it takes many years of schooling and hard work. To become a lawyer a person must first earn their bachelors degree, which can be in any subject, but most people pick a subject that will help them as a lawyer like for example if a person is interested in environmental law they would major in science. After they earn their bachelor’s they must take the LSAT (law school admission test) to see if you are lawyer material. If a person gets a high LSAT score then they can attend a law school. In the last two years of law school people take classes that they are going to specialize in as a lawyer. After graduating from law schools students usually take a few months to study for the bar exam. They must take the bar exam in the state they want to practice in. If they pass the bar exam they are now a license lawyer. But this is not the end some lawyers go back to school every once in a while to learn new things even though they are licensed.
As of now I am working toward completing these requirements. I am trying to pick my GPA up from a 2.9 to a 3.5 so I can accepted to a four-year college so I can earn my bachelor’s degree in political science. I am trying to attend a college out side of New York City but still in New York State. Some colleges that interest me are the University at Albany and Binghamton University. I have read great things about the University at Albany and Binghamton University has great reviews and is know as a good school.
There are a lot of law schools to pick from but my top two choices are NYU and Fordham University. The reason I choose these school is they are both in the city and I want to return to the city after undergraduates school and they are very well know schools and have great reputations. Both schools are on the top ten law schools and are very famous. The admissions requirements for NYU are a person needs a GPA of 3.65 and a LSAT score of about 170. To get in to Fordham University a person needs a GPA of 3.58 and a LSAT score of about 168. These requirements are very hard requirements to meet and it’s going to take a lot of hard work to meet them. I am not sure right now if I could meet these requirements it all depends on how good I do in undergraduates school
After all this researching and looking at admissions requirement I have a lot of work to do. I have to pick my GPA from a 2.9 to a 3.5 I am going to do this by not making the same mistakes I did as a freshmen and sophomore, which were unexcused, absents and missing homework and class work. I am also going to start taking SAT prep classes in The 52nd Street Project every Monday at six o’clock then if I get a high SAT score I can attend a college that will help me progress and learn and not hold me back.

By jeremy | Posted in law, myfuture | Comments (2)

An Interview

October 31, 2006 – 10:44 am

For my Future portfolio I decided to interview Heidi Padawer because I wanted to hear a lawyers opinion on the profession and get to hear what it’s really like.
Jeremy: Was law school hard?
Heidi: Yes-first year, in particular. It’s very intense and demanding but, like anything else, you get better at it over time and it gets less hard. By the time it ended, I was very sad to leave it all behind.

Jeremy: How old were you became a lawyer?

Heidi: I graduated from law school at the age of 25 and started practicing a few months later.

Jeremy: How long did it take you to become a lawyer?

Heidi: Law school took three years. In addition, I had two law-related summer internships and I spent the summer after law school studying for the bar exam.

Jeremy: What kind of lawyer are you?

Heidi: I am a corporate litigator.

Jeremy: Was it hard to find a job as a lawyer?

Heidi: It was very hard to find the right fit. There are, for example, lots of law firms that interview for associates to join their firms following graduation but some people don’t want to go to a law firm. Some people want to work for the government or non-profit organizations and it takes time, and a lot of hard work, to find the place that’s right for you.

Jeremy: Do you enjoy your job?

Heidi: I do enjoy it. It’s intellectually challenging and very current. It’s exciting to work on projects that are often in the news!

Jeremy: What do you do for your job?

Heidi: My job primarily involves research and writing. Somebody will ask me to look up the answer to a particular legal issue and I will spend the day finding out everything about it and then writing up my findings. Usually my findings are incorporated into motions or briefs that we submit to court.

Jeremy: Is your job what you imagined it to be?

Heidi: Yes, definitely

This interview has taught me it’s going to take a lot of hard work and it’s a long process but it all pays off. I also learned to look around don’t just get the first job you find I have to look for something I am going to like doing and interest me.

By jeremy | Posted in law, myfuture | Comments (0)