Some General Law School Questions

on Wednesday, 25 May 2011
A number of you have emailed me questions related to actually breaking into law school. I have decided to answer the most common ones. Please understand that I've been receiving a lot of emails since I created this blog so unfortunately I cannot answer every single question! However, here are a few:


Q: Do I have to study political science, or english to be considered for law school?
A: Absolutely not! Law schools are in search of the best and brightest. Therefore, it is common for science and engineering students to get accepted. In fact, law schools actually seek those that will bring a difference to their community.


Q: Do I need a 4.0 GPA to attend a T14 law school?
A: For those that don't know what a T14 law school is, T14 means the "top fourteen" law schools based on annual rankings. The answer to this is no, but it should still be relatively high. This also depends what you are studying, as a 3.7 GPA in engineering is much more difficult than a 3.7 GPA in liberal arts.

Q: What's more important, my GPA or my LSAT?
A: Without a doubt, both of these are very important. However, a general rule of thumb is that they should be weighed equally. In fact, someone with a high GPA and low LSAT (or vice-versa) is known as a "splitter" in law school admissions terms. It is difficult for the faculty to decide on an acceptance or rejection in this case.

Q: When and how should I prepare for the LSAT?
A: As soon as possible! Register into LSAT study courses if you learn better that way... it will certainly help you in the long run. However, some people find that taking mach LSAT tests online is a good way to prepare. Always time yourself and record your score after every test. Make it as similar to the actual test as possible. Don't cheat, and use your time wisely.

Q: How do I become a personal injury lawyer?
A: If you wish to become an accident lawyer, you can attend any law school of your choosing. There is no specific law school for this type of practice. In law school you will learn all of the tips and tricks for dealing with motor vehicle accidents (or other types of injuries) and the claims that follow.

If there are any more questions, please email them to me, I'd be happy to answer!

Types of Lawyers And Where to Work

on Friday, 13 May 2011
If you're reading this blog now, I encourage you to scroll down to see the articles I posted about different types of lawyers, namely: Mesothelioma/Asbestos, Accident Lawyers and Patent Lawyers. The reason I posted these three types is because they are paid the most. So once you become an accident lawyer for example, where would you work? Basically, you have two options. Either start your own practice or work for a firm. Ideally, you would go become a lawyer (mesothelioma, accident, patent) and start your firm, for example "John Smith's Law" and perhaps you would specialize in cases dealing with mesothelioma. If successful, you would of course do better financially as opposed to working for a firm as a graduate. However, your success as a lawyer is not limited to starting your own practice. For the second option, you can join a law firm as a level one attorney. For example, you may wish to join a firm that deals with accidents or personal injuries. Over the years, you have the opportunity to get many clients, do a good job, and hopefully get promoted up the chain. This is very competitive and the highest paid lawyers at a firm at what we call the "partners". If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Chicago Accident Lawyer

on Sunday, 8 May 2011
Getting into a Motor Vehicle Accident or a Slip & Fall can be difficult and challenging experience. You can get a consultation from a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer. These lawyers practice exclusively in the area of personal injury(and mesothelioma) and will provide you with free consultations to assist you and win your case. A lawyer will be committed to your case and assist you to manage your physical injuries as well as receive the cash that you deserve.

They know how tough having an accident can be; that is why one of our accident lawyers will handle your file from the beginning until its finished, leaving you stress-free while you know that experienced lawyers are battling for your rights. A qualified Chicago accident  or personal injury attorney will make sure all of the steps of the process are fair and well thought.
.

Mesothelioma or Asbestos Attorney

on Thursday, 5 May 2011
More on mesothelioma lawyers (also fall into the category of accident lawyers): Many items have asbestos fibers in them. Those working in construction and other industries of that nature are at the highest risk of being poisoned by asbestos.

Asbestos is the only material known to cause mesothelioma for workers in North America. If you're exposed to it, it may cause cancer. In this cause you would need to call up a mesothelioma lawyer to deal with your case if you feel you have been unnecessarily exposed to asbestos. The pay for a mesothelioma attorney is similar to that of a Chicago accident attorney spoken about in an earlier blog post. Mesothelioma attorneys are all over North America and with a Google search you should be able to find some.

Chicago Accident Lawyer - Can Illinois afford 3 years in prison?

on Tuesday, 3 May 2011

I thought I would post this interesting law story: This Chicago Criminal Defense lawyer is not shocked, but believes you must tell your peers that a relatively small amount of money could land you in jail. The Chicago lawyer accused Vega by indictment  with multiple offenses, including damage to government property over $500 in relation with damage that he caused to a police vehicle. At trial, an officer testified that he determined that the wreckage was approximately $502.  A business who estimates suggested that the total estimate was $501.90.  The estimator stated that the actual bill in some cases could be more or less than the estimate, but since the vehicle here needed only one part, the bill would be the same as the estimate.  He was not asked whether sales tax was included in the estimate.  The written estimate was entered into evidence.  It shows that $32.85 of the estimate was sales tax on parts and materials.  The Chicago attorney provided no evidence regarding whether the tax was appropriate or whether the amount of the estimate or the tax was actually paid.  The jury found Vega guilty.


Mesothelioma Attorney

on Monday, 2 May 2011
As I previously mentioned, patent attorneys pay quite well. However, mesothelioma attorneys also seem to bank a lot of cash. Mesothelioma is a cancer and similar to all types of cancer, knowledge of the disease is more useful for the patient's survival than being unaware. In basic terms, mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest. Of course, a medical degree is not required to become a mesothelioma lawyer. The mesothelioma lawyer you go to would practice at a law firm that specifically deals with cases involving mesothelioma. This is important because people don't want to pay someone who doesn't know anything about mesothelioma.

It is important to understand what exactly causes mesothelioma. It is a mineral called asbestos. As a lawyer, this is where you would take action. The field is so specific that it isn't even classified under personal injury law (thus clients do not need to see a personal injury lawyer or accident lawyer such as a Chicago accident lawyer). The attorney would attempt to file suits given proof of being exposed to asbestos. The process to become a mesothelioma attorney is followed similar to the other types of attorneys. Get good grades, proper financial assistance, and score well on that LSAT.

What is a patent attorney?

on Sunday, 1 May 2011
If you're interested in attending law school then it would be a good idea to have in mind what type of attorney you wish to become. One possible option (of the many available) is the patent attorney. A synonym for patent is "intellectual property" (IP), so these types of lawyers are said to practice IP law. IP law is an extremely lucrative field to get into and it is always in demand. With that said, what are the steps to becoming a patent attorney?

  • Enroll in a university for a bachelors degree program. (Note: if you are thinking about patent law it would be wise to take something involving science, mathematics or engineering)
  • Obtain a good GPA, do well on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) and then attend a law school of your chosing
  • Pass the patent bar exam to become a certified patent lawyer
The average starting salaries for a patent lawyer is approximately $120,000.