Law and Society Directory

The legal sector was created to uphold and maintain due process and the practice of law has had a long and storied history in the United States.  Many of the fathers of the American Revolution were lawyers, and became such by reading and studying legal treatises until they were able to pass an oral examination by a qualified member of the bar.  The study of law in the United States remained a fairly independent endeavor until the first law schools emerged during the 1870s.  Since its origins, sentiment has always vacillated between admiration and disgust for the legal profession, but there is no question that lawyers have been tasked with the difficult responsibility of attempting to strike a balance between order and liberty.

Lawyers practice in many diverse and specialized areas of law including business, criminal, environmental, family, international, labor, property, taxation, and tort.  They often play diverse roles, acting as advisors, mediators, evaluators, negotiators, advocates, agents, or fiduciaries for corporations, governments, not-for-profits, and individuals.  Lawyers typically have four years of undergraduate study followed by three years of law school.  Undergraduates must pass the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) before gaining admission into law school.  Upon graduation, candidates receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, and must pass the state Bar association exams before beginning practice in their specialized area.

Other professionals working in the legal realm include paralegals, legal secretaries, and e-discovery professionals.  Paralegals help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and meetings by investigating facts and identifying appropriate laws, judicial decisions, and other materials that are relevant to a case.  They prepare written reports, organize and track files, draft contracts, and maintain financial office records.  Many paralegals complete a paralegal program through a community college, but others earn a certificate in paralegal studies, and some are trained on the job.  A few schools offer bachelor's and master's degrees in paralegal studies.  Legal secretaries prepare correspondence and legal papers for an attorney or paralegal, and assist with legal research.  Often, legal secretaries have some form of on-the-job training combined with courses from a technical school or community college.  E-discovery professionals help locate, gather, and manage electronic data for litigation.  They often have a background in information technology or law.

Find more information about law careers and legal professions at the American Bar Association, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Lawyers Association.