Are you contemplating going to law school? Before you decide on whether or not to obtain a law degree there are a few things you need to know and should ponder over.
Lawyers have stood at the center of society for centuries. A career as a lawyer usually always comes with a stamp of prestige because society has always regarded lawyers to be in an elite circle of professionals who command respect and embody the definition of success.
But becoming a lawyer is an enormous undertaking in terms of time commitment and financial investment. Law school and passing the bar come with various challenges.
For one, a law degree is definitely not cheap. The tuition fees for law students are among the highest in the world and there are always more expenses than what you would anticipate.
A qualification in the law requires students to do a lot of reading so, be prepared to study long and hard hours as a law student.
Here are a few things you should know about studying for a law degree:
How long does it take to study law?
The standard requirement before one can practice as a lawyer is completing an LLB degree which takes 4 years. Alternatively, some students choose to first study a BCom or BA which takes 3 years, and then study another 2 years to complete their LLB.
What are the requirements for a law degree?
The requirements for admission into a law programme vary according to the different institutions, but some of the minimum requirements include a National Senior Certificate with degree admission.
English Home Language level 5 or English First Additional Language level 6, Mathematical Literacy level 5 or Mathematics level 3, Life Orientation level 4. Minimum composite Academic Point Score (APS) 32, not including Life Orientation.
What are the fields studied in Law?
- Criminal Law, focusing on the relationship between law and crime
- Property Law, dealing with real property
- Intellectual Property Law, dealing with intangible assets
- Commercial Law, relating to all things involved with commerce and industry
- Environmental Law, focusing on the protection and regulation of the natural environment
- Family Law, pertaining to family-related matters
- International Law, pertaining to relationships between states and countries
What will you study at law school?
The traditional three-year law school education begins with a first-year curriculum that teaches the basic subjects of all law: tort law, contract law, public law and understanding law, civil procedure, property, criminal law, and constitutional law.
Will you be a lawyer when you graduate with your degree?
In order to legally practice law, a graduate with a law degree must generally pass another examination, this is the attorney’s admission exam. The exam tests your knowledge of legal practice and procedure, wills and estates, legal bookkeeping, attorneys’ practice, contracts, and rules of conduct.
Law continues to be a highly sought-after course of study at universities all over the globe and offers the training and experience to pursue a variety of professional paths both in and outside of the legal sector, so a career in law is definitely worth considering.
