Pre-Law Companion

by Ron Coleman

Book Overview

Law school holds promise of a high salary, prestige, and a lifetime of intellectual inquiry. But is law school really the place for you? It's a lot of work getting into law school, more work when you... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067977372X
• ISBN13: 9780679773726
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Princeton Review
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Please read this book

This is a thoughtful book that every potential law school applicant should read. As a law student, I was stunned by how few (and I mean FEW) people had put any thought at all into their decision to attend. I left my law practice to retain my sanity. For what it's worth, I urge anyone thinking of going to law school to read this book very carefully. There are very good reasons for becoming a lawyer, though making a lot of money is not one of them. Law school isn't that hard (try medical school . . .), but being a lawyer is very demanding indeed. It takes the right kind of person, and the right kind of motivation, to make it worthwhile. This book is an excellent start to deciding if you're one of those people.

Quick Read - Very Informative and Practical

I'm 41 and seriously considering law school. This book was very useful in figuring out what qualities make a good law student and lawyer, the types of work available in lawyering, and practical tips for admissions. I read this in one sitting, had borrowed it from the library, and am considering purchasing. Highly recommend to someone wondering whether to pursue that law degree. Reading it was as painless as a conversation with a friend.

It made a big impact on the course of my life . . .

Before reading Ron Coleman's pre-law companion, I was keen on going to law school right after completing my undergraduate degree. However, through the exercise of reading Coleman's pre-law companion, the reader is forced to question why (s)he wants to go to law school, if indeed (s)he would be happy being a lawyer, and if there aren't any alternatives/paths (s)he would like to pursue before going to law school since realistically, there would be no time for such pursuits afterwards. Well, this last point really hit home for me. I often debated whether I should pursue graduate school in computer science, and Coleman's pre-law companion motivated me to explore this avenue further. Well, Coleman's advice could not have been better (as well as more timely). Now I won't ever think back and ask myself, why didn't I seriously pursue graduate school in computer science. And if I do end up at law school, I know I'll be better prepared and more certain about being a lawyer. I thought Ron Coleman's pre-law companion was so appropriate and helpful that I left it with the pre-law advisor at my undergraduate institution. I sincerely hope that others will benefit from it as much as I did. By the way, if in fact you are extremely keen on going to law school, Coleman also offers excellent advice on how to strengthen your application as well as what to realistically expect while going through the entire application process. This is my second review of Coleman's book: the first one reflects my mindset prior to making my decision to put off law school and this one reflects my mindset afterwards.

Asking the Tough Questions

The strength of Mr. Coleman's work, The Pre-Law Companion, is its honest look at the legal profession from the point of view most useful to a potential law student: why you might NOT want to attend law school. The author is tough and unwavering in his approach to talking about the reality of life as a lawyer, and in asking the questions that most people overlook. However, his directness is tempered with humor, flair and personality as he provides a rather endearing look into his own journey through the process and shares some of the pitfalls he encountered along the way. By utilizing a healthy balance of instruction and wit, Mr. Coleman has successfully created this essential pre-law guide. In the first half of the book, the author leads the reader through a fresh and rigorous look at his or her individual strengths and weaknesses as a potential lawyer. Since obtaining a J.D. involves a significant commitment of time, money and other more intangible resources (like family support, toll on friendships or social life, the opportunity cost of lost income while in school, to name a few), the decision to invest these resources deserves a hard look. This investigation involves broaching the subjects of aptitude for the legal profession (it is not simply about showmanship or being a good arguer), the reality of life as a lawyer (beyond the glamour of "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice"), and what else you could be or would rather be doing with all of that time, money, etc. Ron helps each of his readers ask the questions fundamental to making the right decision about whether or not they should attend law school. The second half of the book provides practical insights into preparing for law school: first discussing appropriate undergraduate coursework and extracurricular activities, then looking at life between college and graduate school, and finally preparing law school applications, financing a legal education, and exploring various types of law jobs that might be available after graduation. While discussing job opportunities, Mr. Coleman provides a very extensive list of potential government positions for lawyers, and also looks at lawyering in the business world, lawyering for public interest, and of course, private practice. After reading this book, the potential law student will have examined the type of work lawyers do, and will have inquired frankly into whether he or she has what it takes to succeed, and also whether he or she will enjoy life as a lawyer. Above all, I enjoyed this book because while reading it I felt like I had a trusted, knowledgeable and funny friend spend a few hours advising me on the pursuit of my law school education. A rare treat, indeed! I highly recommend this book for anyone deciding whether to attend law school or pursue a legal career.

Truly a Pre-Law Companion . . .

If there is one thing I regret about Ronald Coleman's "Pre-Law Companion: What Law School Grads Wish They Knew Before They Started", it is that I didn't purchase it before making my decision to apply to law school.First, this book affords you, as the reader, a serious and applicable opportunity for introspection to assess whether you are really "right" for law school (and thus the legal profession) and whether law school is really "right" for you. In my view, this introspection is quite necessary and appropriate for any student considering the legal profession. After all, it would be just awful to invest three years of your life (and a whole lot of money) only to discover that you are not meant to be a lawyer. Second, this book offers very helpful and educational information regarding the various fields in law as well as the various roles lawyers play in our society. For example, if you are considering specializing in patent law, it is important to know that you should have a scientific background and interest.Finally, this book offers insightful information about the whole law school application process, which I found to be very instrumental and beneficial. It covers everything from choosing a law school to getting in. In addition, it offers invaluable advice about choosing a major (with respect to being pre-law), paying for law school, etc. Furthermore, it offers many alternatives to consider before applying to law schools (such as taking a couple of years off to work as a paralegal, etc.) which can only strengthen one's candidacy in the long run.In sum, not only was this book thoughtful, informative, relevant in every aspect imaginable, and extremely well-written, but it nailed all of my questions/concerns as a pre-law college student in a genuinely straight-forward and clear manner. It truly is a pre-law companion.