NCJ Number
49087
Journal
JOURNAL OF NON-WHITE CONCERNS IN PERSONNEL AND GUIDANCE Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 181-190
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO COUNSELING THE NONWHITE PROSPECTIVE LAW STUDENT AND LAWYER IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
DURING THE INITIAL COUNSELING MEETING THE COUNSELOR AND THE STUDENT MIGHT BEGIN BY COMPILING A LIST OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS EXPLORING THE STUDENT'S CAREER ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS AND LIFE GOALS. HOMEWORK DESIGNED TO TEST THE STUDENT'S SERIOUSNESS ABOUT A LAW CAREER COULD INCLUDE ASSIGNING INTERVIEWS WITH ROLE MODELS (OTHER NONWHITE LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS) AND RELEVANT READINGS. SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS CAN BEGIN WITH WHATEVER THE STUDENT IS THINKING, FEELING, OR DOING RELEVANT TO HIS OR HER INTEREST IN LAW. EXAMINING NEGATIVE OR SELF-DEFEATING FEELINGS OR ATTITUDES IS VALUABLE, AND HAVING THE STUDENT IMAGINE HIMSELF OR HERSELP AS A LAW STUDENT MAY PROVIDE INSIGHTS. FOR THE STUDENT WHO HAS DECIDED TO PURSUE A LEGAL CAREER, A NUMBER OF PRAGMATIC CONCERNS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. FOR MANY MINORITY STUDENTS, CHOICES OF GOALS OF ECONOMIC BETTERMENT AND SUCCESS VERSUS PUBLIC INTEREST AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CAREER PATHS OFTEN POSE A PHILOSOPHICAL DILEMMA. STUDENTS MUST REALISTICALLY ASSESS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE ROUTINE DAY-TO-DAY PAPERWORK, POLITICKING, AND CONSULTATION WHICH REQUIRE A PREPONDERANCE OF THE LAWYER'S EFFORT AND TIME. UNDERGRADUATE PREPARATION FOR LAW SCHOOL MIGHT INVOLVE A POLITICAL SCIENCE OR GOVERNMENT MAJOR. OTHER SCHOOLS RECOMMEND BROAD LIBERAL ARTS OR ENGLISH TRAINING. LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION POLICIES ARE STILL QUITE CONSERVATIVE, SO A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE DEGREE IS RECOMMENDED. WHILE THERE IS SOME FEELING THAT THOSE GRADUATES FROM LESS PRESTIGIOUS LAW SCHOOLS MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING A JOB, A BLACK LAW SCHOOL MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TRAINING MORE RELEVANT TO THE BLACK STUDENT'S FUTURE NEEDS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ADMISSION POLICIES, FINANCIAL AID, AND SPECIAL SERVICES SHOULD BE REQUESTED, AND PARTICIPATION IN INVOLVEMENT-ORIENTED PROGRAMS CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE. AFTER LAW SCHOOL, CAREER DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE. A STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT 75 PERCENT OF NONWHITE LAW GRADUATES GO INTO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SERVICE PRACTICES, TRADITIONALLY AN UNDERPAID FIELD. IT MAY BE THAT MINORITIES ARE MORE PEOPLE-ORIENTED, OR THAT THE MORE LUCRATIVE AREAS OF PRACTICE SUCH AS CORPORATE LAW HAVE BEEN CLOSED TO THEM. HOWEVER, OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN THE MORE PRESTIGIOUS AND BETTER PAID JOBS ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, A LAW DEGREE IS RELEVANT TO A NUMBER OF NONLAW CAREERS INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS AND COURT WORK, AND PARALEGAL WORK. (JAP)