Exploring the Legal Field
Before you pursue a career in law, we strongly advise that you explore the legal field. In this section, you will find suggestions for books to read and organizations to research that will help you learn more about entering the legal field.- General Books
- Reference Books
- Informational Interviews
- Joint Degree Programs
- Organizations
- MIT Student Organizations
- Web resources
- Minority and GLBT Resources
General Books
For insight into the practice of law, the legal field and what you might face in law school, below is a sample of general books to review.
- Broken Contract, by Richard D. Kahlenberg
- So You Want to Be a Lawyer by Law School Admission Council (2001)
- Being a Lawyer: Individual Choice and Responsibility in the Practice of Law (American Casebook Series) by Howard Lesnick
- Planet Law School: What You Need to Know (Before You Go), But Didn't Know to Ask... and No One Else Will Tell You, Second Edition by Atticus Falcon
- Lawyer: A Life of Counsel and Controversy by Arthur L. Liman, Peter Israel
- Leading Lawyers: Legal Visionaries Share Their Knowledge on the Art & Science of Being a Successful Lawyer by Aspatore Books Staff (Editor)
- Patent Law Essentials: A Concise Guide by Alan L. Durham
- Patents for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology: Fundamentals of Global Law, Practice and Strategy by Philip W. Grubb
- Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright by Arthur R. Miller, Michael H. Davis
- One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School by Scott Turow
- The Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn, Jr.
- Law School Confidential (Revised Edition): A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students by Robert H. Miller
Reference Books
The following books provide detailed information and answers about the law school admissions process:
- Barron's Guide to Law Schools (14th Edition) (2000)
- ABA LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, 2003 by Wendy Margolis, Andrew Arnone, and Rick L. Morgan (Editors)
- The Best Law Schools: 2000, Princeton Review
- Essays That Will Get You into Law School by Daniel Kaufman, et al. (1998)
- How to get into the Top Law Schools (The Degree of Difference Series) by Richard Montauk, J.D. (2001)
- 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests (LSAT Series) by Law School Admission Staff (Editor), Law School Admission Council Inc.
- Master the LSAT by Jeff Kolby, Scott Thornburg
- The Official LSAT Prep Test with Explanations by Bonnie Gordon (Editor) (2000)
Informational Interviews
One of the best ways to determine if law school is a good fit for you is to talk to others who are in the field. Speaking to alumni about their experiences can be an informative tool in determining whether to pursue law, choosing to apply to a particular school or learning more about a particular field. To find alumni, you can use the Institute’s Alumni Network (Alumni ICAN) For tips on how to network with alumni, download our online workshop.
- Networking 101 On-line Workshop
Joint Degree Programs
Organizations
MIT Student Organizations
Web Resources
Minority and GLBT Resources
Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education: Student Performance at Top Law Schools
Last updated on Friday, November 13, 09 at 09:28:21 AM EST.
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