As A Law Student & Future Attorney—Learn to Love Doing Research!
If you are planning on a career as a trial attorney, you probably find yourself envisioning your future frequently during law school. Practicing law as a trial attorney can be exciting and rewarding. However, the bulk of your work as an attorney will require a great deal of legal research, reading, and writing. If that sounds familiar to you as a law student, you are correct. Law school offers a great training ground for the skills required to be a successful attorney and you will certainly do your fair share of reading, writing and researching.
That overwhelming feeling you may have at times in terms of reading and coursework is preparation for just a fraction of what you will experience as an attorney. And while you may have help later, there will still be much that you must process yourself as ultimately your clients are relying on you as you prepare for any trial.
You begin honing your researching talents in law school with legal research and writing classes. At CDTA, you will be trained in the use of the premier legal research tool, Lexis Advance. Understanding legal research, case precedents and how to argue points and authorities are critical skills in lawyering.
Preparation is key, both in law school and even more so in practice. Many, many hours go into the preparation of a trial, and this preparation usually begins with interviewing your client. Only when you understand what occurred from your client’s perspective and compare that to the discovery provided to you will you begin to have an understanding of what your job is. Creating an accurate timeline of events will require research into all relevant witnesses and other direct evidence.
Your research skills will be vital to writing motions, briefs and writs on behalf of your client. Knowing the evidence code inside and out as well as case law will assist you in winning arguments in court.
Are you interested in becoming a skilled lawyer and negotiator? Our mission at CDTA College of Law is to educate, train, and develop extraordinary legal advocates. Your legal education will be comprised of bar-tested academic subjects, skills training, and values reinforcement. Upon completion of your four-year course of study, you will be fully qualified to take and pass the California Bar examination. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.