I am finding it really difficult for the making my girl understand the risks of being in a serious field of law. My daughter, if she is confident enough, I won’t try to push her back. But, in every situation, she faces, be a small doubt in her study she needs aid from someone close, like me for instance. She is not confident enough to proceed with a firm decision. When people like her join the law, they are likely to undergo so much unwanted pressures and tension. So, in order to make her understand the idea behind the career, I suggested her complete a graduation on her interest other than the law like on computer applications and then pursue a paralegal course in Toronto so she can fulfill her dream if that is actually hers. With a further accreditation, she can practice law herself here in Ontario. I don’t know, she has all this sort of weird ideas always. And gets herself into trouble by taking in all the workloads.
Is there any idea for her to improve her confidence. If so please suggest and I will make her pursue those ideas. Or is it really me?? Because I tried making her talk with those career advisers and they seem confident in her.
You don’t major in law, so your daughter can major in anything she wishes (and perhaps she will allow some input from you). To get into law school she will just need a high GPA and a high score on the LSAT. Also, she may go through a period of much growth in college, where she will learn to be more independent and confident.
I am a practicing lawyer who is also not a naturally confident person - particularly when I was younger. There are so many different things your daughter could do with a law degree, many of which don’t require the confident swagger people associate with lawyers. If she can get to law school, do well, and develop an interest in a particular area, she will have the confidence that comes from studying and knowing that she is correct in her advice to clients. She may not have the temperament to be a trial attorney, but she could likely find a niche where she could thrive. I wouldn’t discourage it based solely on concerns about her personality. You’re right about the stress, though!
Let your daughter make her career choice…and be supportive.
She can major in anything. You might suggest that she see if she can snag an internship at a law firm or DA’s office or aid society to see if she enjoys the culture.
I think she is beyond the age of you making her do anything. You can’t make her pursue ideas from here or make her study computers. Let her find her way, she likely has a lot within her if it is allowed to develop and come out on it’s on it’s own schedule, not yours. Our kids often rise when we let them. Even Princeton kids learn to do laundry. 
Echoing: in the USA there are no undergrad law majors. the progression towards law is as follows –
- Any major in college (any major in college -- it's worth repeating) theater, studio art, finance, engineering, nursing, etc.
- GPa of 3.7+
- LSAT score of 172
That combination should get you into a top 10 law school, which is what you will need to achieve in order to be guaranteed a career in the US that uses a law degree upon graduation.
As others have said, law is far far more than standing in front of a courtroom arguing cases (which is what I think you may be afraid of on her behalf if you feel she isn’t that confident). The vast majority of practicing law happens outside of the courtroom. Much of it happens in conference rooms inside of law firms where deals are struck and contracts are hammered out. There are in-house counsels, public interest attorneys who do advocacy work for various groups such as homeless people, domestic violence victims, prisoners, workers, legal or illegal immigrants, etc.; government workers are attorneys often; judges; academics; consultants – etc. It’s a huge field. There’s plenty of room for her.
Paralegal work is fine work, but it can also be stultifying compared with what she can do with a law degree.
The best advice that I can give you parent to parent is to stop telling her that she’s not qualified to do something based on your assessment of her personality. That’s a way to guarantee that she will fail. I strongly advise the next time she says: “I want to be a lawyer” or “I want to be an astronaut” or “I want to be a tightrope walker” you say:
“Wow! That sounds exciting! Tell me more about that.” And then smile and listen and nod.
Please refrain from saying: but darling you can’t do that because you can’t balance on a rope, sweetheart, remember when you fell off in 2nd grade?
She’s a big girl, Mum and your job now is to let go of her hands and allow her to try walking on the tightrope by herself. Trust her to make the right decisions for herself, even if she occasionally falls off. Falling off means she’s trying something daring and brave–and learning how to do something new.
When she does fall off please consider saying: Nice go! Well done for trying!
“Let your daughter make her career choice…and be supportive.”
I agree with this. Your daughter and my daughters get to live their lives. As parents we get to try to help them but we don’t get to decide what they do with their lives.
Only a relatively small number of lawyers ever stand up in court and argue cases. Many other lawyers do the large amount of work behind the scenes such as preparing patents or working on legal agreements. Quiet, thoughtful people do have a big place in the law profession.
“You might suggest that she see if she can snag an internship at a law firm…”
I think that this is a good idea.
I think that if you showed more confidence in your daughter, she would have more confidence in herself. Let her know you believe in her! She can do it!!!
There are worse things in the world than a cautious lawyer. A person like this could do very well working in-house in a corporation or government where she would be responsible for things like drafting policies and contracts. This requires a very different persona than the Hollywoodized obnoxious-jerk lawyer stereotype that OP may be worried about. Corporate or policy law could be a great field for her.
I think that an internship at a law firm might be a turn-off for this kind of student.
There are lawyers who do mostly real estate closings and wills. It can be pretty low key.
Most work in law is done behind a desk, without a client watching. Even in litigation 90% of the work is done in the office, late at night, alone. Not everyone can be Perry Mason and not everyone wants to be. I don’t do a lot of courtroom work, but I did spend 12 months preparing a case, 4 weeks in the courtroom, and 2 months doing post trial motions. I never uttered one word in the courtroom (paperwork was my specialty).
OP seems to be in Canada, so Law is an undergrad degree.
That said, I think that home is where we go for the support and encouragement that helps us to face the rough and tumble of the outside world. There is a Montessori saying that ‘competence builds confidence’, because they believe that confidence can only come from the inside.
Yes but a bachelor’s degree, or at least the first two years of one, is usually required.
ach, you’re right @TomSrOfBoston - was thinking GB.
Law is a doctoral degree in all Canadian provinces except Quebec.
Thanks all… I want to be more supportive of her choices… Also, I don’t want her to be feel gloomy if it fails… I had seen her like that many a times.
The reason why I came with the question here.