Do you learn the background information you need for a law sub-field in law school?

Graduate School Law School
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<p>I have a few questions. Sorry if these seem stupid or basic, but I couldn't find answers to them on this forum. </p>

<p>1.) Does everyone in law school take the same courses, or do they customize their courses based on what sub-field of law they want to get into? Like does someone just get a general law education in law school and then learn about their sub-field on the job? Or do they get background information about their sub-field while in law school?</p>

<p>2.) This overlaps with my first question: if law students do customize their courses to their sub-field, do their classes provide them with the relevant background information they need to understand/execute their eventual job? </p>

<p>I'm asking because I'm currently a Pol Sci major at UC Berkeley, but I want to eventually go into corporate law. I have no desire to major in economics or business (since although I like those subjects, I have a passion for political science). But will I learn everything I need to be a corporate lawyer in law school? Will I gain background knowledge in business, economics, ect. in law school? </p>

<p>It would seem odd to me that a top law firm would hire an associate that has little background information in business.</p>

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<p>Most of the courses you will take in your first year of law school are prescribed by the ABA. Typically, you will have the option to take one or two electives your first year.</p>

<p>During your second and third years of law school, other than the requirement that you take an upper level writing course, you can generally take courses of your choosing. If you wish to pursue a career in corporate law, it would make sense for you to take classes like Corporations, Federal Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Antitrust, Securities Regulation, Financial Accounting and similar courses. </p>

<p>Without giving away too much information about myself, I can tell you that I have interviewed and hired law students for summer associate jobs at a Biglaw firm for years. Here is some of the thought process on hiring law students:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Law school - Many Biglaw firms hire very selectively at top law schools (and sometimes, some local, well regarded schools). Law school grades absolutely matter, and though generally there are not policy-based absolute grade cutoffs, in practice there are. Keep in mind that everyone attending a top law school did extraordinarily well as an undergrad, and 50% of each class will be in the bottom 50% of that class. </p></li>
<li><p>Undergrad - Your undergrad school is not a make or break decision making point; however, going to a well respected undergrad school and majoring in a relevant and/or difficult major will be noted. </p></li>
<li><p>Work experience - This can be your ace in the hole. Law firms love to see that you have held down a responsible job – you have had to show up on time, dress appropriately, handle a budget/money, work well with others, report to a boss, etc. Of course, awards and promotions from a job can be a huge boost. </p></li>
<li><p>Other activities - Showing community involvement and/or dedication to some activity can show dedication and passion. Some of the activities that come to mind are people who work full time and volunteer for Meals on Wheels on Saturdays, marathon runners/triatheletes, literacy volunteers, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, people who continue to sing/play musical instruments with local and semi-pro groups, etc. I have always admired students who work during college to help put themselves through school. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Please, remember, though, rarely, if ever, will an activity make up for insufficient law school grades. </p>

<p>I hope this was helpful.</p>

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<p>I am a legal recruiter and agree with sallyawp. Of course, I place attorneys with experience, but grades remain important far past your first job out of law school. For example, I am working to fill several jobs with a corporation right now. The client requires transcripts from both undergrad and law school. Candidates with mediocre grades at top law schools are not getting interviews. I share this because law students suffer from a version of senioritis too. Do not slack off third year and damage a GPA, even if you are headed to federal clerkship. </p>

<p>With regard to training in law school, much of practicing law is on the job training. Having a good mentor in the first few years of practice can be invaluable.</p>

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<p>Would lacking a background in business/economics hurt me when I take classes in law school dealing with corporate law? Would it be harder to do well in those classes? Or would the law professors assume that their students don’t know anything about business and teach accordingly? </p>

<p>Also will the fact that I majored in Pol Sci and not business hurt me with job interviews with top firms? Do they expect their associates in corporate law to have majored and have WE in business, finance, accounting, ect? I heard this is very true for IP and Patent Law, but I’m not sure about Corporate Law.</p>

<p>Do a lot of corporate lawyers have a business background?</p>

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<p>A lack of business classes will not be a detriment in law school classes. There is a difference between studying business and studying corporate law. They are two different subject matters. It is likely easier to apply corporate law to business deals in a law practice if you have a business background, majored in accounting or economics. I was an English major undergrad and I had no problem doing well in Corporations or Securities Regulation.</p>