<p>Hi; I was just reading an interesting thread ( <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=65888%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=65888</a> ) about the dangers of attempting to specialize in law school. That seems to be the rule for people interested in working for a corporation or a law firm. How about someone interested in something a little bit less mainstream?</p>
<p>You see, I've been trying to figure out which law schools offer the best education for someone interested in politics. I figure they would have to offer strong courses in constitutional law, the crafting of federal and state law, and other things you'd be knee deep in if you were in government. </p>
<p>The best I've been able to find so far is environmental law as an area of specialization--does anyone know of schools that offer a strong education more along my lines of interest?</p>
<p>I don't know of schools which offer specifically what you are looking for. General advice: go to school in or near DC, where you can more readily intern, and where there would be more recruiting for government jobs. If you go to school in DC, you might be able to get externships in politics.</p>
<p>Large schools might offer more of what you are looking for in terms of courses, just because they tend to have more courses to choose from.</p>
<p>Just about any law school will prepare you to go into politics. You will likely have to put up a lot of your own money when you are first starting out; thus, you need to focus on areas of the law in which you believe you are the most talented. Many poliititians start out as prosecutors because they can later say they will be "tough on crime." I would not recommend you work as a criminal defense lawyer "letting criminals free to harm the public."</p>
<p>Before you decide you want to be a lawyer to go into politics, I would suggest you step back. It is no longer necessary to be a lawyer to be a polititian. The ingredience to get started are as follows: (1) extreme extroversion -- you need to want to know and be friends with as many people as you can, (2) party loyalty -- to get the attention existing leaders in your party, you need to show up at party functions and help with all the grunt work, (3) intellect and ego -- know you are smart enough to withstand endless criticism from within your party and from the other party, (4) no fear of losing -- most people in politics have lost several races yet come back to win, and (5) a successful career generating a lot of money to invest in your campaign. There may be others but these come to mind.</p>
<p>Law is not any better than many other careers in helping you meet these requirements.</p>
<p>lol. I find the previous post somewhat amusing, but then again, there is some good advice there. :D</p>