<p>Hi,
Although I am only a high school junior I have at this point decided that I would like to go to law school. </p>
<p>I have a few questions and figured that people in this forum would beable to provide me with the best answers. </p>
<p>When I do go off to an undergraduate institution - which will either be a small private college in the northeast, or a UC/CSU I plan to major in Philosophy. </p>
<p>I want to work in medical malpractice law, specifcally physician defense. What is the path to malpractice law after law school? I hope to enter a combinded JD/MPH program but would this be beneficial for a medical malpractice attorney? How long do JD/MPH programs take to complete, typically?</p>
<p>Right now, while I am in high school I would like to get some good volunteer experience, however I am not sure where I can go. Anywhere you guys could recommend?</p>
<p>Also, I do have a very minor physical disability. My disability does not effect me too much. I wear leg braces knee high, and walk with a limp.. that is all. My question is, when the time comes to apply to law school should I disclose this information? I am not sure if it would make a great personal statement or raise a red flag. Again, it does not hold me back, and I was thinking I could show how I have worked very hard to get where I am today, and how I will put the same dedication into getting my law degree because without some of the work I have put in things could be alot worse for me. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>I look foward to your responses.
Thank you</p>
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I want to work in medical malpractice law, specifcally physician defense. What is the path to malpractice law after law school?
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</p>
<p>I would just open up the New York Law Journal (or equivalent for your area), look at the job listings, and start faxing your resumes. Or you could use a legal employment web site too.</p>
<p>You should understand that medical malpractice defense firms are hired by med/mal insurance carriers. The carriers inevitably squeeze the firms. The result is that associates (i.e. junior attorneys) at med mal firms are not paid very well. A buddy of mine who does med/mal defense earns about $65k a year to do this work. This is in the NYC area and he has a few years' experience. </p>
<p>The upshot is that it's not super-competitive to get this kind of job. You don't really need some sort of master plan, although it might help to intern for an insurance defense firm while in law school. (Note that med/mal firms are probably going to be a little surprised when you call and ask for an internship.) You could also ask at your law school's career office.</p>
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[quote]
I hope to enter a combinded JD/MPH program but would this be beneficial for a medical malpractice attorney?
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</p>
<p>No. You just need to have a law license and a warm body.</p>
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Right now, while I am in high school I would like to get some good volunteer experience, however I am not sure where I can go. Anywhere you guys could recommend?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What exactly interests you about med/mal defense work? What part of the country do you live in?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, I do have a very minor physical disability. My disability does not effect me too much. I wear leg braces knee high, and walk with a limp.. that is all. My question is, when the time comes to apply to law school should I disclose this information?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't think so, but I don't know much about law school admissions.</p>
<p>I also decided to major in philosophy when I was in high school. I changed my mind about that twice before I finished my freshman year of college. </p>
<p>It's OK to form a notion now of what you subject you'd like to major in some day, and to have a notion of what you'd like to do after college. One of the great things about being a bright high school student is the future seems to hold a dazzling array of opportunities. It can be comforting to feel that you have settled on one of these in your mind from time to time. </p>
<p>But don't cheat yourself out of the freedom that you have when you're in high school to change your mind about your future plans whenever the mood strikes you. While you're in high school, there are virtually no barriers to choosing a different path in life. Time will rob you of that dazzling array in due course. As the decades pass, you will find your life choices narrowing more and more, until one day you have little more to decide than which of the five soft foods on the nursing home's menu you'll gum for your lunch.</p>
<p>The only danger in having such specific plans for your long-term future is that you forego other options that might have proven more appealing to you out of stubbornness, or out of pride that you had such a clear idea when you were so young about how you spent your working days.</p>