<p>I agree with Sally - it's a point that I tried to make a while ago. Law professors will seldom adjust your grades very much for class participation, but the Socratic experience will be miserable for you if you are painfully shy.</p>
<p>Well, I think we are talking matters of degree. If by "painfully shy" we mean "afraid to go out of the house; Boo Radley-like" then I would agree that this is a problem for any aspiring lawyer. If we mean, though, "nervous about speaking to large groups or strangers; retiring; quiet by nature," then this is not a fatal handicap. I agree with Sally that finding ways to push and train yourself to be a little more outgoing is probably a good idea if you want to practice law, but it's a good idea for any career. Study hard, know your stuff, and above all develop confidence in what you know and you don't have to be as naturally gregarious as Bill Clinton to find a niche in which you can do well. Scansmom's description of herself, her colleagues, and her career fits quite a number of attorneys I know as well. It fits me, to a certain extent. I wasn't wild about speaking in front of my classmates. Then I realized I was just as smart as they were (and smarter than some) and it got easier. </p>
<p>Also, the horrors of the Socratic experience can be exaggerated. The degree to which you get grilled varies by professor and (I am told) by school. Treat it like a game, don't take it personally, and above all be prepared (i.e., do and understand the reading) and you'll be all right. Once in a while the professor will say "That's right," or even "Good point," and that's when you'll know you can hack it. </p>
<p>By the way, the #1 guy in my law school class at a pretty good law school, who is now very successful, wasn't particularly shy but he was taciturn and no glad-hander. He almost never spoke in class unless called upon, which meant that when he did speak it was an event. But that's another story.</p>
<p>1.join drama class or club
2. overcomingshyness.com
3. Audition books, audition for theater that u are badly unprepared for</p>
<ol>
<li>all about intentionally saying stupid shlt until u stop worrying about accidentally doing it. Then ur stupid shlt will come out jus as naturally as everyone elses.</li>
</ol>
<p>I was one of those unfortunate creatures who was called on about three times in the first week. I was ridiculously well-prepared (having done the reading several times, book-briefed, taken notes, and extracted a rule for each case) but was still a massive pile of nerves while being grilled. </p>
<p>I had to force myself to adapt.</p>
<p>Ahh, to clear up a bit, I am not OVERLY shy and timid. I am a normal person. However, I am a bit on the quiet side and I hate public speaking, and I'm just not that GREAT in speaking / getting my point out in front of others. I Don't speak up in class unless asked to. I hope that paints a bigger picture of who I am.</p>
<p>However, I interned at Wells Fargo recently and I got experience meeting with Managers and introducing myself. However, I still would not GO up and introduce myself, I'd rather have them come and introduce themselves to me. I'm pretty good at keeping a conversation going, don't get me wrong... I'm not one of those SUPER SILENT guys that make situations awkwards.</p>
<p>Any more suggestions? You guys have been wonderful.</p>
<p>OH BTW, what is the Socrates experience?</p>
<p>the socratic method is a method of teaching commonin law school -- instead of the professor lecturing to impart knowledge the idea is to get the student to learn by being forced to answer questions. the student is expected to read the cases ahead of time and to be fully prepared on them. the professor then calls on students and asks them questions -- not simple stuff like what were the facts and what did the court decide, but probing questions as to why the court decided and how might the court have decided if the facts were slightly different. watch the movie the paper chase if you want to see an example of how much fun this can be :)</p>
<p>how grueling it actually is can vary enormously by professor, but it is definitely a different approach that can be very stressful that most law students have never experienced before.</p>
<p>From wikipedia (I thought this was a good description):</p>
<p>Socratic method is widely used in contemporary legal education by many law schools in the United States. In a typical class setting, the professor asks a question and calls on a student who may or may not have volunteered an answer. The professor either then continues to ask the student questions or moves on to another student.</p>
<p>These subsequent questions can take a few forms. Sometimes they seek to challenge the assumptions upon which the student based the previous answer until it breaks. Further questions can also be designed to move a student toward greater specificity, either in understanding a rule of law or a particular case. Finally professors use the Socratic method to allow students to come to legal principles on their own through carefully worded questions that spur a particular train of thought.</p>
<p>One hallmark of Socratic questioning is that typically there is more than one "correct" answer, and more often, no clear answer at all. The primary goal of Socratic method in law schools is not to answer usually unanswerable questions, but to explore the contours of often difficult legal issues and to teach students the critical thinking skills they will need as lawyers.</p>
<p>Sometimes, the class ends with a quick discussion of doctrinal foundations (legal rules) to anchor the students in contemporary legal understanding of an issue. In other classes the class simply ends and students are forced to figure out for themselves the legal rules or principles that were at issue. For this method to work, the students are expected to be prepared for class in advance by reading the assigned materials (case opinions, notes, law review articles, etc.) and by familiarizing themselves with the general outlines of the subject matter.</p>
<hr>
<p>In other words, you will be asked tough questions by your professors, whether or not you volunteer, whether you sit in the front row or the back, and whether or not you have a solid grasp of the topic at hand, in front of all of your classmates and not infrequently. You will have to defend your positions and to thoroughly know and understand the points that you are making. You will have to be persuasive, at times. Some professors will make you feel like you're being absolutely grilled, while others will let you off the hook more easily. In all cases, you will be put on the spot. The socratic method can be a daunting process for even the most confident and willing of public speakers.</p>
<p>You have to go to law school first.</p>
<p>Get back to us after 8 years and $200+K.</p>
<p>karupt, you can absolutely still be successful in law school, and in law, unless you are actually corrupt! (just kidding---hope I am not making fun of your real name! If so, please forgive me...) Law school is a committment, but even if you ultimately decide you do not want to practice law, the legal education will benefit you in almost any profession. You will be able to review, understand, and negotiate your own contracts, and while you cannot practice law without a license, you could work as a risk manager, in human resources, as an insurance adjuster (ultimately executive?), real estate broker, etc., etc. with the extra benefit of that education. If you want to practice law, just think of the possibilites that do not involve courtrooms---drafting wills and trusts is one area, corporate counsel another big area. If you like science and technology, you can get involved in patent law. If you like horses, you can get involved in equine law. If you like the sea, maritime law. The possibilities are endless. And you never know...a law school program or internship that exposes you to courtroom techniques might change your mind about your ability to be a litigator. If you decide you want to commit to going to law school, the important thing is to keep an open mind. Very few students enter law school knowing what type of law they want to practice, and some that do, change their minds. Yes, your professors will call on you for answers, and engage you in discussions. The key is preparation...and you find it enhances your self-confidence. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Listening to John Shade is dangerous.</p>
<p>There are only a few certain profitable career paths for lawyers.</p>
<p>The best way to make money is to either have a decent private practice or to work for a medium to large-sized firm. The measure of your worth will be the quality of your work and how much business you bring in. If you can't get clients, the vast majority of law firms will lay you off. I don't know what dreamworld johnshade is living in, but if you are shy and timid, you will not make it as a lawyer in two of the main paths that make money.</p>
<p>Now if you are the type of lawyer that doesn't have to attract clients (like a district attorney), being shy and timid will matter less. </p>
<p>The range of salaries for lawyers is quite large. Being timid is a big nail in the coffin for a lucrative law career.</p>
<p>wow-shiboing based on your last post, you have clearly made many assumptions about the OP that may not be accurate ("there are only a few certain profitable career paths" "the best way to make money" "the measure of your worth will be...how much business you bring in" "being timid is a big nail in the coffin for a lucrative law career"). I'm not sure we should be assuming that the OP's reasons for going into law are to make as much money as possible. But it is certainly worth pointing out that if he does pursue a legal career his personality type is one that typically may not end up in the top range, salary-wise.</p>
<p>Considering that the OP did not ask if being shy were a roadblock to making money, Shiboing's post is way off. It is easier to make money if you are very gregarious, but that's true of any profession. You can be an amazing lawyer and be quiet. </p>
<p>One of my friends from law school is extremely shy and retiring. He's making an obscene salary at one of the big firms. Took a while for him to get there, but he was told that he would have a tough time getting in the door and would be loved once he was there. He does tax.</p>
<p>Shiboing, you have no idea what you are talking about, but thanks for your input just the same. Are you in high school?</p>
<p>I do make the assumption that people want to try and make partner at a firm too often though. Mainly because many jobs that lawyers take on are so grueling and menial that it is hard to see why anyone would want to do it if not for the money.</p>
<p>With all due respect, if you believe that the jobs that we lawyers have are so "grueling and menial" SB, why would you want to be a lawyer at all? Why would you spend so much time on this Law School Forum?</p>
<p>sallyawp: To make partner.</p>