So is Law Enjoyable?

[pearling]

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Thanks for all the input so far! Is it true that lots of law exams are like open book tests? And also do you have to write lots of essays for assessments and exams so it'd be good if you're a eloquent writer? Also at what year can law students apply to work as a paralegal - and how do you find these places, do you do to your local firm to ask? Btw is the work experience as paralegal paid or voluntary work? Thanks very much!

[chewy123]

Originally Posted by pearling

Is it true that lots of law exams are like open book tests?

Yes (in fact, all law exams at unsw is openbook), but it's unlikely that you will open your book during the exam. For me open book exams for law is only a little bit useful.

And also do you have to write lots of essays for assessments and exams so it'd be good if you're a eloquent writer?

Law have the fewest assessments. The word limit for first yr subjects are also meagre (compared to hsc and other uni degrees). Good legal writing should be plain and straight forward, which makes hsc english redundant so long you're okay with basic spelling and grammars.

[Marmalade.]

I'm hating law at the moment.

[Studentleader]

law sux

[04er]

Law is enjoyable if you keep up with the readings as much as you can. As I am from a Maths/Science background, I tend to enjoy the subjects which focus more on problem solving than BS essays.

Law can make me suicidal (metaphorically speaking), but that's only if I don't keep up with the readings or if I hate the subject. Commerce also made me suicidal when doing assignments, so I wouldn't confine suicidal feelings to Law.

I agree that working in Law is more enjoyable than studying it, this being largely due to the fact that there is more time to research and gain the relevant skills.

At USYD most exams are fully open book. Out of the rest, all but Contracts allow you to bring in the Unit of Study Outline with annotations (notes written on it). Only contracts was closed book (although we had a list of the cases/statutes to jog our memory). Ultimately, it's all a matter of how good your notes are, because speed is a HUGE factor.

[killua_3]

just curious, is law assessments and tests in uni just a bunch of essays?

[Lara1986]

Originally Posted by killua_3

just curious, is law assessments and tests in uni just a bunch of essays?

I can't speak for other unis as I have only done law at one - but at my uni (UWS), assessments are varied:

• essays
• written problem questions
• law reform proposals
• moots / court applications
• oral presentations / leading tutorials
• role play (mainly for mediation and similar units)
• reports (which differ from essays)

Most subjects do have a written exam at my uni, usually a 3 hours exam with a combination of essays and problem style questions, usually 3 or 4 if they are large questions, or up to 12 if they are single topic questions.

[melsc]

Originally Posted by pearling

Thanks for all the input so far! Is it true that lots of law exams are like open book tests? And also do you have to write lots of essays for assessments and exams so it'd be good if you're a eloquent writer? Also at what year can law students apply to work as a paralegal - and how do you find these places, do you do to your local firm to ask? Btw is the work experience as paralegal paid or voluntary work? Thanks very much!

There is no strict rule about when you can apply and different places want people of different years. Generally though these jobs are few and far between, they aren't always advertised (particularly for part-time/casual) and thus your best bet is to approach/call/email random firms. It can be paid or voluntary and the best way to get paid work is to start volunteering...community legal centres are often willing to take volunteer law students

[Chibios]

Law is only enjoyable to the proportion of effort you put into it. You will hate it very much if you procrastinate to the last minute

[Domm]

Kind of new to law, now doing a JD but I've studied arts and education before.

By contrast to those two (and so I suppose as to advice to a high school student) I'd say that you will do well at law, enjoy law and avoid slitting your wrists if you are:

- good at English (grammar, written and spoken English, enjoy reading and have read widely, arguing intelligently and constructively (as opposed to obnoxiously)
- well organised (you use a diary, study planner, your desk is neat, that kind of thing)
- willing to put a lot of time into it

If those three aren't you then I think it will be very suicide inducing.

[CountVonChocula]

dryer than eating 8000 weetbix with salt as a topping