HowToDoThings.com Recent Law Articles

How To Get Fired From Your Job

christphe6 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:47:29 -0600

OK, so this really isn't an instruction manual for getting fired from your job. I'd rather you didn't get fired, in all honesty. The more people that take this kind of advice to heart, the more people are unemployed. The next thing you know, the economy is really in the tank, and who's to blame? Me. No, thank you.

Rather, this is a list of things that I would avoid doing, if you want to keep your steady paycheck, and in turn, your tummy full and your feet warm.

How To Spot a Liar

JohnStejskal — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:06:52 -0500

The techniques bellow will show you how to tell if you are being lied to. These techniques are used by government agencies for interrogation. They can easily be utilized in relationships and in business situations. To make successful use of these indicators, it helps to know the suspect's ‘normal' body language and reactions to different situations.

How To Find a Job as a Government Attorney

Sheryl209 — Sun, 28 May 2006 07:27:00 -0500

If you're a law student or lawyer contemplating a career switch, or just in need of a new position, give a government position a try! You'll be hard pressed to find a job with better benefits, steadier hours, more interesting work, or a deeper sense of public service than as a government attorney. Many lawyers find that a start in a government position provides an excellent start to a political career in elected office, not to mention a transition into private practice (attorneys with senior-level government experience are considered by many firms to be a big client draw, and hence highly valued). And if you're looking for a position that's family-friendly, you'd have to look awfully hard to find a better setup than most government attorneys enjoy.

How To Write a Brief for Law School

Sheryl209 — Mon, 22 May 2006 07:43:00 -0500

First, a distinction. When lawyers and law professors talk about "a brief," they usually mean two separate things. For practicing attorneys, "brief" is short for "appellate brief" or that 30-plus page bound document presented to an appellate court advocating the attorney's client's position on appeal. But what we're talking about in this article is the law professor's usage, the so-called "student brief," also known as "case brief." This is a single-paged document that analyzes one particular case opinion in a formulaic way.

How To Decide Whether to Open a Solo Law Practice

Sheryl209 — Sun, 21 May 2006 13:03:00 -0500

Perhaps you've been in private practice for years, lining the pockets of the partners while slaving away in document review, wondering when (or if) you'll ever get to actually try a case. Or maybe you're past graduation and the bar exam, without a single job offer in sight, wondering how you're going to pay the rent. Regardless of the situation, it's the rare lawyer who hasn't at one point wondered what life would be like as a solo practitioner.

How To Apply to Law School

Sheryl209 — Tue, 02 May 2006 10:56:00 -0500

If you've decided to go to law school, you'll need to manage the application process from the beginning. That means actively monitoring your application packages, including when and to what schools you apply, and when decisions are expected. Here are some tips to help you get a handle on this process.

How To Decide Whether to Go to Law School

Sheryl209 — Tue, 02 May 2006 05:34:00 -0500

Deciding to go to law school might seem like a terrific "default" solution for those who have trouble deciding what they want to be when they grow up, but it's actually a very specific solution that's appropriate for certain career goals--not a catch-all guaranteed to give you three years to decide on a career and unlimited options when you graduate.

Here are some tips on how to decide whether you're ready to go to law school:

How To Enroll in Distance Learning Law Schools

J.150 — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 07:14:00 -0500

Each year, thousands of students from all over the country enroll in law schools with the hope of someday passing the bar exam and becoming licensed attorneys. This is something you've always wanted to do, too, but traditional law schools require a major investment of both time and money -- two commodities that are often in short supply. If those are the only things preventing you from pursuing a law degree, perhaps it's time for you to consider enrolling in a distance learning law school. Here's how to get started.

Select a school. At present, only a handful of law schools feature a distance learning option, so your choices are rather limited. When evaluating these online law schools, be sure to compare tuition costs, courses offered, faculty qualifications, and estimated timetable for degree completion.

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How To Study for the LSAT

Sheryl209 — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 06:08:00 -0500

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a multiple choice standardized test that most law schools (all ABA-approved schools, and many non-accredited ones as well) require in considering applications. Administered by the Law School Admission Council, the test is generally offered on various dates each year.

The key to mastering the LSAT is to realize what the LSAT measures - not intelligence, or aptitude for the law, but a standardized measure of reading and analytical skills. Here are the steps you should take to prepare for this test:

How To Find Paralegal Jobs

Sheryl209 — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:41:00 -0500

So you've graduated from a paralegal training course, whether it is a certificate program, associate's degree program, or bachelor's program. Or perhaps you've got a few years of experience under your belt - but your solo practitioner boss just decided to chuck the law and open a bed and breakfast in Vermont. Now, you must find a job - but not just any job. You want to find the right paralegal position for you.

It isn't as daunting as it may first appear to be. In fact, you probably have more resources available to you than you might realize. This article will help you conduct your job search and land the perfect paralegal position in the minimum timeframe.

How To Find Programs in Paralegal Studies

Sheryl209 — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:13:00 -0500

Looking for a quality paralegal studies program can sometimes resemble the proverbial hunt for a needle in a haystack. A Google search on "paralegal programs" yields over 8 million hits, and 24 paid advertisement placements. With such results, how can you not find a program?

The goal, however, is not simply to find a program, but rather to find the right program for you. Try these tips:

How To Get Paralegal Training

Sheryl209 — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 06:25:00 -0500

If you've decided to pursue a career as a paralegal, congratulations! This is an exciting field that's growing exponentially each year. However, it does require some extensive training.

This article will explain your options for training. Other articles on this site will detail how to evaluate your options and how to succeed in your chosen program.

How To Evaluate the Best Law Schools

Sheryl209 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:04:00 -0500

So you've decided to go to law school - congratulations! Now how do you choose the best law school? You could go a published ranking, such as the one put out by US News and World Report, but relying solely on such lists is a big mistake. To understand why, you have to understand how the rankings are compiled.

How To Start a Legal Career

Sheryl209 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 14:38:00 -0500

The best time to start preparing for your legal career is while you're still in law school - during your very first year, as a matter of fact. But it's a long way from Torts class to a thriving practice with (paying) clients. This article will lead you through some simple steps you can and should take to get your career off to a flying start the minute you have license in hand.

Be active in your school's clubs and group activities, but be selective. Choose only those activities that you are sincerely interested in or concerned about. Don't sign up for the "Golfer's Legal Society" when you can't tell a putter from a five iron. (This is also good advice for networking as a practicing attorney down the road!)

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How To Attend a Law School Online

Sheryl209 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:01:00 -0500

Do you have dreams of depositions and cross-examinations dancing in your head, but no time to go to law school full-time? Online law schools might be just the ticket for you.

However, a few words of warning first: Online law schools aren't an exact substitute for the traditional bricks-and-mortar variety. For one thing, online law schools aren't accredited as of yet by the American Bar Association. This means graduates of online law schools will face a tough row to hoe on the way to getting licensed to practice in any state except California (which has different rules). Consider your goals carefully before plunking down any hard-earned cash to an online law school.

How To Join the National Federation of Paralegal Associations

Sheryl209 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 08:28:00 -0500

Are you a paralegal, or are you studying to become one? You may want to give some thought to joining the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Formed in 1974, NFPA currently has over 60 organizational members and over 15,000 paralegal and student members. It is a member-directed group, organized to enhance ethical standards for the paralegal profession, increase the profession's visibility, and create and foster new associations and communication pathways dedicated to advancement of the paralegal profession.