Paralegal Alternative
For some students interested in the law, a shorter course of study (usually one year or less for college graduates) to become a legal assistant, commonly called a "paralegal," may be an alternative worth consideration. Paralegals typically assist with such tasks as client interviews, research and writing, under the direction of a licensed attorney.
Opportunities for paralegals tend at present to be limited to large urban areas, but the field is still expanding. For further information, consult The National Association of Legal Assistants very useful web pages on , which not only describes this type of job and the education for it, but also has a links to additional sources of information.