As a non-practicing attorney, I often get asked how law school has helped me in my current job. Law school provides a skill set that is applicable in any position. Many lawyers say that law school teaches you how to “think like a lawyer,” but what exactly does that mean? The training offered by law school changes the way you look at the world and how you approach problems. Here are the top three skills that help me “think like a lawyer” every day.

1. Law school teaches you how to be a critical, analytical thinker. Using case law teaches you how to extract the important information in a situation and use that information in your analysis. Discussing a case during the Socratic method in class, teaches you how to quickly use that case law to critically think and answer a new scenario that the professor or classmate may have posed. I often deal with students who present barriers to their admission. For instance, the systematic educational barriers that many students of color face, which often lead to lower standardized test scores.  I use these skills to focus in on the problem and use past similar situations to offer a helpful solution.
2. Persuasive writing is another skill acquired in law school that I find useful. I’m sure everyone remembers writing an appellate brief during their first year. Stating the facts and your needs persuasively is an important skill. Writing in a manner that convinces a court to rule in your favor is a great way to prepare to write a proposal to anyone. For example, persuasive writing skills are beneficial when drafting a grant proposal. I tackled my first grant proposal last year and my legal writing skills were quite useful.
3. There is a reason people refer to attorneys as counselor. The counseling skills I learned during law school have been extremely helpful in my role in admissions. Counseling clients during my clinical learning in law school, has helped me immensely in dealing with applicants and their families. Clients often need advice quickly and during intense situations. Training to counsel under such circumstances is an expertise specific to law students. Any job would benefit from the counseling skills that law school offers.

Many may argue that the skills I presented are not unique to law school and they may be right. However, acquiring those skills through the Socratic Method, case law and working with clients during the high pressure situation of a courtroom is unique to law school. That preparation has been invaluable and I am sure that many of you who have chosen an alternative path can agree.