Fields of Law: Lawyers’ Top Tips for Picking Your Focus
POV: you are a law student, articling student or young lawyer trying to choose the perfect field of law, and have no idea where to start.
Whether you always knew you wanted to be a lawyer or your path to law school was less direct, most law students struggle with deciding which legal field to practice in.
There are benefits to knowing your specialization early on: honing your skills in an area that you love, gaining industry specific knowledge and experience and differentiating yourself as a job candidate in a competitive legal market. However, it is not necessary to have it all figured out during or immediately after law school.
Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) lawyers Émilie Roy, Mathieu Lacasse, Patricia McGauley and Samantha Stepney share their experiences and tips on navigating when and how to choose your specialty area or focus of law.
Start with self-reflection
It is helpful to conduct a self-assessment during a period of conflict or change. In navigating which field of law to specialize in, factor in your personality, goals, strengths, weaknesses, challenges, likes, dislikes and, ultimately, the work environment or lifestyle that you want.
Samantha Stepney, a Senior Associate in BLG’s Labour and Employment group, started her legal career practicing family law. Over time, she realized that family law was not a good fit and made the switch to employment law about five years into her career.
Stepney suggests that factoring in the circumstances where you would thrive is helpful in narrowing down focus areas. If you are drawn to resolving disputes that already exist, litigation work may be a good fit. If preventing issues before they arise and drafting business or commercial arrangement speaks to you, you may enjoy corporate work. If you are someone who would enjoy a mix of both, then real estate or employment law may suit you.
Broaden your law school experience
You may have gone into law school knowing exactly what kind of lawyer you wanted to be — or maybe you had no idea. Either way, keeping an open mind throughout this journey can help expand or narrow your interests in different areas of law. Try out different courses, explore unique opportunities (like student groups, volunteering, networking events and internships), and work closely with career advisors, professors and mentors to focus your career goals.
Patricia McGauley, a Junior Associate in BLG’s Commercial Litigation group, was convinced that she would become a solicitor after law school because she loved her corporate law classes. However, after getting more litigation work throughout articling, she found that the process of researching, writing and distilling the law was what she enjoyed most.
“I like to think that if I did more extra-curriculars in law school, such as moots or clinics, I might have narrowed my interests before starting articles so that I could go deeper into fewer areas,” McGauley shares.
Consult the experts
To get the insider scoop about a specific focus area, talk to the pros! Make connections with lawyers and industry professionals to gather information about the practical aspects of those areas.
Émilie Roy, a Senior Associate in BLG’s Health Law group, had a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, but always knew she did not want to be a clinician. While working on a research thesis project in her last year of undergraduate studies, she had the opportunity to meet lawyers who worked in health law. She had never considered going to law school and did not know that health law existed, but this experience led her to apply that same year.
“As you start to narrow your focus, contact lawyers in your community and lawyers who work in areas in which you are considering specializing. Ask them questions about what they like and dislike about their practice area. They will be happy to speak to you about their career path, why it is that they chose to specialize in a certain area and, most importantly, why they continue to work in that area years later,” says Roy.
McGauley suggests asking lawyers what their practice is like 1, 3, 5 and 10 years out, and considering how your own strengths interplay with those practical aspects.
Mathieu Lacasse, a Junior Associate in BLG’s ITL and Construction groups, knew from a young age that he wanted to be a lawyer, but was unsure what type of law to practice. As a result, Lacasse went through the recruitment process twice. After gaining a better idea of what he liked and disliked, he decided to do litigation work.
“I think that all these factors [to consider] fit under one term: the team. Every team has their own way of working, their own people and their [own] expertise area. Find a team that will inspire you to work on your own practice and your own goals,” Lacasse adds.
In short, lawyers agree that there is no right or wrong way to choose your legal focus area. There is no good time, only your own time.
“If I remember one thing from the path that led me here, it’s that all roads lead to Rome, so why take the most straightforward one?” Lacasse concludes.
Be true to yourself, be open to different opportunities, make meaningful connections and have fun along the way!
Interested in learning more about BLG’s student programs? Follow us on Instagram: @blglaw
