Entering the profession

Read the text. Then agree or disagree with the statement: " It's very difficult to become a lawyer."

How does someone become a lawyer?

In some countries in order to practise as a lawyer it is necessary to get a university degree in law. However, in others, a degree may be insufficient; professional examinations must be passed. In Britain, it is not in fact nec­essary to have a degree, although nowadays most people entering the pro­fession do. The main requirement is to pass the Bar Final examination* (for barristers) or the Law Society Final examination* (for solicitors). Someone with university degree in a subject other than law needs first to take a pre­paratory course. Someone without a degree at all may also prepare for the final examination, but this will take several years. In most countries, law­yers will tell you that the time they spent studying for their law finals was one of the worst periods of their life! This is because an enormous number of procedural rules covering a wide area of law must be memorized. In Japan, where there are relatively few lawyers, the examinations are sup­posed to be particularly hard: less than 5 percent of candidates pass. Even after passing the examination, though, a lawyer is not necessarily qualified A solicitor in England, for example, must then spend two years as an arti­cled clerk, during this time his work is closely supervised by an experienced lawyer, and he must take further courses. A barrister must spend a similar year as a pupil.

The rate at which the legal profession grows is terrific. In the 21^st cen­tury the number of lawyers will probably outpace the rate of population growth.

Why is the career in law so popular? In the USA the average salary оf experienced lawyers in private practice is more than $100, 000.

Lawyers' salaries are substantially greater than those of many other professionals. The glamour of legal practice strengthens the attraction of its financial rewards..

* the Bar Final examination — экзамен, который сдают при поступлении в Коллегию адвокатов

* the Law Society Final examination — экзамен, дающий право быть членом Общества юристов (профессионального союза солиситоров)

Notes

1. degree — знание, степень

2. insufficient — недостаточный

3. to pass exams — сдавать экзамены

4. requirement — требование

5. to take a course — пройти учебный курс

6. finals — выпускные экзамены

7. articled clerk — клерк-стажёр (без жалования)

8. to supervise — наблюдать (за кем-то), руководить (кем-то)

9. to outpace — опережать, превышать

10. salary — заработная плата, получаемая ежемесячно

11. to strengthen — усиливать, укреплять