So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students [Paperback]

Adam Letourneau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2005

Thinking of becoming a lawyer? Attending law school in Canada? Finally-it's here-the guidebook you've been waiting for. Every year, an estimated 10,000-15,000 people apply to 16 Canadian law schools, vying for just over 2000 coveted spots. The competition is even fiercer when applying for a job as an articling student. Adam Letourneau, B.Sc., B.A., LL.B., a graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review, reveals many insider tips on how to gain admittance to law school, how to cope and succeed in law school, and most importantly, how to land a coveted job post-graduation. Drawing upon personal experience and the experiences of numerous other Canadian law students, Letourneau shares general insights on the LSAT, applying for law school, study strategies, summer jobs, the articling application process and much more, along with plenty of context-specific information for the Canadian law student. Because the Canadian law school experience is unique, this book is the only full source of relevant information available to prospective and current Canadian law students. Letourneau will save you hours of research, hours of study and tons of stress. Recommended to all students interested in law school, all students applying to law school and to students in all three years of law school. For more information on this book, and for a variety of Canadian law school resources, go to www.canadalawstudent.ca.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

So, you are Canadian or you would like to study in Canada and you have been considering law as a career, eh? There are around 85,000 lawyers altogether in Canada, with about 65,000 of them practicing law. That's approximately 0.027% of the total Canadian adult population. If you have heard rumours that getting into law school is difficult, and that law school is hard, your sources are correct. The standards are very high, both for GPA and for the LSAT score (standardized test for law school applicants). However, the odds are not insurmountable. If law is something that you have become passionate about, or if you think you would make a great lawyer, buying and reading through this book will help you to make your decision, and will help you to succeed in gaining acceptance to law school, to excel at law school, and to land a great job in the legal field.

There are 22 law schools in Canada in total. Some are considered more prestigious or desirable than others. Those schools in Quebec, with the exception of McGill will only allow you to practice law in Quebec. Each law school accepts between 50 and 200 law students each year. If you would like to know more about the process of getting into law school, read this book.

How do you know if law is the career choice for you? Well, that is not an easy question to answer. It is answered more clearly and in detail in this book. To start, you should do a personal inventory and see if you remotely fit into the following descriptions:

1. You have a reasonably high GPA in your undergraduate studies. 2. You like to write and write well. 3. You have great analytical skills. 4. You are a great problem solver. 5. You are a stickler for details. 6. You like taking on big projects. 7. You are honest and trustworthy. 8. You find yourself seeking out law related movies and books. 8. You set very high standards for yourself. 9. You have enjoyed a law-related course in the past. 10. You get upset when justice is not served. 11. You have compassion for others.

If you do, then start following your passion. Buy this book and find out - do you want to be a lawyer? If so, this book will tell you exactly how you go about it in Canada.

About the Author

Adam O. Letourneau earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Calgary in 1997. He then undertook a career in business, technology and publishing, gaining valuable experience in business start-ups and executive management. In addition to working on other ventures, Letourneau acted as Vice President of Operations of a high-tech/publishing company in Calgary, and before that as Vice President, Editing Operations of a publishing house in the United States. While working in business, Letourneau earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Athabasca University in 2002. Letourneau earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 2005. While at the University of Alberta, he acted as Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review, among other leadership and academic positions. He also did a summer legal internship at a large multinational corporation. In his spare time, Letourneau enjoys cycling, bodybuilding, fishing and gardening. Letourneau and! his wife, Carmen, have two daughters, Zoë Skye, Soleil Rhiannon and a son, Zane Olen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Writing on Stone Press Inc. (August 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0973809205
• ISBN-13: 978-0973809206
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,087,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!, December 20, 2005

By 

Paul Blachford "Paul" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students (Paperback)

The book is an absolute must-read for those considering pursuing a career in the law. A number of books address the topic in the U.S. context; however, this is the first book I have encountered that thoroughly addresses: (1) Canadian law school life, (2) tips that will help one land the articling position of their choice; and (3) work as an articling student and junior lawyer in Canada.

The book is very comprehensive, well-written, and well-researched.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Tool for Potential Law Students, October 19, 2005

By 

Natoshia L. Bastien "N. Bastien" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students (Paperback)

This book proved to be a good reference material that is written in laymen terms and formatted in an easy to follow chronological order taking you from the application process to the law school experience to seeking out law firms for articling.

The author, an articling law student, has taken the time to explain what potential law students should consider when seeking a career in this field.

This book also provides reference to several websites that will be useful in preparing one for the LSAT to selecting a law school to financing your education.

I definitely recommend this book as a planning tool for highschool/university students and mature adults considering a career in this field.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for potential law students!, May 20, 2006

By 

Jamie (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students (Paperback)

Applying to and attending law school in Canada can be a challenging process. Unlike the many books that focus on the experience in the US, this book specifically looks at the Canadian system. 'So, You Want to Be a Lawyer, Eh?' outlines the process and offers tips to improve your results in the application process, at law school and in finding an articling position. I will be attending law school next year and I am confident that this book will help me succeed.

I highly recommend anyone considering a career in law in Canada to read this book!