THE LAWYER DISCUSSES HIS EXPERIENCES IN HIS CAREER BEFORE LAW SCHOOL AND HIS ENTRY INTO LAW SCHOOL. HE ATTENDED BROOKLYN UNIVERSITY'S NIGHT LAW SCHOOL, AND NOW HAS A LARGE AND SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE IN NEW YORK CITY. GENERAL PRACTICE LAWYERS DEAL WITH MATTERS WHICH EFFECT THE AVERAGE PERSON'S LIFE, SUCH AS WRITING CONTRACT, DIVORCES, SUING FOR DAMAGES, BUYING AND SELLING PROPERTY, AND SOMETIMES, TAKING UP CRIMINAL CASES. THE ATTORNEY STATES THAT HE SPENDS 50 PERCENT OF HIS TIME IN COURT, REPRESENTING INSURANCE AND TAXICAB COMPANIES IN ACCIDENT CLAIMS CASES. THE REST OF HIS TIME IS SPENT IN HIS OFFICE RESEARCHING AND PREPARING PAPERWORK. HE MENTIONED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PREPARATION FOR BECOMING A LAWYER IS TO DEVELOP EXCELLENT READING, WRITING, AND SPEAKING SKILLS. IN RECENT YEARS, LAW SCHOOLS HAVE RELIED ON UNDERGRADUATE GRADES AND RESULTS FROM THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 150 LAW SCHOOLS WHICH ARE APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, WITH TUITION RANGING FROM $300 TO $3000 A YEAR, AND VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR IN DIFFERENT STATES. YOUNG LAWYERS JUST OUT OF LAW SCHOOL SOMETIMES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ENTER INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE AND SO USUALLY TAKE A SALARIED POSITION WITH A LARGE LAW FIRM UNTIL ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN THEIR OWN PRACTICE OR UNTIL THE FIRM MAKES THEM PARTNERS. HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED LAW CAREERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE PROFESSION, SUCH AS BLACKS AND WOMEN. OTHER LAW-RELATED CAREERS INCLUDE LEGAL SECRETARIES AND PARALEGAL ASSISTANTS. THE SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS SOMETIMES GET QUITE INVOLVED IN THE PROFESSION AND DO HELP THEIR EMPLOYER WITH RESEARCH AND WRITING, FILING PAPERS WITH COURTS AND OTHER AGENCIES, AND INTERVIEWING CLIENTS. FOR A RELATED DOCUMENT. SEE NCJ-48650. (BAC)