You can explore this profession by finding out more about being a lawyer and by gaining experience working with the elderly. To learn more about the legal profession in general, sit in on some trials at your local or state courthouse. Watch the lawyers and take note of what they do. Write down questions you have and terms or actions you don't understand so you can research them later. Work with your school counselor to set up an information interview with a lawyer willing to answer questions about the career. You may also be able to "job shadow" this person for part of a workday or more. By doing this, you can see some of the typical daily work of a lawyer. You may even be able to help with some tasks, such as filing.
The Internet is also a good source of information. Visit law-related sites to learn more about legal terminology, current court cases, and the field of law in general. Some sites that would be particularly beneficial to visit include those of the American Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and National Elder Law Foundation. You can also try to get part-time or summer work in a lawyer's office. You may only be answering phones, filing office papers, or typing letters, but this work will give you excellent exposure to the profession.
Read the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Journal (http://www.naela.org) and other resources published by professional associations to learn about industry trends and practice issues. Additionally, If you’re already a law student, you should consider becoming a student member of the American Bar Association. Student members receive Student Lawyer, a magazine that contains useful information for aspiring lawyers. Sample articles from the magazine can be read at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_students/resources. It will also be important for you to get experience working with the elderly, either on a paid or a volunteer basis. Contact local nursing homes, senior centers, and volunteer groups providing services, such as Meals on Wheels, to find out what opportunities are available. By working with the elderly population, you will start to learn about their specific needs, concerns, and opinions.
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Arbitrators
- Bail Bondsmen
- Bailiffs
- Bankruptcy Lawyers
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Bodyguards
- Border Patrol Agents
- Bounty Hunters
- Civil Litigation Lawyers
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- Court Interpreters and Translators
- Court Reporters
- Criminal Lawyers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Family Lawyers
- Forensic Experts
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Hedge Fund Lawyers
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Intellectual Property Lawyers
- Judges
- Law Librarians
- Lawyers
- Legal Nurse Consultants
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Legal Secretaries
- Litigation Support/eDiscovery Analysts
- Medical Ethicists
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorneys
- Music Therapists
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- Nursing Home Administrators
- Paralegals
- Patent Agents
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- Personal Care Aides
- Polygraph Examiners
- Process Servers
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Real Estate Lawyers
- Recreational Therapists
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