Moving From Theory to Practice: Combining Work and Study in the Legal Profession Artem Toropov Legal Assistant White & Case LLC Higher School of Economics

Moving From Theory to Practice: Combining Work and Study in the Legal Profession

Artem ToropovLegal AssistantWhite & Case LLC

Higher School of Economics13 April 2007

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Combining Work and Study in the Legal Profession

White & Case LLC 13 April 2007

Principal reasons to combine work and study

Legal education in Russia today does not give students the sufficient opportunity to acquire practical skills and expertise

Graduates without work experience in the legal profession have limited employment opportunities

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Negotiations with the prospective employer

Determine your academic schedule in advance and find out how it fits the employer’s requirements.

Negotiate your work schedule during exam periods; specify when your academic workload is at its heaviest and lightest.

When devising your work schedule, do not make commitments you clearly will be unable to meet or undertake obligations that infringe on your academic interests (e.g., a full workday for a full-time student).

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Organizing your studies

Legal training at the university is your priority even though you have started working in the legal profession.

Do not cite pressure at work as an excuse for not meeting academic requirements.

Use quiet periods at work to visit libraries and conduct legal research: you may not have the time later.

Try to take part in legal competitions and to attend specialized courses – but only to the extent your schedule permits.

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Organizing your work process

Take your workplace assignments seriously.

Be accessible to your colleagues – by phone, e-mail, etc. This is particularly important when you are absent from the office because you are in class.

Be predictable. Your academic tasks should not be a surprise to your colleagues: give advance warning.

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Advantages of combining work and studies

Opportunity to apply legal knowledge you have gained in law school.

Work with recognized legal professionals.

Opportunity to research, in law school, the legal matters you encounter at work.

Opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of the legal profession; acquisition of professional skills.

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Drawbacks of combining work and studies in the legal profession

Less time to devote to studies Less leisure time

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Conclusions

Combining work and study is an attractive, but not the only way to attain success in the legal profession.

The wrong priorities could adversely affect your academic results. A successful combination of study and work is possible when you strike the right

balance between your objectives at work and in law school.

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Moving From Theory to Practice: Combining Work and Study in the Legal Profession Artem Toropov Legal Assistant White & Case LLC Higher School of Economics