Section 3: Procedures, Issues, and Careers

The Job Profile

You are going to be asked shortly to select one occupation that is somehow related to civil litigation. You can pick a job that is directly in the legal area or one that somehow connects more broadly with it. You need not stick to occupations discussed in this section, but if you choose something else, you need to explain the relationship it has with civil law. If you have any doubts, discuss your idea with your teacher.

Once you have picked your job, you can research it and develop a job profile for it (the research process will be discussed shortly). A job profile is a concise summary of an occupation that describes its important aspects. Your job profile should be divided into eight sections for easy reference. What follows is a description of these sections:

Job Title: this is self-explanatory. Simply indicate the name of the position.
Duties: explain here what a person in this position actually does.
Working conditions: here you should discuss things like the kinds of hours that are required in the position, whether the job involves working in an office, travelling, going to court, and so on, and other important or unusual aspects of the job's demands.
Skills and aptitudes: in this section try to outline what personal qualities a person should have for this position and what abilities he or she should possess to do the job well. For example, does the job require good communication skills? Mathematical ability? A talent for working under pressure? An ability to work well with others?
Education: explain the minimum level of schooling a person filling the position must have. High school? College or university? If the latter, what degrees are necessary?
Experience: in this part you should indicate in general terms the background and experience a person is normally expected to have to fill the position. For example, a judge must have spent a good many years working as a lawyer, while a court orderly needs relatively little experience.
Career paths: finally, point out at least one other job that you might move into from the one you are describing. This will be easier in some cases than in others, but do try to indicate a possible career path for someone in this position.
Salary range: simply state the range of salary a person in this line of work could expect to receive.

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Doing the Research

Of course, the very best way to get information is to speak to someone who is actually doing the job you are interested in. Once you have decided on the job you are going to investigate and learned a bit about it, you might consider trying to contact someone, in person or over the phone, who does the job and find out first-hand just what it involves. If you are studying in a classroom situation, your teacher should be able to help you arrange an interview. If you are a distance education student, you may have to do more on your own.Some students find it difficult to make contact of this sort; but if you phone someone, politely identify yourself as a legal studies student, and explain the purpose of the interview; most people will be more than willing to give you a few minutes of their time, either over the phone or in person, at a time you can arrange. And always remember, interviewing someone is an entirely optional part of your research.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of conducting an interview, the following pointers should help:

Prepare beforehand. Have all your questions written down in a logical order. Concentrate on questions that are specific to the job you are investigating.
When you arrange the interview, try to find a time when your interviewee is not usually very busy. You will be able to get much better information if he or she is not rushing to get back to work.
If you are conducting the interview in person, be sure to dress appropriately. A well-groomed, professional appearance will make people take you more seriously and be more willing to give you their time. Always leave the best impression possible.
Keep your questions on a professional level. Asking questions that are too personal, such as exactly how much money a person makes, may make the interviewee uncomfortable, and you will end up ruining the mood of your interview (you will have to get this sort of information elsewhere). If you see that something's making the person uncomfortable, move on to something else.
Listen carefully, and take notes. If you wish to record the interview on audiotape, be sure to get permission first from your interviewee.
Keep the interview down to a reasonable time — maybe 10 to 15 minutes. Tell your interviewee how long the talk will last and be sure you keep to that time frame.
Thank your interviewee when the discussion is over. Following up with a brief thank-you note a few days later is a very nice touch.

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