Civil Trial Lawyer who has tried over 150 cases before juries

Name: Gregory M. Weyandt

Major: Political Science - Philosophy

Law School: Marquette Univiversity

Description of your job: I am a civil trial lawyer and have tried over 150 civil cases to conclusion before juries.

Do you have any advice for students who are considering going to the same law school you did? Whatever the law school, you need to read and write. Clear communication is the primary job of most lawyers.

Is there anything in particular that you did during your undergrad that benefited you more than anything else in getting through law school and/or transitioning into the legal profession? Good grades are a necessity, but as a former hiring partner in my firm, we always looked for the well rounded person. You need to be able to do more than one thing at a time. Extra curricular activity is important.

If you had a chance to go through law school all over again, is there anything you would do differently? No

Is being a lawyer what you expected it would be? Why or why not? Yes, but it is more work than I expected. Fortunately, I love the work.

What is it like transitioning from being a law student to being a lawyer? Practicing law is much more fun than law school. The problems are real.

Is there anything students should know about the legal profession before they decide to commit their life to it? It is a very demanding career. Don't do it unless you know this is what you want.

What does a typical day look like for you as a lawyer? Every day is atypical. I start every day about 8:00 a.m. and end most days at 5:30. If i'm in trial, I expect to work evenings. We are constantly working to develop the story. What are the facts?

Do you have any final advice? Read novels and see plays. You will be a better lawyer for understanding what moves the human spirit. If you are a liberal arts major and people criticize that, pay no attention. Learning how to think for yourself and how to do it critically will benefit you wherever you go.