Steps
Become a Lawyers they often specialize in a specific area of law, such as
criminal law, real estate law, divorce law or
immigration law.
Lawyers will consult with clients and provide legal advice on how to address their issues. They may prepare filings for court, represent their client in a mediation or court proceeding, or other negotiations.
Lawyers may also need to prepare for a trial and present evidence to support their client's position in order to achieve the most positive outcome for their client that's possible.
5 Steps to Become a Lawyers
1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree
You need to earn a bachelor's degree in order to get into law school. There are no required courses or recommended majors for law school admission.
However, courses that develop skills in writing, reading, public speaking, logic and research can be helpful. Some law schools may prefer applicants who have taken intellectually challenging courses.
2. Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
LSAT scores are required to be submitted along with your law school application. This test is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and is used to assess your reading, comprehension, reasoning and critical thinking skills.
The LSAC test is administered in a multiple-choice format and is given in five sections. If you take the LSAT and feel that your scores do not reflect your ability, you may choose to retake the test.
3. Earn Your Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree
Law school typically lasts for three years and results in a J.D. degree. You begin law school by taking courses in constitutional law, property law, legal writing, contracts and torts.
You then take elective courses based on your interests, such as corporate law, tax law or labor law. During your time in law school, you may participate in mock trials, attend legal clinics and write for a law journal.
4. Consider Participating in a Clerkship
As a law student, you may be given the opportunity to complete a part-time or summer clerkship. Clerkships allow you to gain experience by working in a law firm, corporate office or government agency. For some, a clerkship can lead to an employment offer following graduation from law school.
5. Pass Your State Bar Examination
Before you may practice law in the
United States, you are required to pass your state bar examination and earn a license.
Depending on your state, you likely need to pass a written bar exam, as well as a separate written ethics exam. If you would like to practice law in multiple states, you generally need to pass a bar exam in each state.
