Law is one of the most prestigious, high-paying careers out there. If you want to pursue a career as a lawyer, there steps you must take to enter the profession. Plan to follow these five tips if you see being an attorney as your future.
1. Get Your Undergraduate Degree
While some colleges may have pre-law programs, there is no set major you need to earn to get into law school and become an attorney. It is best to pick areas that are of interest to you, as law schools like to see diversity in their applicants. Some majors that are good choices include English, History, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Philosophy, Business Administration, and Economics.
2. Take the LSAT
The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is a standardized test that students must take to get into all ABA-accredited law schools. Students are advised to register in advance as it is only offered seven times and year and takes half a day to complete.
The test is made up of four main sections. The sections include Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and an Essay. All sections on the LSAT are essential to success in law school and a career as a lawyer. The essay is particularly important because it helps law schools choose between two equal candidates and serves to support your personal statement.
There is also an unscored experimental section where the test makers try out potential future questions. According to https://www.kaptest.com/ students are advised to invest in good study materials, set up and stick to a study schedule, find and work with a study group, and take prep courses.
3. Apply to Law School
Law school application requirements will vary by school. Most applications will require that you provide your undergraduate degree, transcripts, LSAT score, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and an application fee.
Other information that may be pertinent to include your resume, work history, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any other activities pertaining to law. If you want to read resume details and what to focus on, click here.
4. Obtain Your Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor (JD) programs are designed to teach students the fundamental concepts, theories, and skills they need to become lawyers. Legal topics covered in detail include contracts, Constitutional law, torts, criminal justice, and civil procedure, as well as the legal process and its relationship to society. Students also partake in case studies, research, and learn how the history of law in the United States pertains to today’s society.
While in law school, it is vital to improving key skills such as argument and debate, strong critical thinking skills, the ability to negotiate or persuade, writing skills, speaking skills, and time management. Working at an internship or externship can give you hands-on experience working under a professional attorney.
You need to graduate from a law program approved by the American Bar Association to become an attorney. The ABA sets national standards for the legal profession, and accreditation proves a law school has met their rigorous standards for providing quality legal education.
5. Pass the Bar, Get Your License and Start Your Career
Upon earning your JD, you need to pass the Bar exam in the state(s) in which you wish to practice law. Each state has its own requirements and formats that are designed to test your knowledge about legal principles, your character, and that particular state’s laws. Because ethics are so important in law, most states require you to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
Once you have obtained your license, finding a job as an associate attorney at a law firm or business should be your next step. As an associate attorney, you will be responsible for conducting research, analyzing legal problems, interpreting laws, drafting and filing legal documents, preparing for trials, advising clients who have questions for you and representing them in court.
The five steps outlined above are what you need to do to start your career as a lawyer. With these tips, you should be able to prepare adequately and embark on this incredibly rewarding career path.
