So you want to become a lawyer? Congratulations, that is a noble and honorable calling. We will walk you through the process of becoming a lawyer in this step-by-step guide. Right from your high school choices to applying for your first job as a Bar-accredited lawyer, read on to discover everything you need to know. We’ll cover your Bachelor’s degree, work experience, LSAT exam, law school, specialization, Bar exam, and career beginning. The journey to becoming a lawyer begins here.
Step 1: Tailor Your Education
Right from high school, you can begin to show an interest in becoming a lawyer by choosing elective subjects like criminal justice, ethics classes, or even Latin, as there are many Latin terms in law. This will help you to stand out on your application to law schools and it will focus your mind on your ultimate objective.
Step 2: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Once you are out of high school, you will need to complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree program in order to eventually take the Bar exam. You can study any subject at this stage, although some subjects are more applicable than others to a law career and are favored by the American Bar Association (ABA).
It is a good idea to choose a subject like English, Philosophy, Political Science, or Criminal Justice if you are serious about becoming a lawyer. These fields will prepare you for the next steps in becoming a lawyer and relate to your future career.
You should develop clever ways to make this degree as straightforward as possible for you, such as managed study sessions and schedules. You can also employ online tools and platforms that help you become a lawyer to help you produce quality work. Just remember to edit any generated content and make sure you understand it all thoroughly.
Step 3: Complete Work Experience
If you can, try to get a part-time job or a short-term work placement in a court or law firm. This will help you to see the behind-the-scenes day-to-day working of the justice system. It’s also a great way to network with fellow legal professionals, test out different roles within the system, and start to get a feel for which areas of law interest you the most.
Moreover, completing a work experience placement shows a willingness to work hard, commit to the field, and learn as much as you can. This will all help you when it comes to applying for law school.
Step 4: Take the LSAT Exam
If you’ve seen Legally Blonde, you know the importance of sitting the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) for would-be law students. This is a high-pressure examination that lasts half a day and tests your practical skills. The LSAT test is not so much a memorization exam but rather a test of your ability to critically analyze information, verbally reason your points, extract information from texts, and other essential skills for all lawyers.
Step 5: Apply to Law School
Once you have passed the LSAT test, you will be ready to apply to a law school (or several). It is a good idea to apply to several reputed law schools and try not to get your hopes up about just one of them. Getting into law school is a competitive endeavor and any accredited law school will provide you with the tools you need to succeed, so apply to a diverse selection and keep an open mind.
Step 6: Dedicate Yourself to Your Studies
Once you have been accepted into law school, this is where some of the hardest work really begins. The next three years of your educational life will be intense, with ups and downs, and plenty of challenges, as well as rewarding moments. Remember that everyone in a high-pressure degree program has moments of self-doubt, but you have made it this far and you can succeed. You can join study sessions, get a private tutor, and look after yourself with regular breaks to make the process easier.
Step 7: Choose Your Specialty
While you are studying law, you will be exposed to various different fields, such as constitutional law, criminal law, and so on. You can begin to specialize in a specific field and choose elective subjects to reflect your interests. Whether you want to become a personal injury lawyer, a family lawyer, or any other kind of lawyer, you will need to hone your studies in this field. Talk to other students, your professors, and colleagues and see which areas of law appeal to you the most. It is important to be passionate about what you do.
Step 8: Take the Bar Exam
After law school, you will need to sit the Bar exam in your state to be admitted to the Bar. This will give you the right to practice law in your state. The Bar is a two or three-day exam that is usually administered twice a year. The exam covers criminal, constitutional, and civil law. You will be tested on evidence, procedure, and ethics, and this examination is known to be grueling.
Make sure you study hard for the Bar exam but do not be put off if you do not pass the first time. Around 40% of people do not pass the first time, and it is perfectly acceptable to re-sit the test. In many states, there is no limit on how many times you can sit the Bar exam.
Step 9: Apply to a Law Firm
When you have passed the Bar, you can start applying for jobs in law firms. You may wish to apply to the law firm you worked in before you were fully qualified or use the connections you have made in law school to seek a job interview. You can also apply for jobs in law firms directly from their web pages.
Once you are hired, don’t forget to be the best you can be throughout your career. Justice is in your hands, and it is your job to honor that. Good luck with this process and enjoy every step of the way!
This step-by-step guide to becoming a lawyer has laid out the nine key stages of achieving a law degree and getting a job in a law firm. If you dream of being a practicing lawyer, you are now well-equipped with all of the information you need to get started. From tailoring your education toward a law degree to completing work experience, every step will bring you a little bit closer to your end goal. Whether you want to specialize in personal injury, contracts, or any other area of law, it is important to stay dedicated every step of the way. Good luck.
