What Does It Take To Become A Lawyer?
Aug 03, 2023
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In American culture, some jobs are better known than others or considered prestigious. One career path that’s often seen as desirable is an attorney.While most people have heard lawyer jokes a time or two, attorneys are generally respected.
Being a lawyer is often viewed as a great profession. While it can be demanding to be an attorney, it’s usually a well-paying job with many opportunities. There are also many kinds of lawyers, including personal injury attorneys, immigration lawyers, family and divorce lawyers, and much more.
Whether you’re considering becoming a lawyer or just wondering how to become one, this article is for you.
The Basic Steps To Become A Lawyer
As with many career paths, every attorney has a slightly different story as to how they ended up in their role. However, unlike some jobs, lawyers must meet particular requirements to actually practice. They have to earn the right college degrees and get licensed. So, the overall process of becoming a lawyer goes like this:
- Get a Bachelor’s Degree: The first step in becoming an attorney is obtaining a bachelor’s degree. While there are some specific pre-law programs, this isn’t a requirement. Many people major in things like English, business, or even philosophy.
- Take the LSAT: After graduating with an undergraduate degree, aspiring lawyers must complete the LSAT or the GRE. The LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) is standard, although more universities now accept the GRE, too.
- Get Accepted to Law School: After applying to law school and taking graduate exams, the student must get accepted to a law school.
- Finish Law School: While it’s not as simple as this step makes it sound, the attorney must then finish law school.
- Take the Board Exams: After completing law school, the individual must get licensed in order to practice. Thai includes completing the bar admission requirements for their state. This process includes taking a test and ensuring you meet mental and physical health requirements.
- Swear an Oath: Finally, the potential lawyer will swear an oath during a ceremony. They usually swear to uphold the United States Constitution.
While this process might sound simple when laid out step by step, it’s far from that. It takes most potential lawyers around 7-8 years to be able to practice law. It’s also important to remember that requirements vary from state to state. While they are generally similar, you’ll need to research the rules for your state.
Essential Skills For Lawyers To Have
The above steps are pertinent to what an individual must do to work as an attorney. However, within those steps, students need to perform to a high standard. As an undergrad, having good grades and performing well on graduate school tests is usually crucial. Otherwise, competing and getting into law school won’t be possible.
Along with the more apparent degrees and certifications an attorney must have, there are also some other skills that potential lawyers can benefit from learning, such as:
- Being able to research and analyze data and information
- The ability to problem-solve complex issues
- Good speaking and writing abilities
Should I Become A Lawyer?
Choosing a career path involves considering many factors. Becoming a lawyer does take many years of work and can be expensive. It is also more suited to some personalities than others. However, keep in mind there are various types of legal jobs. Some attorneys focus on litigation for criminal cases, while others mainly handle civil cases or even focus more on research.
Give it some thought and do what seems best for you.