What steps should a I take to become a lawyer?

Answer 1

I don't know about the authors of the other responses, but I went through law school, passed the bar, and am actually a lawyer. I would urge you to think twice. Honestly, I would not do it again.

The basic information in the other posts is correct. You need an undergraduate degree and you need to take the LSAT's which is really just a souped up version of the SAT's. It tests reasoning and comprehension- but not really any specific knowledge. After school, you will need to take the bar exam for the state you are in- some have some weird requirements so check the web site of the state you are interested in.

A lot of people think you have to be really smart to make it through law school. They are WRONG! It is a ton of reading- you will literally read books that stack up several feet high every semester, but if you are dedicated and don't run out of steam- it's doable by virtually everyone. That said- if you aren't in the top 10% of your class by the end of the first year you will already have excluded yourself from a lot of the top jobs. It sucks but thats the way it is (I was not one of the top 10%). The legal field is very anti-change and is not flexible. The people in the top 10% of the class make Law Review (extra work where you write journal articles) and Moot Court (pretend legal practice). Many of the top paying law firms will not even take your resume if you haven't been on Law Review or Moot Court, it doesn't matter that those skills aren't necesarily the ones you need to have to be a good lawyer.

Law school can also be a really bad financial decisions. Law Schools are one of the only divisions of a college or university that are actually a profit making enterprise (rare in higher education). It is really expensive, easily $100,000 for three years- unless you go to a state school. If you do want to go to law school, I definately recomend moving where you plan on practicing, getting residency, and going to a public school- check and see if Judges in that area went to that school. Working for a judge for a year after graduating is prestigious, great experience, and will make you more marketable- many tend to hire from where the went to school.

Because law schools are profitable for colleges, they aren't responsible about admissions. There are many more lawyers than there are good jobs. You can easily graduate from law school with $100,000 in student loans and get offered a job for $35,000 a year. People don't generally like lawyers, and that can make it difficult to transition into a non-legal career, plus everyone assumes there is always work for lawyers so they assume you will leave a non-legal job as soon as something better comes along.

If you are really interested in the legal profession, I recomend working as a paralegal. You can make really good money with no additional investment in your education. If you decide to go to law school, you have made contacts and have experience, if not, then at least you haven't sunk yourself in debt.

Best wishes

Answer 2

Get a bachelor's degree - most law schools won't admit you without one. Political science is a good general start, but Public Administration, Management, Business, Finance, Education, or some others are good, too. If you have an idea of what kind of law you want to practice, here's where you'll learn the basics of that industry or area of expertise. Work hard and do well, because law schools want high achievers as students, generally.

Take the LSAT - Law School Aptitude Test. That lets the schools get an idea of how good you might do while in school.

Select and apply to law schools. Pick several, have fallbacks and contingency schools.

Get admitted, and bust your butt for 3 years. I've never been to law school, but the friends who have tell me they worked harder there than most any other thing they've done.

Ooops - forgot - you have to pass the bar exam, too! Presto - you're a lawyer! Now you just have to find a job along with all the other thousands of new lawyers.

Answer 3

Buy a BMW and learn to play golf, then somewhere out on a green sell your soul to the devil and live with no regrets. You will have your eyes really opened once in law school when you learn what laws really govern the people, how UCC 1-207 works and why after years of school and exams you will be reduced to merely a legal librarian filling out prescribed procedures and looking up forms and tort law. Once you become rich you can buy back a conscience and while still hated by most, at least have a few people that will acknowledge you publicly. Regarding those steps you asked about, theres only two, both down, physically, and socially. Sorry, I had to work on my sense of humor here. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

I'd talk to lawyers first to see if it's a job that would actually make you happy. Then you'd need a B.A. and a law degree, and then you'd take the bar. But, seriously, spend some time around lawyers first to see what it's like: there are a lot of unhappy lawyers out there.

Answer 5

when you go for your BS degree make sure you get all the courses that will help you in the future, then instead of going for an MBA, you would go for your JD (Juris doctorate). Why not inquire of the schools who offer the JD? Going through the schooling is one thing, but the "test" afterwards is what is the most difficult, and if you don't pass it then it's difficult to repay your student loans. You need to know that an attorney's income is not a "job" but is an independent contractor (i.e. you either own your own firm which is difficult to do, or you partner up with other attorneys and are considered an independent contractor and make contributions to keep the firm in business). You buy your way upward to Senior Partner by years of experience and thru your contributions to the firm (after your pay back your student loans...so it takes a long time to accomplish)..

Answer 6

1) Get a Bachelors Degree in any major;
2) Take your LSATs;
3) Go to Law School;
4) Once you graduate, take the bar exam;
5) Find a Job;

Answer 7

If you are out in the working world, simply take the LSATs and apply to law school. You do not need any specific major to go to law school and perform well, so if still inc ollege or even high school, major in something you like, or in a fall back profession youy might like.

Answer 8

Why is this in Real Estate? First get a BA or BS in a pre-Law program then go to Law School.

Answer 9

#1-Have 2 faces
#2-lie a lot
#3-Have a family tree that does not fork!!