What are some steps to take to become a lawyer?

Question

I want to be a criminal lawyer :)
I have a 4.0
I'm 17 and I live in FL
and if there's anything I should know about law school or being a lawyer before hand, i'd love to know :)
along with any advice

i posted this question in the College section a while ago, but I didn't get ANY answers :\

thanks :)

Answer 1

Good grades in College so you can get into a good Law School.

I would strongly advise volunteering to work in a Public Defenders Office or maybe at the ACLU since you are interested in criminal defense. That way you can see what Lawyers do all day and decide if that's what you really want.

It's a terrible bummer to go to Law School for three years, accumulate all kinds of debt and be miserable in your job.

I worked as a Paralegal and realized I didn't want to become a lawyer. While criminal law is probably the most interesting type of law, keep in mind you will deal with a lot of not very nice people who are guilty.

I am not trying to discourage you; but,I work with Lawyers and many hate their jobs.

So find out as much as possible before you commit to becoming a lawyer because it's a lot of work.

Good luck. You might also consider Public Interest Law. The country desperately needs lawyers to work for the poor and oppressed.

Answer 2

Study Political Science then Law and take the bar to become a lawyer. Concentrate on Criminal Law to become a Criminal lawyer and this is very interesting aspect of the law profession.

Answer 3

You first need an undergraduate degree. Any undergraduate degree will work but most opt for Poli Sci. Take the LSAT. Apply to schools. Pass the bar exam for your state.

Most law schools have a set curriculum for the 1st year. 2nd and third years are more open but you should take courses that will be tested on your states bar exam.

It's really to hard to focus on on specific area of law in school unless that school has a program for it.

While in Law School you can apply at firms that focus on Criminal Law, but to be truthful, you can't be guaranteed a job in the field that you desire right now. Most people end up doing the type of law that the firm that hires them wants them to do.

Answer 4

All bad advise. If your only goal is to be a lawyer, then major in whatever you can get the highest GPA. I would not recommend doing college as a means to the end of law school, so don't major in something "law related," rather major in something useful if you decide law school is not for you. Look at something like a hard science major (not biology), engineering, math, or business. If you major in political science and decide not to go to law school, you're up **** creek without a paddle.

Answer 5

I agree with laughter. Do not major in political science unless you like it and want to study it. Focus on developing your writing skills and your debating skills. Join the debate club. Have fun in college but keep your grades up. Practice long and hard for the LSAT (law school admission test). There are lots of study guides and courses. Go to the best law school you can get into, even if it is inconveniently located. Good luck.

Answer 6

Some of my friends from college went on to law school, they were in my Political Science classes. At my University Political Science was divided into four categories, American or domestic politics, International Relations, Comparative Government, and Pre-Law.
While you could also get an undergraduate degree in another field like communications or business to qualify for Law School, I would think that a BA in Political Science Pre-Law would make it easier to be accepted into a law school.
You may be looking for a means to fund your schooling and I suggest you look into ROTC and the JAG corp to accomplish that.

Answer 7

Major in Prelaw get your bachelor measure, then pass to legislation tuition, then you definitely ought to take and move the bar examination. Go talk along with your counselor at tuition and they are going to support get you at the proper monitor. Your prime tuition must actually have a profession middle quite often close the advisors or the library. Ask approximately it, you must be equipped to get know-how on exclusive profession fields. You higher get a transfer on although. Being a Junior you'll have already been getting ready to fufill the specifications of the institution you could like to wait.