To become a lawyer, one must possess an in-depth knowledge of law and possess critical thinking abilities. Therefore, seeking educational opportunities or experiences which help develop these capabilities such as criminal justice courses or English or philosophy classes are imperative in developing them.
Political science and psychology are highly popular undergraduate majors for pre-law students. Political science provides insight into legislation while psychology educates about issues like stereotyping, prejudice and human behavior.
Getting a law degree
Starting a law degree journey can be lengthy and complex. First step should be registering as an LSAC law student or attorney applicant to stay informed on application status updates. You also require a valid Social Security number when submitting most law school applications.
After attending an accredited university, you will need to earn your Bachelor’s degree. Prelaw students often pursue majors like English, history, philosophy or political science in preparation for law school; alternatively they could study business administration, computer science or engineering as alternative preparation for legal careers.
Once graduated, to practice law you must pass the bar exam. Some attorneys pursue careers at large firms while others work for government agencies or nonprofit organizations; still others specialize in tax law, intellectual property or international law. Your choice will ultimately depend on your career goals and desired career path.
Law school admissions
To become a lawyer, one must attain a bachelor’s degree and pass the Law School Admission Test. Pre-law advisors advise majoring in an area likely to increase your odds of admission into law school such as economics, philosophy, political science, history or journalism; however any undergraduate major will do as long as it offers courses and experiences designed to develop your writing skills and help prepare you for legal studies.
Maintain a resume. Admissions committees want a comprehensive look at you and want your resume to reflect all aspects of your experience, including work from college onward. Involve yourself in leadership positions and extracurricular activities as well as volunteerism – begin early with this step and update frequently; remember also to include letters from professors, employers and others that can attest to your academic ability and work ethic!
Law school curriculum
Law school classes differ significantly from undergraduate courses by placing greater emphasis on reading and writing assignments. Law students write case briefs and summary essays covering an array of topics, from legal research and framing arguments to identifying legal issues. Furthermore, law students learn a method known as IRAC for legal analysis that involves defining an issue, applying relevant laws and analyzing facts.
Students enrolled in L-1 studies will acquire much of their legal knowledge during this first year through courses such as Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contracts Property & Torts*. These classes provide students with a broad overview of law so that they can build upon it during L-2 & L-3 study years.
Apart from academic coursework, law school students will gain practical experience through externships and clinical courses, externships, moot court competitions and student organizations that allow them to hone oral advocacy skills. Furthermore, many law schools provide study groups which help prepare students for exams or collaborate on research projects.
Law school costs
Cost of law school can be an enormously significant barrier for prospective lawyers. Thankfully, most law students do not pay the “sticker price”; rather they benefit from substantial need-based and merit-based scholarships which significantly lower or even cover their tuition expenses. Furthermore, certain charitable foundations may even pay to have students earn their law degrees.
Students can cut costs of law school by opting for public law schools rather than private ones. Public schools generally have lower tuition and tend to rank higher by U.S. News; however, these may not offer as many opportunities for career advancement than high-ranked private schools do.
Students looking to become attorneys should pursue educational, extra-curricular and life experiences that provide them with a firm grounding in written communication skills, legal research and critical thinking. Attorneys need to be able to communicate clearly and succinctly when communicating with clients or parties involved; writing clearly is vitally important.