Do you have dreams of arguing a case before the Supreme Court?
Are you curious if someone who offered legal help has the appropriate credentials?
Discovering the answers to your burning questions in this article today could lead you to an exciting career. Or, you could find a highly-qualified attorney that passed these requirements with high marks!
How To Become a Lawyer
No matter why you want to know how to become a lawyer, you want to be confident you have accurate information. Thankfully, the information in this article comes from our experience working with attorneys across the country. If there is any website that can give you accurate details, it is RequestLegalHelp.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Lawyer?
Everyone who pursues their dream of becoming a lawyer will have a different experience. After all, some individuals may decide to take time off between the necessary steps. But, there is a general expectation that you will spend seven years pursuing this goal.
What Education Is Needed to Become a Lawyer?
Since becoming a lawyer will take most of a decade, you need to understand many more details. This section will take you through the journey of how to become a lawyer step-by-step.
Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree
Becoming a lawyer starts with earning an undergraduate degree, preferably in a related field. Many colleges offer pre-law degrees that will prepare you for law school. Some lawyers or attorneys even find their start in a firm by working there as a paralegal. Alternatively, you may prefer to focus on criminal justice to prepare yourself to defend clients in court.
Regardless of what major you choose to pursue, you will want to demonstrate a dedication to academic excellence. Your grades and the activities you participate in will carry considerable weight when you apply to law school.
Taking the LSAT
The Law School Admission Test is a challenging exam that tests your ability to handle law school. There are four components of the LSAT that will allow you to demonstrate your skills:
- Logic Reasoning
- Logic Games
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
In addition to getting over these hurdles, there is an experimental section. This portion of the LSAT is a complete wild card designed to serve two purposes.
First, it will randomize the questions you receive and keep you on your proverbial toes. In addition, it helps the test writers decide how these questions may fit into future versions of the test.
In total, the scale of scores for the LSAT range from 120 to 180. If you earn a 173 or above, you will be in the top 1% of those who took the exam.
Applying to Law Schools
The competition to get into law school is fierce. Many students will start the process up to two years before they enroll. Before you even begin to fill out applications, you will want to consider taking steps like the following:
- Visit the law schools you want to attend
- Schedule time with a graduate advisor
- Create a spreadsheet to help you track deadlines and other critical data
- Ask for recommendation letters from professors, employers, etc.
It is worth noting that your LSAT score may change how you calculate your odds of admission. For example, you may have to plan to attend a second or third choice if you didn’t get a top score.
Earning Your Juris Doctorate Degree
While the timelines can vary, most law school students graduate after three years of diligent study. The first year is arduous and will introduce you to the case method approach. This process involves examining judicial opinions and how judiciaries reached their decisions. The range of topics explored includes crucial subjects like these areas of law:
- Torts
- Contracts
- Property Law
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
There are other opportunities to take advantage of that do not involve hours of study or classroom instruction. For instance, law students often become involved in editing scholarly journals. Furthermore, you could participate in organizations that advance the interests of the groups you want to serve.
Passing the Bar Exam
The bar exam is the culmination of several years of lengthy and costly higher education.
While the LSAT measures your ability to succeed in law school, this test ensures you can provide competent representation. According to Kaplan, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) creates the Uniform Bar Examination. This two-day test will include these three sections:
- Multistate Bar Examination
- Multistate Essay Examination
- Multistate Performance Test
The state bar association takes on the responsibility of administering the exam. Assuming you pass, you can start accepting clients and begin practicing law.
Do You Need More Help Beyond Learning How to Become a Lawyer?
You may want to learn how to become a lawyer for several reasons. You may desire to pursue a legal career or verify that someone has the appropriate qualifications. In any case, we organized this guide as part of our mission to help people find highly-qualified attorneys in their area.
Do you or someone you know need legal representation? Then give us a call at (866) 345-6784 or submit a request through our website today.
