Posts Tagged ‘Law school’
Steps to Become an Attorney
Becoming an attorney requires a great deal of advance preparation. In order to become an attorney, you must generally obtain two post-secondary education degrees, a Bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree which takes at least 7 years.
Also, there are many steps that you must take while enrolled in school to allow you to continue with your legal education and eventual practice of law.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A prerequisite to attending law school is to earn a Bachelor’s degree from an undergraduate institution. There is no required major that you must pursue, and in many cases, law schools prefer a student body comprised of diverse majors. Many students pursue degrees in political science or pre-law, however, again, these are not required majors.
Register with the Law School Admission Council
During your junior year of college, you should begin considering where you would like to go to law school and research the admissions criteria for each school. Creating an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a necessary step in applying to law school.
The LSAC facilitates the law school application process for potential students by collecting personal information from the student, as well as college transcripts, letters of recommendation and online law school application materials.
Register for the Law School Admission Test
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a necessary step to entering law school. It is generally a good idea to register to take the LSAT in the beginning of your final year in college. The LSAT is an important indicator used by law schools in accepting or rejecting applicants.
The LSAT is comprised various components that judge your ability to succeed in law school, such as logical reasoning, logic games and reading comprehension. The LSAT is administered by the LSAC.
Earn a Juris Doctor Degree
Once you complete the law school curriculum, you will earn a Juris Doctor degree. Law school is a three or four year program, depending on the type of program you pursue. All law schools offer a full-time day program that will last three years.
Some schools will offer a part-time day program and in some cases, a part-time evening program, as well. When choosing a law school, check your state’s bar exam requirements, most jurisdictions require you to receive a Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Become an Attorney
Attorneys on TV shows always seem to have lots of time for interesting personal lives. In the real world, just the opposite is often true.
Eighteen-hour workdays are not unheard of, especially for attorneys trying to make partner in their firm.
1. Keep in mind that admission to law school is extremely competitive.
2. Receive a bachelor’s degree in a major that requires a lot of in-depth reading and writing, such as history, political science or English. If you know in which area of law you would like to concentrate, take electives in that field to give you a solid base.
3. Peruse law school catalogs and admission policies, making certain that the American Bar Association has given the schools accreditation. Pay strict attention to application deadlines.
4. Take the Law School Admissions Test (L.S.A.T.). Arrange to have the Law School Data Assembly Service send the test scores and your college grades to the law schools of your choice. See Law School Admission Council (lsac.org) for further information.
5. Understand that the first half of your three years in law school will be spent studying only general areas of law, including contracts, torts, property and constitutional law.
6. Obtain part-time or summer clerkships while you are in law school. The contacts you make can lead to a permanent job and may also provide some financial aid for school. Pick clerkships in an area of law in which you would like to specialize so that you can gain firsthand knowledge of its pros and cons.
7. Take your state’s two-day written bar examination after you have received your degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.). Note: If you have received your legal education through correspondence courses, be aware that California is the only state that will allow you to take its bar exam.