Do you want to become a lawyer? This is often one of the most difficult professions to enter due to the high competition and time required obtaining degrees, but it can be one of the most rewarding (and high-paying!) jobs out there. Here are the steps you need to take in order to become a lawyer in the United State
Part 1 of 5: Succeeding in High School and College
1
Learn to succeed at school early on. The path to becoming a lawyer is a long and competitive one, so it's a good idea to start with your best foot forward as soon as possible. The better your grades are in high school, the better you'll be set up for the rest of your life.
The goal after high school, as before, is getting into the best possible undergraduate school consistent with good grades and stellar test scores. See the GPA section below and How to Get Into an Ivy League School.) After that, you can get into the best possible law school. Getting a job in this field will be a lot easier with good grades and the name of good schools under your belt, so hit those books! It may not feel like it's paying off, but it can in the long run.
Decide early on if the law school path is right for you. Succeeding “at school” as a bet on a business that values this so much is very different from learning at school (with the occasional failure and bad grade) and succeeding in life generally. In particular, see if you do well at sample law school admission tests and study material early on to know if admissions and the first few jobs will be an uphill battle before single-mindedly taking on a law-school-admission focused education path. “Go for broke” too optimistically, and, well...!
2
Participate in your high-school debate or mock trial team. This will help you develop skills that are essential to a career as a lawyer. You'll be able to find out if your personality fits the mold and if this is the right track for you. It'll also jump start your high school resume!
Keep in mind that most lawyers don't spend a lot of time in the courtroom. Life isn't an episode of Law & Order, unfortunately. When you're debating (or even studying most of the subjects you'll study), it's not to prepare you to be a hard-hitting inquisitor. (If you like that, consider a career as a police or civil investigator as well as law!) It's to help you find flaws in arguments, determine between opinions and facts, and think on your feet.
Participate in your high-school debate or mock trial team. This will help you develop skills that are essential to a career as a lawyer. You'll be able to find out if your personality fits the mold and if this is the right track for you. It'll also jump start your high school resume!
Keep in mind that most lawyers don't spend a lot of time in the courtroom. Life isn't an episode of Law & Order, unfortunately. When you're debating (or even studying most of the subjects you'll study), it's not to prepare you to be a hard-hitting inquisitor. (If you like that, consider a career as a police or civil investigator as well as law!) It's to help you find flaws in arguments, determine between opinions and facts, and think on your feet.
3
Go to a 4-year undergraduate college. Every U.S. law school will require you to have an undergraduate degree -- preferably from a reputable university. While you by no means have to be pre-law, it's a good idea to study English, public speaking, government, history, philosophy, economics, and mathematics.
While you're here, take advantage of all the resources you have at your disposal. Pad your résumé as much as possible. Do volunteer work. Affiliate your self with campus politics (be selective in how you report this and politically charged student activities to particular law schools). Run for student government and be the president of an upstanding organization, all while holding down a steady job. The more you can handle right now, the less the woes of law school will surprise you. And the better you'll look on paper!
Consider an LL.B. The most efficient way to become a lawyer in the United States may be to become a lawyer outside of the United States! Many other “common law” jurisdictions (basically those with traditions of court systems and authority like America's, such as the British Commonwealth), unlike the lawyers' association to which much of the country has handed over regulation of unsurprisingly costly entry into the profession through accreditation standards, do not require a costly (even considering subsidies and less fluff may make it less so there), time consuming, marginally relevant, burdensome, and thus widely inaccessible to much of society preliminary four-year degree in an unspecified subject first. You can go straight to law! Then, arrive back home well-prepared to benefit from legal expertise at a great law school in an LL.M. program, spend a few years in a state that permits that and a bar exam for entry, and reciprocal-admit to where you like. While you're at it, you've taken an elusive study-abroad program that is not only actually productive but actually saves money.
Did you know that American law degrees were known as LL.B.'s until the law schools changed the name to “Juris Doctor” to facilitate doctor-level compensation for this more MBA-like degree? (Thus explaining the title LL.M., master of laws, for additional specialized training, and LL.D., now sometimes S.J.D. to match, for a true Ph.D.-style research program degree.) Some even exchanged old LL.B. degrees for “J.D.'s"!
Go to a 4-year undergraduate college. Every U.S. law school will require you to have an undergraduate degree -- preferably from a reputable university. While you by no means have to be pre-law, it's a good idea to study English, public speaking, government, history, philosophy, economics, and mathematics.
While you're here, take advantage of all the resources you have at your disposal. Pad your résumé as much as possible. Do volunteer work. Affiliate your self with campus politics (be selective in how you report this and politically charged student activities to particular law schools). Run for student government and be the president of an upstanding organization, all while holding down a steady job. The more you can handle right now, the less the woes of law school will surprise you. And the better you'll look on paper!
Consider an LL.B. The most efficient way to become a lawyer in the United States may be to become a lawyer outside of the United States! Many other “common law” jurisdictions (basically those with traditions of court systems and authority like America's, such as the British Commonwealth), unlike the lawyers' association to which much of the country has handed over regulation of unsurprisingly costly entry into the profession through accreditation standards, do not require a costly (even considering subsidies and less fluff may make it less so there), time consuming, marginally relevant, burdensome, and thus widely inaccessible to much of society preliminary four-year degree in an unspecified subject first. You can go straight to law! Then, arrive back home well-prepared to benefit from legal expertise at a great law school in an LL.M. program, spend a few years in a state that permits that and a bar exam for entry, and reciprocal-admit to where you like. While you're at it, you've taken an elusive study-abroad program that is not only actually productive but actually saves money.
Did you know that American law degrees were known as LL.B.'s until the law schools changed the name to “Juris Doctor” to facilitate doctor-level compensation for this more MBA-like degree? (Thus explaining the title LL.M., master of laws, for additional specialized training, and LL.D., now sometimes S.J.D. to match, for a true Ph.D.-style research program degree.) Some even exchanged old LL.B. degrees for “J.D.'s"!
4
Most colleges don't factor your particular major into the application, so choosing a very difficult subject may come at a disadvantage since your GPA might suffer. The exception is for those interested in Intellectual Property law. To sit for the Patent Bar (which is required in addition to the Bar) you will need a degree in a technical science or math. (Think biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, etc.)
A difficult college and classes are thought to count for something to law schools. But not quite as much as the grades that less difficult ones will give much less competition for (and may have much more of—science departments are notoriously stingy in their attempts to weed out less qualified students, unfortunately destroying alternative careers in the process, so check grade distribution data and be sure you're somewhat familiar with the subject before enrolling.)
Most colleges don't factor your particular major into the application, so choosing a very difficult subject may come at a disadvantage since your GPA might suffer. The exception is for those interested in Intellectual Property law. To sit for the Patent Bar (which is required in addition to the Bar) you will need a degree in a technical science or math. (Think biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, etc.)
A difficult college and classes are thought to count for something to law schools. But not quite as much as the grades that less difficult ones will give much less competition for (and may have much more of—science departments are notoriously stingy in their attempts to weed out less qualified students, unfortunately destroying alternative careers in the process, so check grade distribution data and be sure you're somewhat familiar with the subject before enrolling.)
5
Become familiar and cordial with a professor or two. You will need their letter of recommendations for law school. Do well in their classes and be an engaging student. This will be easier with smaller classes and can be focused on in the latter half of your undergrad career.
Really, "become familiar and cordial with a professor or two" is code for "network with as many people as possible." Rising up the law ladder is going to be a lot easier if you get in good with influential people. A lot of this will be about who you know, in addition to what you know.
6
Become familiar and cordial with a professor or two. You will need their letter of recommendations for law school. Do well in their classes and be an engaging student. This will be easier with smaller classes and can be focused on in the latter half of your undergrad career.
Really, "become familiar and cordial with a professor or two" is code for "network with as many people as possible." Rising up the law ladder is going to be a lot easier if you get in good with influential people. A lot of this will be about who you know, in addition to what you know.
6
Graduate while thinking ahead. If you want to go to law school straight after undergrad, you'll need to be preparing during the entirety of your senior year. By the winter of your final year, you should have the LSAT taken and have your applications sent off. There's no harm in taking a gap year though, for the record!
Ask for recommendation letters months before you need time. Lots of professors and professionals are pressed for time and may need reminding to get around to your letter, but stop and think about all the benefits that will help you succeed one day. Start working on your application materials and studying well before the deadlines can even be fathomed. You'll be less stressed out if you balance your time from day one.
will need their letter of recommendations for law school. Do well in their classes and be an engaging student. This will be easier with smaller classes and can be focused on in the latter half of your undergrad career.
Really, "become familiar and cordial with a professor or two" is code for "network with as many people as possible." Rising up the law ladder is going to be a lot easier if you get in good with influential people. A lot of this will be about who you know, in addition to what you know.
Ask for recommendation letters months before you need time. Lots of professors and professionals are pressed for time and may need reminding to get around to your letter, but stop and think about all the benefits that will help you succeed one day. Start working on your application materials and studying well before the deadlines can even be fathomed. You'll be less stressed out if you balance your time from day one.
will need their letter of recommendations for law school. Do well in their classes and be an engaging student. This will be easier with smaller classes and can be focused on in the latter half of your undergrad career.
Really, "become familiar and cordial with a professor or two" is code for "network with as many people as possible." Rising up the law ladder is going to be a lot easier if you get in good with influential people. A lot of this will be about who you know, in addition to what you know.
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