4 answers
William
Student
Ephrata
4
Questions
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How long do you have to be in school to be a lawyer?
and what law schools would be a good choice to pick
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4 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1895
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
William it usually takes seven years to become a lawyer in the United States, including four years of undergraduate study and three years of law school. However, many people choose to get a job in the legal field before applying to law school in order to strengthen their application. Working as a paralegal or legal secretary can provide valuable experience but will also extend your timeline of becoming a lawyer. You can decrease the amount of time it takes to become a lawyer by taking exams to earn credits during your undergraduate studies, allowing you to graduate early.
1️⃣ EARN YOU UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Law schools require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in order to be considered for admission. While a lawyer's undergraduate degree can be in any subject, majors related to law such as Political Science, Criminal Justice, English and Sociology are common among law students.
2️⃣ TAKE THE LAST
Taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a key part of applying to law schools. The LSAT is a standardized test that helps law schools determine how successful an applicant might be in their program.
3️⃣ COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL
Most states require people to graduate from an accredited law program in order to become a lawyer. Law students who attend school full-time can expect to complete their program in three years. Some people go to law school part-time, but this option will increase the timeline for you to begin practicing law.
4️⃣ PASS THE BAR EXAM
After graduating from law school, you will need to pass the bar exam and be admitted to your state's bar. The bar exam determines if you have all the knowledge and skills to practice law. This usually involves several months of studying for the test, then a character examination and an extensive background check.
CONCLUSION
Keep in mind William, the road to becoming a lawyer is not just about completing the educational requirements; it also involves developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and a passion for justice that will serve you well throughout your legal career.
Hope this was helpful William
1️⃣ EARN YOU UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
Law schools require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in order to be considered for admission. While a lawyer's undergraduate degree can be in any subject, majors related to law such as Political Science, Criminal Justice, English and Sociology are common among law students.
2️⃣ TAKE THE LAST
Taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a key part of applying to law schools. The LSAT is a standardized test that helps law schools determine how successful an applicant might be in their program.
3️⃣ COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL
Most states require people to graduate from an accredited law program in order to become a lawyer. Law students who attend school full-time can expect to complete their program in three years. Some people go to law school part-time, but this option will increase the timeline for you to begin practicing law.
4️⃣ PASS THE BAR EXAM
After graduating from law school, you will need to pass the bar exam and be admitted to your state's bar. The bar exam determines if you have all the knowledge and skills to practice law. This usually involves several months of studying for the test, then a character examination and an extensive background check.
CONCLUSION
Keep in mind William, the road to becoming a lawyer is not just about completing the educational requirements; it also involves developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and a passion for justice that will serve you well throughout your legal career.
Hope this was helpful William
Lirio Delgado
11
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Lirio’s Answer
To become a lawyer in the U.S., you usually need about seven years of school after high school, four years to earn a bachelor’s degree and three years of law school to get a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. After that, you have to pass the bar exam in the state where you want to practice. Some of the top law schools include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and NYU, but there are also great options like the University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, and UVA, depending on your interests and location. Picking a law school can also depend on what kind of law you want to practice and where you want to work in the future.
I will use this advice as I prepare for my career.
William
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
66
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi William,
Former law student here, so I think I could give you some additional thoughts on applying to law school.
With regards to your question on what's a good school to pick from, I will just say there are a few considerations you might want to think about as a good choice for me may not be a good choice for you. Going to law school is an extremely expensive and time consuming investment, and if you are a traditional full-time student, you are unlikely to have much time to work to work (if at all) while you're at school. So for many applicants, their ability to finance their education and living expenses for 3 years--either through their own savings, student loans, or scholarships--is probably the biggest consideration when thinking about which law school to go to. Tuition for law school could range from around $20k per year to more than $50k per year, and the quality and competitiveness of law schools don't always correspond with their price tags either, so I would recommend that you research the law schools you are interested in and compare the cost of attendance with other metrics, such as post-graduation employment rate and bar passage rate. Make sure to also look into whether the school is ABA-accredited. It would be a poor choice to attend a school that is in danger of losing its accreditation, as you will have a difficult time transferring your credits to another school if things do go south.
Another thing you might want to consider is where you want to practice after you pass the bar exam. It is generally much easier to build a professional network and apply to jobs in the region where your law school is located, and much harder to job hunt if you have no ties at all to the state, so keep that in mind as you are exploring law schools.
Former law student here, so I think I could give you some additional thoughts on applying to law school.
With regards to your question on what's a good school to pick from, I will just say there are a few considerations you might want to think about as a good choice for me may not be a good choice for you. Going to law school is an extremely expensive and time consuming investment, and if you are a traditional full-time student, you are unlikely to have much time to work to work (if at all) while you're at school. So for many applicants, their ability to finance their education and living expenses for 3 years--either through their own savings, student loans, or scholarships--is probably the biggest consideration when thinking about which law school to go to. Tuition for law school could range from around $20k per year to more than $50k per year, and the quality and competitiveness of law schools don't always correspond with their price tags either, so I would recommend that you research the law schools you are interested in and compare the cost of attendance with other metrics, such as post-graduation employment rate and bar passage rate. Make sure to also look into whether the school is ABA-accredited. It would be a poor choice to attend a school that is in danger of losing its accreditation, as you will have a difficult time transferring your credits to another school if things do go south.
Another thing you might want to consider is where you want to practice after you pass the bar exam. It is generally much easier to build a professional network and apply to jobs in the region where your law school is located, and much harder to job hunt if you have no ties at all to the state, so keep that in mind as you are exploring law schools.
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
422
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi William:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career in law. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Other classes to take will be English, social studies, and American history and government. The combination of these concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Lawyer, communication is essential and critical when dealing with clients, legal staff, law enforcement, etc. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
The educational pathway to become a lawyer will be between 7-8 years. 4 Years will be to earn a Bachelor Degree. LSAT entrance exam will need to be taken. Law school will be 2-3 years to earn a Juris Doctor Degree. Then, there is the bar exam to take, to pass and to be earned in the state where you plan to practice law.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a link to the Best Colleges and Universities for Law school:
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- University of Chicago
- University of Pennsylvania (Carey)
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- New York University
- Columbia University
- University of Virginia
- Northwestern University (Pritzker)
- University of California (Berkeley)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- Cornell University
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and to gain entry to the college of your choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/websites-to-kick-off-your-scholarship-search
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and career path as a Lawyer!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career in law. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Other classes to take will be English, social studies, and American history and government. The combination of these concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Lawyer, communication is essential and critical when dealing with clients, legal staff, law enforcement, etc. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.
The educational pathway to become a lawyer will be between 7-8 years. 4 Years will be to earn a Bachelor Degree. LSAT entrance exam will need to be taken. Law school will be 2-3 years to earn a Juris Doctor Degree. Then, there is the bar exam to take, to pass and to be earned in the state where you plan to practice law.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a link to the Best Colleges and Universities for Law school:
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- University of Chicago
- University of Pennsylvania (Carey)
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- New York University
- Columbia University
- University of Virginia
- Northwestern University (Pritzker)
- University of California (Berkeley)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- Cornell University
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and to gain entry to the college of your choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/websites-to-kick-off-your-scholarship-search
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and career path as a Lawyer!
Thank you so much!
William