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how do i prepare to become a lawyer?
how do i prepare to become a lawyer at the age of 12-13
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Vianne’s Answer
If you're 12 or 13 and thinking about becoming a lawyer, there's no need to stress or do anything intense right now. The key is to build skills that lawyers use every day.
Start by focusing on reading, writing, and speaking. Lawyers need to read a lot, write clearly, and explain ideas well. Try reading books that challenge you, including articles about history, current events, or social issues. You can practice writing by keeping a journal, debating topics you care about, or writing short opinion pieces. In school, pay attention to English, history, and social studies, as they are important for a future in law.
When you get to high school, consider joining activities like debate club, mock trial, student government, or Model UN. These can help you with arguing, public speaking, and understanding rules and systems. It's also useful to see how laws affect people by following the news or learning about basic rights. For now, stay curious, do well in school, and explore what you like. If you enjoy thinking critically and standing up for ideas, you're on a great path toward law in the future.
Start by focusing on reading, writing, and speaking. Lawyers need to read a lot, write clearly, and explain ideas well. Try reading books that challenge you, including articles about history, current events, or social issues. You can practice writing by keeping a journal, debating topics you care about, or writing short opinion pieces. In school, pay attention to English, history, and social studies, as they are important for a future in law.
When you get to high school, consider joining activities like debate club, mock trial, student government, or Model UN. These can help you with arguing, public speaking, and understanding rules and systems. It's also useful to see how laws affect people by following the news or learning about basic rights. For now, stay curious, do well in school, and explore what you like. If you enjoy thinking critically and standing up for ideas, you're on a great path toward law in the future.
Thank you for the advice, Vianne.
sienna
Updated
DENNIS’s Answer
Hi Sienna: I love your country!
I've been a lawyer in the US for 45 years! At 12-13 I recommend yu just be a kid! Have fun, enjoy yourself and keep your grades up and things will fall into place. The best lawyers are the best people - people who care about other people and important issues. So at 13, I'd relax and learn. keep and open mind amd remember - the better person you become the better lawyer you'll be! Good luck!
I've been a lawyer in the US for 45 years! At 12-13 I recommend yu just be a kid! Have fun, enjoy yourself and keep your grades up and things will fall into place. The best lawyers are the best people - people who care about other people and important issues. So at 13, I'd relax and learn. keep and open mind amd remember - the better person you become the better lawyer you'll be! Good luck!
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
sienna
Updated
Maggie’s Answer
If you want to become a lawyer, here’s your secret superpower:
Stay curious — and have fun being you!
Seriously.
Every time you wonder, “Wait… that doesn’t make sense,” you’re practicing.
Every time you ask, “Why?” or “How do you know?” you’re training your brain.
Every time something sounds exaggerated, unrealistic, or way too simple and you think, “Hmmmm…” that’s you building lawyer skills.
Great lawyers are basically professional truth-detectives. We notice what doesn’t add up. We look closer. We ask brave questions — especially the ones other people might be nervous to ask.
And here’s the cool part:
Just being a curious young thinker is already practice.
When you try to prove your point
When you question something in a video
When you imagine different sides of a story
When you ask Google, GPT, Gemini, etc. "I heard X, Y, Z...here's where I'm skeptical...tell me more about this"
That’s critical thinking. That’s analysis. That’s future-lawyer energy.
So yes — chase big dreams. Play games. Find cool stuff to learn about. Laugh. Explore. Wonder.
Having fun and being curious about the world around you? That’s not a distraction from your goal — it’s the foundation.
And if anyone says, “You’re too young to think about that,” or “You don’t want to become a lawyer,” just remember:
* Mozart wrote his first symphony at age 8.
* Bill Gates started Microsoft at 20.
* And as astronaut Mae Jemison said, *“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination.”*
Big dreams don’t have age limits.
Curiosity doesn’t have age limits.
Keep asking bold questions. Keep thinking for yourself. Keep smiling when you say, “Wait a minute…”
You’re already practicing.
Stay curious — and have fun being you!
Seriously.
Every time you wonder, “Wait… that doesn’t make sense,” you’re practicing.
Every time you ask, “Why?” or “How do you know?” you’re training your brain.
Every time something sounds exaggerated, unrealistic, or way too simple and you think, “Hmmmm…” that’s you building lawyer skills.
Great lawyers are basically professional truth-detectives. We notice what doesn’t add up. We look closer. We ask brave questions — especially the ones other people might be nervous to ask.
And here’s the cool part:
Just being a curious young thinker is already practice.
When you try to prove your point
When you question something in a video
When you imagine different sides of a story
When you ask Google, GPT, Gemini, etc. "I heard X, Y, Z...here's where I'm skeptical...tell me more about this"
That’s critical thinking. That’s analysis. That’s future-lawyer energy.
So yes — chase big dreams. Play games. Find cool stuff to learn about. Laugh. Explore. Wonder.
Having fun and being curious about the world around you? That’s not a distraction from your goal — it’s the foundation.
And if anyone says, “You’re too young to think about that,” or “You don’t want to become a lawyer,” just remember:
* Mozart wrote his first symphony at age 8.
* Bill Gates started Microsoft at 20.
* And as astronaut Mae Jemison said, *“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination.”*
Big dreams don’t have age limits.
Curiosity doesn’t have age limits.
Keep asking bold questions. Keep thinking for yourself. Keep smiling when you say, “Wait a minute…”
You’re already practicing.
Thanks for the help.
sienna
Updated
Ilan’s Answer
Hello Sienna,
That is amazing that you are already thinking of your future and path at 12-13 years old. Having a vision, knowing what you want to do so early really helps in shaping your future, and focusing on what you actually need. I do agree that you are young and you should be more focused on friends, family, activities, and just having fun. But, there are minor things you can do, that will not take you too much time and could be beneficial in the long run.
For example, there is a lot of reading to do in law school, and as a lawyer/attorney throughout your career. Reading books, being able to digest and understand what you are reading, and being able to increase the pace of reading and understanding would be super beneficial for your overall career. I am not saying you need to just read through any book, take the biggest one in your library, and try to finish it in an hour. You should read at your own pace, and try to see after a chapter, or a reading session if you are able to remember what you read, and how it fits in the overall story. And the more time you spend doing that, the faster you will get at catching things while reading, and you will start to be able to read a little faster.
You could also learn how to take notes faster on a laptop/computer. It is an incredible skill to have to be able to take notes in class, especially when a professor just talks non-stop for an hour about a topic you don't know much. But being able to take notes on everything that is mentioned, would be beneficial overall so that you are sure to not miss anything. Of course, that would also be beneficial to you in your career as you will need to take notes in client meetings, and partners meetings.
If you can work on these two skills early on, and spend an hour a day on those two, over a few years, you will become so skilled that it would feel so natural to do either, and that would put you leagues ahead on everyone else in your class.
Good Luck!!!
That is amazing that you are already thinking of your future and path at 12-13 years old. Having a vision, knowing what you want to do so early really helps in shaping your future, and focusing on what you actually need. I do agree that you are young and you should be more focused on friends, family, activities, and just having fun. But, there are minor things you can do, that will not take you too much time and could be beneficial in the long run.
For example, there is a lot of reading to do in law school, and as a lawyer/attorney throughout your career. Reading books, being able to digest and understand what you are reading, and being able to increase the pace of reading and understanding would be super beneficial for your overall career. I am not saying you need to just read through any book, take the biggest one in your library, and try to finish it in an hour. You should read at your own pace, and try to see after a chapter, or a reading session if you are able to remember what you read, and how it fits in the overall story. And the more time you spend doing that, the faster you will get at catching things while reading, and you will start to be able to read a little faster.
You could also learn how to take notes faster on a laptop/computer. It is an incredible skill to have to be able to take notes in class, especially when a professor just talks non-stop for an hour about a topic you don't know much. But being able to take notes on everything that is mentioned, would be beneficial overall so that you are sure to not miss anything. Of course, that would also be beneficial to you in your career as you will need to take notes in client meetings, and partners meetings.
If you can work on these two skills early on, and spend an hour a day on those two, over a few years, you will become so skilled that it would feel so natural to do either, and that would put you leagues ahead on everyone else in your class.
Good Luck!!!
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
sienna
Updated
Paul V.’s Answer
Read as much as you can. Read books, magazines, newspapers. Read, read, read.
Thanks for your encouragement!
sienna