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what can I do to help?
im in 7th grade but I have been wanting to be a lawyer since 2nd grade. I Am in 9th grade math and I love to read. I am extremely responsible and trustworthy. I recently gave my life to christ in 5th grade and I will never go back. I am a junior higher at st. Jhons Lutheran school.
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Suraayah’s Answer
Hi Brooke!
A 7th grader doing 9th grade math who has known since 2nd grade that law is the path - that kind of drive is rare, and you are already ahead of most people twice your age. A love of reading, a strong faith, and a deep sense of responsibility are the exact foundation great lawyers build careers on. Here is how to start building right now.
Build Your Reading and Writing Skills
Lawyers read constantly and write with precision. Read every book on your school's approved reading list with full attention to how arguments get structured, how characters defend their positions, and how rules shape the story. After each book, write one paragraph summarizing the central argument and one paragraph explaining what you would have done differently. This habit builds the analytical writing muscle that law school demands.
Ask your school librarian specifically for age-appropriate civics and government books on your approved list. Your librarian knows your curriculum standards and will point you to the strongest options.
Build Your Argument Skills
Ask your parents and school counselor about debate team or speech club options at your grade level. Lawyers win cases through persuasion, structure, and the ability to think clearly under pressure - debate builds all three. Your school or church may already offer youth programs that develop these skills in a safe, structured setting.
Use Your Math Strength
Strong math signals logical thinking - one of the most valued skills in law. Keep pushing yourself in advanced coursework. Lawyers who handle business law, intellectual property, and civil litigation rely on analytical precision every single day.
Get Into Mock Trial
Mock Trial programs place middle school students inside simulated courtroom cases where they argue as attorneys, examine witnesses, and present evidence - all in a fully supervised, age-appropriate setting. Ask your school counselor or a parent to search for middle school mock trial programs in Kern County. Many run through schools and youth organizations with full parental involvement built in.
Lean Into Your Faith Community
St. Johns Lutheran surrounds you with a community already grounded in values, service, and accountability - and that gives you a powerful head start. Talk to your parents and youth pastor about age-appropriate volunteer and leadership opportunities through your church. Lawyers serve people - and every act of service you complete now sharpens that instinct.
Start a Case Journal
After each class, debate practice, or approved reading, write one page answering three questions: what was the central argument, who did the rule or decision protect, and what would you have done differently. A journal you start in 7th grade and carry through high school tells a powerful story on every future application you submit.
Build Your Career from the Inside Out
The path to becoming an attorney runs through several roles that build real experience along the way. As you move through high school, talk to your parents and school counselor about age-appropriate opportunities to explore the legal field. Many programs designed for high school students provide structured exposure with proper supervision and parental consent built in.
Court reporters transcribe every word spoken in a courtroom and earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually in California. Paralegals earn between $55,000 and $80,000 and work directly alongside attorneys on research, filings, and case preparation. Legal secretaries gain daily exposure to case files, attorney strategy, and court deadlines. These are excellent entry points to explore with your parents as you move into high school and beyond.
Your school counselor can help identify structured programs that connect students with local legal professionals through school-sponsored career days, civics education events, and judge and attorney speaker programs. These school-based pathways keep everything organized, safe, and age-appropriate.
What Attorneys Earn
Entry-level attorneys in California earn between $80,000 and $100,000 annually. Public defenders and prosecutors in Kern County typically start between $75,000 and $95,000. Civil rights attorneys at nonprofit organizations earn between $55,000 and $85,000 depending on the organization's size. Private practice attorneys with five or more years of experience in California regularly earn between $130,000 and $200,000. Federal attorneys and partners at large firms earn significantly more. The legal field rewards specialization, reputation, and relationships built over time - and every step you take now contributes to all three.
The work you put in during these years builds the lawyer you are becoming. Your foundation is strong - now build deliberately on top of it.
- Dr. Hunter
References
iCivics. (2026). Free civics education platform for students.
State Bar of California. (2026). Attorney directory and member resources.
Kern County Bar Association. (2026). Local attorney directory and resources.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2026). Occupational outlook handbook: Lawyers, paralegals, and court reporters.
1. Week 1 - Visit the school librarian and check out two approved civics or government books
2. Week 2 - Start the Case Journal and write one entry after each reading session.
3. Week 3 - Meet with the school counselor (parent present) to ask about debate team, speech club, and mock trial.
4. Week 4 - Explore iCivics with a parent and complete two simulations.
5. Week 5 - Sign up for an upcoming school career day, civics event, or speaker program.
A 7th grader doing 9th grade math who has known since 2nd grade that law is the path - that kind of drive is rare, and you are already ahead of most people twice your age. A love of reading, a strong faith, and a deep sense of responsibility are the exact foundation great lawyers build careers on. Here is how to start building right now.
Build Your Reading and Writing Skills
Lawyers read constantly and write with precision. Read every book on your school's approved reading list with full attention to how arguments get structured, how characters defend their positions, and how rules shape the story. After each book, write one paragraph summarizing the central argument and one paragraph explaining what you would have done differently. This habit builds the analytical writing muscle that law school demands.
Ask your school librarian specifically for age-appropriate civics and government books on your approved list. Your librarian knows your curriculum standards and will point you to the strongest options.
Build Your Argument Skills
Ask your parents and school counselor about debate team or speech club options at your grade level. Lawyers win cases through persuasion, structure, and the ability to think clearly under pressure - debate builds all three. Your school or church may already offer youth programs that develop these skills in a safe, structured setting.
Use Your Math Strength
Strong math signals logical thinking - one of the most valued skills in law. Keep pushing yourself in advanced coursework. Lawyers who handle business law, intellectual property, and civil litigation rely on analytical precision every single day.
Get Into Mock Trial
Mock Trial programs place middle school students inside simulated courtroom cases where they argue as attorneys, examine witnesses, and present evidence - all in a fully supervised, age-appropriate setting. Ask your school counselor or a parent to search for middle school mock trial programs in Kern County. Many run through schools and youth organizations with full parental involvement built in.
Lean Into Your Faith Community
St. Johns Lutheran surrounds you with a community already grounded in values, service, and accountability - and that gives you a powerful head start. Talk to your parents and youth pastor about age-appropriate volunteer and leadership opportunities through your church. Lawyers serve people - and every act of service you complete now sharpens that instinct.
Start a Case Journal
After each class, debate practice, or approved reading, write one page answering three questions: what was the central argument, who did the rule or decision protect, and what would you have done differently. A journal you start in 7th grade and carry through high school tells a powerful story on every future application you submit.
Build Your Career from the Inside Out
The path to becoming an attorney runs through several roles that build real experience along the way. As you move through high school, talk to your parents and school counselor about age-appropriate opportunities to explore the legal field. Many programs designed for high school students provide structured exposure with proper supervision and parental consent built in.
Court reporters transcribe every word spoken in a courtroom and earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually in California. Paralegals earn between $55,000 and $80,000 and work directly alongside attorneys on research, filings, and case preparation. Legal secretaries gain daily exposure to case files, attorney strategy, and court deadlines. These are excellent entry points to explore with your parents as you move into high school and beyond.
Your school counselor can help identify structured programs that connect students with local legal professionals through school-sponsored career days, civics education events, and judge and attorney speaker programs. These school-based pathways keep everything organized, safe, and age-appropriate.
What Attorneys Earn
Entry-level attorneys in California earn between $80,000 and $100,000 annually. Public defenders and prosecutors in Kern County typically start between $75,000 and $95,000. Civil rights attorneys at nonprofit organizations earn between $55,000 and $85,000 depending on the organization's size. Private practice attorneys with five or more years of experience in California regularly earn between $130,000 and $200,000. Federal attorneys and partners at large firms earn significantly more. The legal field rewards specialization, reputation, and relationships built over time - and every step you take now contributes to all three.
The work you put in during these years builds the lawyer you are becoming. Your foundation is strong - now build deliberately on top of it.
- Dr. Hunter
References
iCivics. (2026). Free civics education platform for students.
State Bar of California. (2026). Attorney directory and member resources.
Kern County Bar Association. (2026). Local attorney directory and resources.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2026). Occupational outlook handbook: Lawyers, paralegals, and court reporters.
Suraayah recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Jacques’s Answer
It is wonderful that at such a young age you already carry a clear sense of direction, devotion, and a deep love for learning. Yet, you are asking what you can do right now for a future that is still years away. The greatest mistake human beings make is living so intensely in tomorrow that they forget how to fully inhabit today. Becoming a lawyer or fulfilling any noble purpose in life is not something that happens in a distant moment; it is the natural consequence of how deeply involved you are with the present step.
Since you are already blessed with a sharp mind for mathematics, a passion for reading, and a strong inner foundation of faith, your work right now is simply to sharpen the instrument that is you. Mathematics teaches your mind clarity and logical order; reading expands your understanding of human nature; and your faith brings balance and integrity to your spirit. Do not rush to be a lawyer in 7th grade. Instead, focus on bringing 100% of your involvement, care, and joyful dedication to your studies, your family, and your school community today. When you cultivate unshakeable competence, clarity of mind, and absolute presence right now, you lay a foundation so solid that whatever you choose to build upon it in the future will naturally flourish.
Since you are already blessed with a sharp mind for mathematics, a passion for reading, and a strong inner foundation of faith, your work right now is simply to sharpen the instrument that is you. Mathematics teaches your mind clarity and logical order; reading expands your understanding of human nature; and your faith brings balance and integrity to your spirit. Do not rush to be a lawyer in 7th grade. Instead, focus on bringing 100% of your involvement, care, and joyful dedication to your studies, your family, and your school community today. When you cultivate unshakeable competence, clarity of mind, and absolute presence right now, you lay a foundation so solid that whatever you choose to build upon it in the future will naturally flourish.
Updated
Valeria’s Answer
I honestly think you’re off to a great start! The fact that you’ve wanted to be a lawyer since 2nd grade is really cool, and your love of reading, responsibility, and trustworthiness are all qualities that can serve you well in law.
Since you’re still in 7th grade, I’d focus in building those strengths. Keep reading, work on your writing and communication skills, and if you get the chance, try things like debate, public speaking, or similar.
You have so much time to grow and explore, so enjoy the journey! You’re already building a great foundation.
Since you’re still in 7th grade, I’d focus in building those strengths. Keep reading, work on your writing and communication skills, and if you get the chance, try things like debate, public speaking, or similar.
You have so much time to grow and explore, so enjoy the journey! You’re already building a great foundation.