4 answers
Miya
Student
Morristown, New Jersey
1
Question
Asked
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What are the requirements to become a lawyer and get into law school?
What do I need to do to help get a better chance into law school? What is law school really like? Is it always granted a job at a law firm?
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4 answers
Justine Cannon
Lawyer
3
Answers
Paso Robles, California
Updated
Justine’s Answer
I am a lawyer and found my studies in high school and college very helpful. There is a lot of writing and analysis / critical thinking required in the practice of law. In high school, I excelled in English and took advanced level courses. In undergrad, I was a Journalism major - and found the practice in concise writing was very helpful in law. Ultimately, you can major in anything in undergrad and have success in law school. But I personally find that those who either had a Liberal Arts background (writing, philosophy, political science) or some other major with technical writing experience to really excel. And as for getting into law school - it tends to be very score focused, so rock those LSATs!
Most law schools are very focused on passing the bar exam. And, as you can imagine, taking a test is not the same as being a lawyer in the real world. It is certainly important to focus on learning the knowledge needed to pass the Bar Exam (you can't be a lawyer without it), but I strongly encourage you (at least in your last year) to gain some practical knowledge. Whether that be clerking for a judge, interning for a law firm, or doing activities like Mock Trial or Moot Court. Those experiences will be invaluable at allowing you to hit the ground running after graduation.
A law firm job is definitely not guaranteed. As with getting into law school, getting a law job is very competitive. That's why putting yourself in the best possible position to get hired upon graduation is key. A successful Summer internship could lead to a post-grad job offer, so be sure to participate in job fairs your law school puts on (and do your own searching, as law schools tend to attract primarily big firm options). Law firms like Law Review participation, or some other law journal your school may offer that focuses on an area of interest (like international law or IP). And in the end, if you graduate without a job lined up, you should just take whatever comes your way that makes sense. I did contract document reviews for a while after graduation, took some short term temp jobs - and eventually the skills I learned there landed me a good job I enjoyed. All experience is good experience.
Best of luck!
Most law schools are very focused on passing the bar exam. And, as you can imagine, taking a test is not the same as being a lawyer in the real world. It is certainly important to focus on learning the knowledge needed to pass the Bar Exam (you can't be a lawyer without it), but I strongly encourage you (at least in your last year) to gain some practical knowledge. Whether that be clerking for a judge, interning for a law firm, or doing activities like Mock Trial or Moot Court. Those experiences will be invaluable at allowing you to hit the ground running after graduation.
A law firm job is definitely not guaranteed. As with getting into law school, getting a law job is very competitive. That's why putting yourself in the best possible position to get hired upon graduation is key. A successful Summer internship could lead to a post-grad job offer, so be sure to participate in job fairs your law school puts on (and do your own searching, as law schools tend to attract primarily big firm options). Law firms like Law Review participation, or some other law journal your school may offer that focuses on an area of interest (like international law or IP). And in the end, if you graduate without a job lined up, you should just take whatever comes your way that makes sense. I did contract document reviews for a while after graduation, took some short term temp jobs - and eventually the skills I learned there landed me a good job I enjoyed. All experience is good experience.
Best of luck!
Baljit Gill
Lawyer paralegal
127
Answers
Milpitas, California
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hi Miya,
To become a lawyer you need to do your post graduate law degree. After that you would need to pass the state bar. To get into law school you need to be an all rounder type of student: volunteering, internships and summer jobs if you can manage school on top of those.
Law school requires lot of reading and analysis, on top of long essays and assignments. Moot court is also required. So you would need to be confident and know the law.
To get a job at the end is to gain as much experience in the legal field as you can while in law school. Network as much as you can while at law school too (professors, students and/ or admin)
To become a lawyer you need to do your post graduate law degree. After that you would need to pass the state bar. To get into law school you need to be an all rounder type of student: volunteering, internships and summer jobs if you can manage school on top of those.
Law school requires lot of reading and analysis, on top of long essays and assignments. Moot court is also required. So you would need to be confident and know the law.
To get a job at the end is to gain as much experience in the legal field as you can while in law school. Network as much as you can while at law school too (professors, students and/ or admin)
Thank you for the advice, Baljit.
Miya
Mary Rebekah Fritz-Gonzalez
Compliance
11
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Mary Rebekah’s Answer
Good morning! To become a lawyer you have to attend undergrad (an estimated 4 years) and then law school (an estimated 3 years). Law school is a lot of reading and writing, but little practical law. I recommend to ensure getting a job you partake in internships and anything that gets your experience. I went to law school part time and worked at a law firm full time. When I graduated, I had more practical knowledge and I was able to leverage that to get a good offer.
Mackenzie Ward
associate
103
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Mackenzie’s Answer
In order to qualify for application, you must first complete a four-year bachelor's degree from a recognized college. The American Bar Association (ABA) doesn't recommend or require any specific course of study. If your undergrad has a pre-law program or pre-law classes, taking some of those courses is a great way to get some pre-law school exposure and confirm you are interested in the career path.
Take the pre-entrance LSAT exam. The Law School Aptitude Test, better known as the LSAT, is a super important part of your law school admissions package. The LSAT is multiple choice, with five sections that you have 35 minutes each to complete. It tests your reading comprehension, your logic, and your ability to strategize under time restraints — all skills you need as a lawyer. There are free test prep materials as well as classes or programs you can sign up for.
Attend an ABA approved law school. Law school is three years. There are certain required courses such as contracts, property, legal writing, constitutional law, and so on that you generally take your first year.
After graduating from law school, you will sit for the Bar Exam. The Bar Exam is similar to the LSAT in that it is an aptitude test but it will test you on legal topics that you learned in law school. There are number of other requirements such as a character and fitness application, getting fingerprinted and a background check, and taking a professional responsibility exam, but your law school will guide you through these steps as you get closer.
I graduated from law school and took the bar last year and am just finishing my first of practicing law. It’s a challenging career but very fun and rewarding! I encourage you to continue asking questions on forums like these. Best of luck!
Take the pre-entrance LSAT exam. The Law School Aptitude Test, better known as the LSAT, is a super important part of your law school admissions package. The LSAT is multiple choice, with five sections that you have 35 minutes each to complete. It tests your reading comprehension, your logic, and your ability to strategize under time restraints — all skills you need as a lawyer. There are free test prep materials as well as classes or programs you can sign up for.
Attend an ABA approved law school. Law school is three years. There are certain required courses such as contracts, property, legal writing, constitutional law, and so on that you generally take your first year.
After graduating from law school, you will sit for the Bar Exam. The Bar Exam is similar to the LSAT in that it is an aptitude test but it will test you on legal topics that you learned in law school. There are number of other requirements such as a character and fitness application, getting fingerprinted and a background check, and taking a professional responsibility exam, but your law school will guide you through these steps as you get closer.
I graduated from law school and took the bar last year and am just finishing my first of practicing law. It’s a challenging career but very fun and rewarding! I encourage you to continue asking questions on forums like these. Best of luck!