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How long would I have to go to college to be a lawyer?

How many years or what are the best schools and how long to finish your degree.

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Michael’s Answer

Hi Anna:

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. 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

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. 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 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, 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.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships

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.

Best wishes for your education and career path as a Lawyer!
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Clarke’s Answer

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't plan to be, but I can speak to what your schooling would look like if this is a career you decide to pursue. Generally, it would take 4 years to complete your undergraduate degree. This degree could be in anything, but most who want to go to law school choose Political Science, History, English, or Criminal Justice as their undergraduate major. You can get into law school with just about any major if you do well enough on the LSAT, which is a standardized entrance exam for law school. After that, Law School generally takes about three years, and then if you pass your state's Bar Exam, you're a lawyer! Hope this helps.
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Brian’s Answer

If you're thinking about stepping into the world of law, a little bit of research can go a long way in helping you find the area of law that really sparks your curiosity. The "Discover Law" platform by the Law School Admission Council is a great place to start. It offers a peek into a lawyer's life and tips on how to gear up for law school. There are a variety of specializations such as maritime law, family law, sports and entertainment law, corporate law, real estate law, immigration law, criminal law, and intellectual property law, to name a few. The journey to becoming a lawyer typically involves getting a bachelor's degree (usually a four-year course, though some states like California don't insist on this) and attending law school (usually a three-year course, depending on the school).

Step 1: Get the Right Education
The first step on your journey to becoming a lawyer is finishing high school and earning a bachelor's degree. Courses in social sciences can be quite helpful as they help you understand society better and improve your people skills. It's also a good idea to take courses that enhance your analytical abilities, like philosophy or STEM subjects, since logical reasoning is a key part of legal work.

Step 2: Take the Law School Admission Test
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test that ranks students for law school admissions. It's an objective way to assess the knowledge and potential of applicants (though its effectiveness in predicting law school success is debatable). You'll need to take this test before you apply to law school.

Step 3: Apply to Law Schools
Once you've got your undergraduate degree, you can either apply to law school straight away or take a little break. Most schools look at a combination of your overall GPA, the courses you took in college, and your LSAT scores when reviewing applications. They might also consider other things like community service, membership in organizations, and recommendation letters from teachers, alumni, or legal professionals. The "Discover Law" platform by the Law School Admission Council is a treasure trove of information, including rankings of the best law schools, which can change over time.
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Job’s Answer

You will need to first get a 4 year degree, preferably in philosophy, logic or social studies. Join the debate team in college. You will then have to take the LSAT. Try to take a preparatory class for the test for the LSAT.
Law School is anywhere from 3 years to six years. I did it in 3.
Good luck
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