. Becoming a lawyer is a challenging, exciting, and rewarding career.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best ways to get started on your path to becoming a lawyer in the United States. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right law school to passing your bar exam and finding employment after graduation.
A law degree is one of the most versatile degrees available. In addition to practicing law, you can pursue careers as paralegals, corporate counsel and attorneys in government agencies.
There are many different paths to becoming a lawyer, but they all require hard work and dedication. The first step to becoming a lawyer is deciding whether you are ready for the commitment of law school and passing the bar exam. If you have the aptitude for legal studies and can handle the academic requirements of law school, then read on for steps on how to become a lawyer.
Step 1: Understand What It Takes to Become a Lawyer
Step 2: Choose Between an Unaccredited School or Traditional Legal Education
Step 3: Apply for Admission into Law School
Step 4: Complete Your Legal Education and Graduate from Law School
Step 5: Take an Exam to Obtain Your Juris Doctor Degree (Attorneyship)
Step 6: Pass the Bar Exam
Becoming a lawyer is a lengthy process that requires a significant investment of time and money. The law can be a rewarding and lucrative career choice, but it’s not for everyone.
The first step to becoming a lawyer is to decide whether you want to become an attorney or paralegal. Both jobs require similar skill sets, but they differ in terms of salary, job duties and education requirements.
If you’re ready to start your journey toward becoming an attorney, follow these steps:
Step 1: Get Your Bachelor’s Degree
There are many paths toward becoming a lawyer in the United States. Most states require that you earn a bachelor’s degree before applying to law school, although there are limited exceptions for students who have already completed their undergraduate studies abroad or on campus at another institution in the U.S. It’s also possible to earn an associate degree from some community colleges after high school graduation, though this path often requires two years of study at a four-year institution before moving on to law school. Earning your bachelor’s degree will provide you with the necessary skills for success in graduate school and in your early law career as well as give you valuable insight into what kind of work interests you most beforehand
The path to becoming a lawyer can be daunting. It requires a lot of time, commitment and effort. But if you’re willing to put in the work, there are plenty of opportunities for lawyers across a wide range of specialties.
The American Bar Association estimates that there were 1,082,500 lawyers in the U.S. in 2016. That’s more than double the number of lawyers just two decades ago. With so many attorneys out there, competition is fierce — but when you choose this path, you’ll have opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives every single day.
If you’re ready to take the first steps toward becoming an attorney, here’s what you need to know
