Television shows like Law & Order can make law careers look very exciting.
However, Hollywood is not the right place to look for legal career mentoring.
Instead, it's a good idea to talk to people working as lawyers in the real
world.
"Try to spend some time with real lawyers to see what they do," suggests
Sarah C. Zearfoss. She is the assistant dean and director of admissions at
the University of Michigan Law School.
In order to become a lawyer, you will have to study hard for years. You
may face intense competition at every step. It's a big commitment in time
and money, so you don't want to base your future on a favorite television
show.
The first step towards becoming a lawyer is earning an undergraduate degree.
A degree is required to qualify for admission to law school.
"You have to do very well at your undergraduate studies. It doesn't matter
what subject you choose as an undergraduate, but you do have to get very good
marks," says Jim Phillips. He is a law professor.
Step two is to get admitted to a law school. This is easier said than done,
as admission to law school is extremely competitive. "We receive almost 6,000
applications for about 350 seats," reports Zearfoss. "But even if you go want
a less selective law school, the process is still challenging."
The law school must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)
or the proper state authorities. There are almost 200 law schools accredited
by the ABA to choose from.They all require applicants to take the LSAT. The
LSAT is a standardized test that measures your reading and verbal reasoning
skills.
There are other schools that are approved by state authorities and their
admissions requirements may differ. Be sure to research the requirements for
the schools you're interested in.
Step three is to graduate from law school. This is no small feat either,
as the program is very challenging.
Law schools have a three-year curriculum. First-year classes cover civil
procedure, contracts, criminal, torts, property, constitutional and legal
research and writing. The remaining two years are devoted to courses in a
specific area of the law. Some choices include tax, corporate, real estate,
dispute settlements and bankruptcy law.
In the U.S., law school graduates receive the Doctor of Jurisprudence or
Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Once you finish law school, the fourth step is to become licensed as a
lawyer. Law societies grant the licenses to lawyers and without membership
you may not practice law. You must be licensed or admitted to the bar of the
state in which you want to practice.
To be admitted to the bar, you must pass a bar examination. This is a difficult
two- or three-day test. In most states, there is a separate ethics exam.
There is no nationwide bar examination.
There are exceptions to most rules, so be sure to check out the specifics
for your state.
"At every step, there are people who don't make it," says Zearfoss. "Just
remember, it's a long-distance run -- don't drive yourself too crazy about
it too soon."
Tuition for law school can be very expensive, so you must do a lot of research
before committing to the investment. For students at the top of their class,
law school can pay off fast with high first-year salaries for lawyers.
"You need to look really carefully at what jobs are available to the graduates
of the law school you're considering. What firms come to interview at the
school? What firms have hired recent graduates? How do people in the bottom
half of the class do in the job market?" Zearfoss recommends asking.
Work on the two skills that are repeatedly called upon in law school: reading
and writing. Always question what you're reading, says Zearfoss. She adds
that lawyers need to be skeptical.
"For classes, try to take the most challenging courses your high school
offers," says Zearfoss. "Being a lawyer involves a lot of hard work, and capacity
for hard work is really just a habit you develop -- high school is the right
time to start thinking about developing that habit."
To get a real-world experience in law, she suggests getting a job in a
law office doing clerical work or as a runner. You can also volunteer for
a law-related nonprofit organization or contact your local Bar Association
to ask for advice on how you can get involved in legal organizations. Join
your high school's mock trial group or get involved in activities that allow
you to take a leadership role.
"Bottom-line, do something," says Zearfoss. "Facebook groups don't count
as extracurricular."
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Lawyers
Law School Admissions Council
For information on the LSAT and on choosing a law school
The American Bar Association
It's the voice for the American legal profession, and it accredits
law schools