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Law

Program Description

Just the Facts

Law. A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of law, for taking state and national bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of the legal system, including the statutory, administrative, and judicial components of civil and criminal law.

This program is available in these options:

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • Doctoral degree

High School Courses

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this career cluster:

See the high school courses recommended for programs in this pathway:



Additional Information

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

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.