The path to become a lawyer culminates to three simple academic steps: high school, college, and then law school. Becoming a lawyer requires a lot of schooling and takes a great amount of determination. Since this is a daunting task, we broke it down into three concrete steps. No matter if you’re in high school, college, or studying law at the moment, the following advice can help you on your journey.
High School
It doesn’t hurt to start thinking about your future in law before college. This is the time to ponder what kind of law interests you the most. Consider collegiate schools or universities that offer pre-law or have a law school. It’s not imperative for you to decide your law future just yet, but having the idea in mind will be helpful as you enter college.
In the meantime, focus on the major you’re intending to pick for college. There’s no required degree law students study, but Political Science and English are two popular degrees future lawyers pick.
College
Once you’ve been selected in the school of your choice, it’s now time to think about majors. As mentioned above, the major does not matter for law school. Law schools look to see if you have a bachelor’s degree. Once you’ve selected your major of choice, focus any potential law school efforts on extracurricular activities. Not only will it help your social life, but it will help you acclimate to university life as well as immerse you in different organizations pertaining to your legal future. Joining clubs like student government will not only help your law application but also enrich your collegiate life.
While in college, it’s a good idea to start prepping for the LSAT. The LSAT is the admission test taken in order to attend law school. It never hurts to start prepping junior year of college so you’re ready for the exam your last year of college.
Law School
After acing the LSAT and getting your bachelor’s degree, the next step to becoming a lawyer is enrolling in law school. Generally speaking, law school is a three-year course of study to prepare for the Bar Exam in the state you long to practice in. The first year, also known as 1L, is considered the most difficult since you’re spending hours reading cases and studying vigorously most nights.
Summer internships are highly important during law school, according to Vault.com. Interning is a great way to immerse yourself in your field of choice. If you’re lucky, your internship may turn into an associateship for later summers, and hopefully a full-time job after law school.
These internships will also help you decide what you aren’t interested in in terms of law. What field you thought you wanted may not be the perfect fit for you. This will help you during law school as you navigate your future field.
Once law school is finished and you pass the Bar, it’s time to graduate. From there on, you can practice law in the state you reside in.
