Are you passionate about upholding ethical standards and advocating for others ? Do you thrive on the intellectual challenge of legal debates? If so, you’ve likely dreamt of the day that you can finally tell the world, “I’m an attorney.”
However, becoming a lawyer involves seven or more years of schooling after high school—not to mention passing the bar exam and meeting state-specific requirements. In the words of the iconic Elle Woods in the film “Legally Blonde”: “What, like it’s hard?”
With tenacity and passion, turning your dream of becoming a lawyer into reality is challenging but entirely achievable. Today, we’ll explore the role of a lawyer and the steps needed to embark on this career path.
What Does a Lawyer Do?
The better question is: What don’t lawyers do? Beyond prosecuting and defending criminals, many attorneys specialize in crucial areas that help us during important life events, such as buying houses, drafting wills, and handling divorce proceedings.
However, your role as a lawyer will vary based on your specialization. Before delving into some of your typical responsibilities, let’s outline some common types of lawyers:
- Corporate lawyer
- Family lawyer
- Immigration lawyer
- Intellectual property (IP) lawyer
- Litigation lawyer
- Personal injury lawyer
The specialty you choose will determine whether you spend most of your time preparing for and partaking in court proceedings and trials, but here’s a list of some typical responsibilities for most lawyers:
- Advising and representing clients in legal matters.
- Conducting research and offering counsel on legal rights and obligations.
- Drafting contracts, deeds, wills, and other legal documents.
- Negotiating settlements on behalf of clients.
- Presenting arguments in court.
- Upholding ethical standards as mandated by legal regulations.
- Mediating between disputing parties and offering alternative resolutions outside of court.
How to Become a Lawyer
Below, we discuss the general steps involved in becoming a lawyer.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
After graduating from high school, completing a four-year undergraduate program is the first step to earning your Juris Doctor (JD) degree. While there isn’t a specific major required for law school admission, certain majors can provide foundational skills necessary for your graduate studies, such as:
- Political science
- History
- English
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Finance
Step 2: Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
After earning a bachelor’s degree, you’ll begin studying for the LSAT, which measures your knowledge and readiness in four areas:
- Reading comprehension
- Analytical reasoning
- Logical reasoning
- Writing
The first three sections are multiple choice, while the writing section (as you might expect) requires a written argument on behalf of one of two competing policy options.
We recommend preparing for the LSAT while earning your bachelor’s degree. You can tailor your courseload to include courses that will strengthen your ability to think critically, argue persuasively, and analyze precisely, such as UTPB’s Introduction to Philosophy or Psychology and Law, both offered through our online BA in psychology program.
Step 3: Apply to Law Schools
After taking the LSAT, you can begin applying to the law schools of your choice. Most law schools will accept students with an LSAT score of 150, while more prestigious schools require scores of 160 or higher. Other requirements may include your undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, or a personal statement.
Step 4: Earn Your JD
It typically takes full-time students about three years to complete their JD coursework. Part-time students may extend this to four or five years.
According to U.S. News, the first year of law school is often the most demanding, as students are adapting to new and rigorous schedules. Justin Hansford, a law professor at Howard University’s School of Law, suggests that the second year offers more flexibility, allowing students to explore specialties and define their professional identity. In the third year, the focus shifts to preparing for the bar exam and entering the legal profession.
Step 5: Pass the Bar Exam
Most states offer the bar exam twice yearly, in the winter and summer. After graduating from your JD program, you’ll apply for admission to the bar and spend a few months intensely studying for the exam. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, with 25 being unscored pretest questions.
Of the 175 scored questions, there are 25 randomized questions from seven subject areas, including:
- Civil procedure
- Constitutional law
- Contracts
- Criminal law and procedure
- Evidence
- Real property
- Torts
Step 6: Complete Additional State Requirements
Depending on the state where you plan to practice, additional requirements may be necessary, such as state-specific law exams or participation in a mentorship program. Check your state’s guidelines to confirm any further requirements after passing the bar exam, and prepare for the exhilarating moment that you’re sworn in as a licensed attorney!
Start Your Journey Toward a Rewarding Legal Career
As you pursue a legal career, mastering essential skills like critical thinking, communication, negotiation, time management, and analysis is crucial. While law school refines these skills, you can build a strong foundation through one of the online bachelor’s programs offered by The University of Texas Permian Basin.
We offer several relevant online undergraduate programs that are ideal for aspiring lawyers, including:
With year-round start dates and a flexible online format, you can complete your studies at your own pace. Explore our offerings and choose the path that’s right for you.
Sources:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-lawyers
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/law/pre-law-majors/
https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/law-admissions-lowdown/articles/lsat-writing-sample-what-to-know
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/what-the-lsat-is-and-how-to-prepare
https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/how-long-is-law-school-and-what-is-it-like