Choosing a college for himself, everyone should strive not only to enter a prestigious university with a good reputation, but also to choose the most suitable educational institution specifically for himself.
First of all, for this it is important to understand what kind of education you are interested in and what kind of career you want to build. The answers to these questions will help you understand how to prepare for admission, study and achieve your goal.
A lawyer is one of the most popular professions, since specialists in this profile play an important role throughout our life: they help with paperwork (including rent and mortgage), patent registration, and dispute resolution in court. There are many specializations in the legal profession, each of which can be a student’s goal. It doesn’t matter if you want to become a communications lawyer or criminal lawyer, it will all depend on such skills as critical thinking, the ability to provide qualified legal advice that will affect the life of another person and his future actions. Lawyers do this in the courtroom, defending their clients, others work as advisers, and the work of others does not involve appearing in court at all.
Testmaxprep.com has a very detailed article on what is communication law and how to become a communications lawyer.
Source: The Balance Careers
Where can a lawyer work?
In both criminal and civil law, there are many places to build a career:
- Law firms are one of the most common places of work for a lawyer. Such a firm can consist of two people or several hundred specialists. They can specialize in different areas: criminal, corporate, real estate, work with patents, etc. In large firms, the workload usually varies between 60-80 hours per week, but there are also organizations with more employment. Most law graduates work in firms first to gain experience and then go to other organizations.
- In-house lawyer – Some organizations enter into contracts with outside law firms that protect their interests, but others prefer to hire an in-house lawyer to advise and handle cases locally.
- Public Defender – work in public organizations is aimed at helping marginalized groups. A lawyer can defend the interests of specific people, work at a public clinic, or pursue his interests in such large organizations as the ACLU. Some lawyers from private firms are volunteers in this activity.
- In government bodies – at all levels from local to federal there is work for lawyers. These are consultants, ordinary employees, prosecutors, clerks, judges and other specialists. Many politicians began their careers in the field of law.
Source: Entrepreneur
How to become a lawyer?
High school
You should think about how to become a lawyer in the United States already in high school and actively prepare for admission to a specialized faculty. It is advisable to think over the specialization in which you would like to develop. This will help you come up with a clear plan and follow it, and, therefore, achieve success. This way you can choose the most suitable programs and the most suitable university, which will give the best training in a specific area of law.
It is also important to understand that some law schools ask for data not only about college but also about high school, so it is better to have the highest grades and achievements that will help you stand out from other candidates.
Source: incubxperts
College
College admissions and course choices must include those required for further admission to law school. However, remember that during this period of your life you have the right to study whatever you want. Improve your erudition, improve your critical and analytical thinking skills, research activities and more what you may need in your career.
Regardless of your college majors, there are three factors that will come into play when entering law school:
- GPA,
- LSAT (or GRE),
- extracurricular activities.
The GPA and test scores will show your academic level in the context of a particular institution and nationwide. And extracurricular activities will show your interests and hobbies.
The LSAT is the universal, standardized test for law school admission, and the GRE is the general exam for graduate students. Some law schools have begun to accept the results as well, in order to offer more flexible conditions for applicants. This test is suitable for those who have not decided on their further path: law school or master’s degree. But, if you are clearly confident that you will go to law school, it is better to take the LSAT. To prepare for this test, some students take private courses, others take on their own. It is difficult and unusual, includes logic puzzles and questions and requires serious preparation. You can only take it four times a year, so plan ahead to be able to take it again.
Source: levinsonlawgroup
Law School
After successfully passing all the tests and doing extensive work, you still ended up in the law school of your dreams. What awaits you here? The US law school typically offers a three-year course of study, culminating in a Bar Exam in the state in which you intend to practice.
The first year is usually the hardest for students. They spend hours reading cases, studying materials, and preparing to analyze cases in the classroom. Study groups are formed that help to study all the material. In most cases, grades are awarded based on the results of the final exam at the end of the year.
It is better to spend summer vacations by training in a company in the area of interest. This will provide an opportunity to return there for an internship next year. Getting on this internship is not easy – you will need to go through an interview in several stages, but sometimes some companies themselves invite students for interviews, even in other cities. Regular internships will allow you to build connections and apply for a position on the staff after graduation.
Source: attorneyatlawmagazine
Is it worth it?
Even before graduation, talented and hardworking graduates get jobs in prestigious companies. Firms are interested in finding young specialists who can be trained “for themselves” and pay less. But even those who did not end up in a barrel of honey will not be left without work. According to statistics, there are 4 lawyers for every 1000 Americans, and they do not sit idle largely due to the level of income: not a single major event in the life of an American is resolved without the participation of a lawyer, at least indirectly.
