There are so many different options when considering a future career. If you have good analytical skills, are a good communicator, and have been praised on your people skills, you may want to consider a career in law. If this is something that interests you, the next question is how to go about becoming an attorney.
Law is a remarkably interesting subject offering many branches to specialize in. You could aim to become a corporate lawyer working with a big multinational or an immigration attorney like those at Graham Adair (https://grahamadair.com/), who specialize in all areas of immigration law.
Why Become a Lawyer?
Law is a complex subject with many different specialties, which creates a multitude of career opportunities for those who choose to study in this field. The subject is fascinating with no two cases being the same, so you would no doubt be kept interested and challenged on a daily basis. As already mentioned, you could choose an area that you find most interesting, but you could always move to another area of law should you want to diversify your services.
A career in law is also a lucrative one. Those who work in the industry earn some of the highest salaries in the United States, with associates in many of the top law firms earning salaries of at least six figures. Partners can add another zero, at least. Something also worth mentioning is that law is an evergreen industry in that people are always going to need lawyers. Even when the rest of the world is suffering an economic slump, there is room for lawyers to make money.
How to Get into Law
Now that you are interested in becoming a lawyer, it is worth pointing out that this is by no means an easy feat. To qualify as a lawyer, you will need to work extremely hard and be prepared to commit to at least seven years of school.
Before you can study to become a lawyer, you must have a bachelor’s degree, although there is no specific subject that this degree should be in. The ABA (American Bar Association) accepts students to law school from almost every area of study.
Once you have acquired an undergraduate degree, you will need to apply to law school and pass the LSAT (Law School Administration Test). The LSAT is designed to measure the skills of candidates in key areas such as reading, comprehension, critical thinking, information management, and reasoning.
Once the LSAT has been passed, you will need to apply to a law school. Each school will have its own set of entry criteria in addition to completion of an undergraduate degree and specific LSAT scores. You might need a letter of recommendation as well as some community service and affiliation to various organizations.
Law school students will work towards a Juris Doctor degree, during which time they will choose their area of interest within the legal profession. It typically takes three years to complete a Juris Doctor. After you have this and before you can practice law, you will need to pass the state bar examination.
Summary
Law is an interesting and lucrative career choice with many benefits and the opportunity to specialize in an area that appeals to you most. To become a lawyer in the U.S., you will need to study for a minimum of seven years. You must obtain a bachelor’s degree before you can apply to law school after which you will spend three years securing a Juris Doctor. Thereafter, the state bar examination must be passed before you can practice.