How to Become a Lawyer

How to Become a Lawyer How to Become a Lawyer Becoming a lawyer may be a dream job for many. But it is actually not an easy task to get into this profession. Anybody who is interested in getting into law profession needs to fulfill several requirements. Apart from taking a minimum of four years of college and three years of law school you also need to take certain tests that decide whether you are eligible to practice law or not. Here is an outline that will help you know what it takes to become a lawyer.

Instructions

The very first thing you need to do is learn about the requirements of the profession. Get to know from the practicing lawyers what it means to be a member of the legal profession. Learn about their nature of work as well as complexities and challenges that they often face in their profession. All these information gained from experienced lawyer will help you decide if you are really apt and willing to take up the law profession.
Once you make up your mind about choosing law profession, get a 4-year undergraduate degree from a recognized institute. Also make sure to score high Grade Point Average (GPA) in your graduation because it will play an important role in getting into a law school.
Take the Law School Admissions Test, better known as the LSAT. It is a pre-test that will decide whether you are suitable for getting admission to a law school. It is not an easy test, so prepare well. You can either go for prep course or simply purchase relevant books, tapes or other self-testing material for your LSAT preparation.
Apply to more than one law school, as it is quite possible that you may not get admission in the institute you applied. Go for a law school that is recognized by ABA (American Bar Association). However, the accreditation of law schools may vary from state to state.
Once you get admission to a law school, you will complete your law course in three years. You will also be required to choose a specialized area for which you will receive a Juris Doctor, or J.D. degree. During your study course try to participate in extracurricular activities like Bar Review, internships or even writing for a campus law journal. This will help you in future when you will be out of law school, hunting for a job.
Pass the state Bar association exams. Every state has its own testing protocols and requirements so find out the requirements of the state in which you want to practice law. However, most states use exam materials provided by the National Council of Bar Examiners. The required tests generally include Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
You also need to pass the Character and Fitness evaluation. The applicants to the bar in most states undergo Character and Fitness Investigation that is usually conducted by the National Council of Bar Examiners. This evaluation process may not be pleasing but it is a necessary step that one needs to undergo in order to practice law.
Now you can prepare a well structured and informative resume that highlights your experience and skills. Start looking for a job as a lawyer!