What Does It Take To Become A Lawyer?

Lawyers are licensed legal practitioners that advocate in court on behalf of clients. A lawyer can also perform his or her legal duties outside of the courtroom. The process of becoming a lawyer is challenging and takes many years to complete. However, there are not many careers that offer more rewards.

Undergraduate Degree

The first step in the process to become a lawyer is to earn a four-year degree. Most law schools are not particularly interested in the field of study for your four-year degree. However, you should do your best to obtain a decent GPA to improve your probability of being accepted to the law school of your choice.

An exception to this rule is individuals who wish to become property lawyers must first earn a bachelors degree in a technical science like chemistry, electrical engineering, or computer science.

Law School Admissions Test

A decent score on the LSAT is a fundamental requirement before law school admission is possible. The reading and verbal reasoning skill of a potential law school student are two abilities measured by the LSAT. While the LSAT is not a perfect predictor of how a student will perform while attending law school, it weighs heavily for the purpose of admissions. On the bright side, a high score on the LSAT can be just the thing to gain law school admission for a student with a subpar GPA.

Law Degree

A law degree will be necessary to qualify you to take the bar exam in most cases. Each law school you consider will have their own standards for admissions and graduation requirements. Typically, an undergraduate degree along with a good GPA and decent LSAT score is sufficient to provide you with a good chance to be accepted by the law school of your choice.

Full-time students can finish law school in three years. It can take quite a bit longer for students that attend law school part-time.

MPRE

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination is an ethics exam that prospective lawyers must take before sitting for the bar exam. The examination contains 60 questions and will take approximately two hours to complete. The test is offered three times a year and only the states of Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, and Maryland do not require the ethics examination before taking the bar exam.

Pass The Bar Exam

The final step in the process of becoming a lawyer is passing the bar exam. This is no easy feat. In some states, the pass rate is as low as 40 percent. Both multiple choice and essay questions will be part of the bar exam. The test will measure the aspiring lawyer’s knowledge of the laws of the state in which they wish to practice, as well as, their abilities to comprehend and apply those laws.

The road to becoming a lawyer can seem long and difficult at times. But the rewards that come from staying the course and fighting through adversity are more than worth the trouble. If you believe a career as a lawyer is for you, following the steps above will provide you with the best chance of realizing this goal.