How Hard Is It to Become a Lawyer?
Becoming a lawyer requires years of schooling and exams, and following certification, a career as an attorney most likely will entail long hours and hard work. But all that is worth it to those who are striving for a juris doctorate, as many students will tell you that they love the law and desire to uphold justice---a noble pursuit that is worthy of the effort involved to enter into a legal profession. The following steps are required to become an attorney.
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LSAT
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Studying for the Law School Admissions Test, commonly known as the LSAT, usually begins in your junior year of college. Those who choose to attend law school later in life should take the exam in December if considering entrance in the fall. The Law School Admissions Council reports that the test lasts for half a day. It consists of five sections, one of which is not counted toward the score of the test taker. The exam tests reading comprehension, logic and analytical skills. Scores range between 120 and 180, with the average being a score of around 150. To view a sample LSAT test, see the Resources section below.
Admissions
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Factors that determine entrance into law school are a student's college GPA, LSAT score and personal statement. Some law schools have more stringent admissions than others. The higher the school is ranked, the more difficult it is to gain admission. Yale Law School, for example, admits only 6.9 percent of applicants and ranks as No. 1 in "U.S. News and World Report." On the other hand, Tier Four schools (those that rank lowest) have a higher admissions rate. Hamline, a fourth-tier school, has an acceptance rate of 48 percent. See the Resources section below for a list of law school rankings. A further consideration is the cost to apply: In 2009, the cost of applying to law school is around $50 to $75 per school.
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Attendance
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Once admitted, you spend three very rigorous years in law school. The law school experience is mixed: Many find it a torturous boot camp, but others have stated that the time spent at law school was among their best years. Many professors are especially tough on first-year students to weed out those who came to school with the wrong intentions (e.g., "my family expects me to go"). Law school requires students to maintain meticulous outlines of course material as well as read copious amounts of case law. Usually, only one test is administered per class at the end of the semester to test proficiency.
Internship
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Students intern each summer, but in the second year, internships are especially critical. A student hired by a firm as an intern is usually hired by that firm following graduation. Getting an interview at a prestigious firm is a stressful but exciting experience: Many firms will wine and dine students to show them a glimpse of the high life as an attorney. Students can still get hired after graduation, but many desire the security of knowing their employer as they go into their final year.
Bar Exam
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After graduation and gaining employment, students must take the bar in order to be licensed to practice law. Each state has a different exam, with some exams harder than others. The New York and California bar exams are known to be particularly difficult. Some employers pay students to take a bar exam course to prepare. The test lasts for two to three days and consists of essay questions. Many students must repeat the bar exam.
Considerations
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The difficulty does not stop after certification. Long hours are expected from new attorneys. It is not uncommon for lawyers to take work home with them, either. Despite the difficulty involved in becoming an attorney, the profession can be highly rewarding, as well as high paying.
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