- Paralegals have a great advantage over regular students when it comes to pursuing a career as a lawyer. Years of experience in law help paralegals understand legal terminology and proceedings better than the average law student. However, even paralegals have to go through the same process as regular students to become lawyers.
- The road to becoming a lawyer starts with getting a bachelor's degree. Depending on how the paralegal trained, she may already have a good amount of transferable credit towards gaining a bachelors degree. It is common for paralegals to already have an associate degree, leaving them with only two or three years to complete their bachelor's. Any bachelor's degree will qualify you to sit for the LSAT. Paralegals have a great advantage over traditional students when it comes to their education. Not only do paralegals have a wealth of people to help with questions on assignments and projects, but some law firms may also cover all or part of the cost of continuing your education.
- Once you have graduated with a bachelor's degree you will need to sit for the Law School Admissions Test or LSAT. This test consists of multiple choice and essay questions that assess your ability to succeed in law school. Paralegals have the advantage of using law libraries and software programs such as Lexis Nexis to prepare. Using these advantages can help a paralegal achieve a higher score on their LSAT. Higher scores can then open up more options for law school.
- Once you have finished your LSAT you will need to apply to law schools. Law school admissions are incredibly competitive, so scoring high on your LSAT and having an optimal GPA are the best ways to secure a seat. Your experience as a paralegal should also be highlighted in any essays or applications that you fill out. This will show potential law schools that you already have a firm grasp on law topics, putting you at an advantage over other students. Once accepted, law school lasts at least three years.
- Once you have graduated from law school, you must pass the bar exam. This exam is usually administered by the National Council of Bar Examiners, though it may vary from state to state. The exam usually includes the Multistate Essay Examination, the Multistate Performance Test, the Multistate Bar Examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.
- After you have passed the bar exam you will also be required to submit a character and fitness evaluation. This exam goes far beyond a typical background check and includes information such as your credit score, criminal history, traffic fines and even your medical history.
