How to Become a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A medical malpractice lawyer assists clients who feel that a doctor's negligence or poor performance has caused harm. Becoming a medical malpractice lawyer often requires additional legal training to understand complex medical terms and procedures. Some of the most sought-after medical malpractice lawyers are those who have become board certified in the specialty.

Instructions

1. Graduate from college with a major in pre-law or business. Take the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, and score highly.

2. Apply to the law schools that are most likely to accept you, based on your college grades and LSAT score. Study law for three years. Apply for clerkships in medical malpractice law firms. Get as much experience as possible within those firms to graduate with some practical experience.

3. Graduate from law school and take the bar exam. It is common to fail the bar exam on the first try, so if at first you fail, try it again.

4. Find a position with a law firm specializing in malpractice. The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys requires that an attorney has regular continuing education in the field of malpractice before applying for board certification.

5. Pursue board certification in medical malpractice. You must be a member in good standing of the bar association and get character references from at least three lawyers and three judges.