How to Become a Lawyer in the United States
More then 70% of the world's attorneys practice in the U.S. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), most of the country's 1,130,000 lawyers are graduates of one the 185 U.S. law schools. Since 2005, applications to law school have been on the decline, easing the competition slightly. If you're intrigued by the intricacies of the law and committed to life long study, a career as an attorney may be ideal.
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Instructions
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U.S. Law Schools
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1
Complete a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution. Focus on a major field of study like history, political science, English or pre-law. Cultivate skills in reading, writing and critical thinking.
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2
Schedule and sit for the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT) late in your junior year of college. Create a comprehensive study plan that covers the 90 days leading up to the exam date. (See Resources below.) Organize other pre-law candidates and form a study group.
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3
Visit the websites of the target law schools. Look for "incoming freshmen profile" in the Admissions area for information about average GPA, LSAT score, college major and other demographics. Gauge the competition.
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4
Narrow the field of target law schools and have the LSAT scores forwarded to the schools. Submit applications to schools where academic performance, credentials and recommendations make for a viable candidacy.
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5
Re-take the LSAT when the scores are substandard. Consider taking a prep course that guarantees improvement in the scores. Apply all the recommendations of the prep course, including pointers for sleep, exercise and nutrition.
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6
Gain admission to an accredited school of law. Complete the course work and requirements for graduation. Undertake extracurricular activities that focus on the desired sub-specialty of the law.
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7
Clerk for a law office or a judge throughout the school year. Leverage an impressive performance into a paying position over the summer and/or a job offer following graduation.
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8
Sit for the state American Bar Association (ABA) exam and pass it. Proceed according to the law in the state regarding new attorneys. Apply for additional state licenses as required by the practice.
Training Outside the U.S.
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9
Establish permanent residence in the U.S. or acquire the appropriate work visas for temporary residency. Determine the location in which to practice law.
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10
Petition the state bar for a review of credentials, education and other licenses. Take additional courses at an accredited U.S. law school as recommended or required by the state bar. Request permission to sit for the bar exam upon successful review.
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11
Prepare for the bar exam. Consider a Law Review course to cover points of law specific to the U.S. Establish a mentor relationship with a local attorney for guidance and support.
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12
Sit for the bar exam. Be sworn in as practicing attorney upon successful completion of the bar exam and approval by the state bar.
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Tips & Warnings
While there are no requirements for the undergraduate major field of study, those listed in Step 1 are most popular among 78% of law school applicants.
At this time, California is the only state that will allow a graduate of an online law school to sit for the state bar.
