What You Need to Study to Become a Lawyer

All lawyers must be licensed through their state's bar association. This entails passing the comprehensive bar examination for your particular state. Since each state's bar exam covers different information, it's recommended that you take a prep course that is particular to your state's exam. In law school, you will cover a wide range of legal subjects, ranging from criminal to civil law. There are, however, specific subjects you can study prior to law school that will better prepare you to be a lawyer.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Get an undergraduate degree from a respected university. There is no mandated pre-law major, so you can choose to major in an area that interests you. English, economics, business, political science, history and social science are common majors for those who later apply to law school.

2. Aim to study a wide range of subjects while you are an undergraduate. Law schools like to see breadth your studies. If you are a science major, take several literature or arts courses, and vice versa.

3. Focus your studies on courses related to a particular area of law you wish to practice. For example, if patent law interests you, you should study engineering. If you wish to be a criminal lawyer, take several courses in the criminal justice system. If you hope to be a tax lawyer, you'll need a strong background in accounting.

4. Enroll in debate courses. Lawyers need to be well-versed in analytical thinking, and possess superior verbal skills. Debate courses will help you fine-tune your research and presentational skills, and keep you thinking on your feet.

5. Take several writing courses. A lawyer's job involves a great deal of writing. Though you'll take more detailed legal writing courses in law school, you need a background in general writing. Literature courses require you to write analytical essays on texts, thereby fostering skills that will behoove you as a lawyer. Philosophy and political science courses will also require this same type writing work.

6. Improve your reading comprehension skills. As a lawyer you'll have to read a bevy of cases and law books. You'll need to be able to read, digest and analyze information quickly. Literature, history, science and psychology courses all require this level of detailed reading comprehension.

Tips & Warnings

• Aim to get a high grade point average in your undergraduate studies. This will improve your chances of getting into a good law school. When applying to law schools, confirm that the schools are recognized by the American Bar Association.

[scatchel]

on 8/12/2009 Also, it's important to synthesize all the material from BarBri and PMBR by making mini checklists or outlines. I have posted some of mine on legallynoted.com.