How to Get Into Law

The study of law is a rigorous intellectual challenge. Lawyers must be able to absorb and comprehend large amounts of written information, analyze the reasoning of arguments, synthesize multifaceted factual information, and communicate clearly in speech and writing. While a variety of clerical, service and paralegal occupations revolve around the legal profession, the only person who can actually practice law is a certified lawyer.

Instructions

1. Get an undergraduate degree. The entrance requirements of law schools vary, but most expect to see a bachelor's degree from a four-year institution. The major or focus of study doesn't necessarily have to be law-related, but most schools will consider the relative difficulty of the major when evaluating your GPA.

2. Take the LSAT. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day, standardized test that's given nationwide roughly every three months. It is an almost universal requirement for entrance to a law school. Registering for the test requires creating an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which serves as a data hub for generating and sending law school applications.

3. Go to law school. By tradition, law school is a three-year course of study that begins with an intensive overview of various legal areas, followed by two years of more focused studies. Many law students gain valuable experience in school by working for judges, law firms, clinics or public interest groups as part of their studies. Though law schools are ranked overall, students should choose a school whose strengths lie in their intended field of practice.

4. Get other qualifications. As an alternative to law school, many states allow individuals to attempt the bar exam based on other qualifications. While this is very rare, these other qualifications include study in a law office, correspondence study and graduation from unaccredited schools.

5. Pass the bar. Only individuals admitted to a state bar association are licensed to practice law. Each state has its own bar exam, though some use a standard test that is required for admission. In addition to the exam, you must submit an application and possibly conduct an interview with the bar association, and meet various requirements, including personal integrity and ethics.

Tips & Warnings

• Most students eventually practice law in the region where they attended law school, so this should be taken into consideration when choosing a school. A minority of law school graduates, if they never pass the bar, are still able to find work in the legal profession doing most of the work of an attorney within a firm or company, but not officially representing clients or giving formal legal opinions.

References

• Getting Started in Law
• Admission to the Bar: General Information

Resources

• Lawyers and Their Skills
• Permitted Means of Legal Study
• The Bar Examination