How to Become a Prosecuting Attorney

Prosecuting attorneys are lawyers who are responsible for bringing criminal charges against a defendant on behalf of the federal state, county or city judicial system. Prosecuting attorneys are responsible for preparing paperwork to commence a legal action and appearing at trials. While many prosecuting attorneys are hired directly by the court system, in some jurisdictions they are elected officials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a prosecutor ranged from $78,810 to $ 119,240 per year as of 2006.

Things You'll Need

• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

Instructions

1. Complete your bachelor's degree to establish a foundation for your law school coursework. To be considered for law school admissions, you must first earn your bachelor's degree. There are no specific undergraduate major requirements for a prospective prosecuting attorney, but you should choose coursework that will prepare you for law school. Suggested coursework include political science, writing, philosophy, ethics, sociology and psychology.

2. Submit your law school application materials. Before a law school will consider your application, you must take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. Along with this, you will need to compile letters of recommendation that attest to your ethics and ability to handle complex academic tasks.

3. Write your personal statement. Each law school will give you the opportunity to write a personal statement discussing your interest in pursuing a career as a prosecuting attorney. Some law schools may also grant you a personal admissions interview with an admissions official or school alum.

4. Complete your juris doctorate, focusing on criminal law. Law school takes three years of full time study to complete. After your first year of studies, you will have the opportunity to select elective courses that relate to your future career as a prosecuting attorney.

5. Develop contacts and experience through clerkships. After completing one year of law school you may work as a law clerk for a judge, prosecutor's office, public defender or private attorney. Choose clerkships that will help you develop contacts within the court system and allow you to handle criminal cases.

6. Take your state's bar exam. After completing law school, you will need to pass your state's bar examination before you will be allowed to work as a full prosecuting attorney. After you have scheduled your exam date and while you are waiting for you test results, you may be able to work for the prosecutor's office on a provisional basis.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition - Lawyers
• California District Attorney Association - What is a Prosecutor?
• Law School Admission Council - Preparing for Law School