How to Be a Criminal Defense Attorney

How to become a criminal lawyer

In today's society, lawyers are needed for a variety of tasks, including defending those accusd of crimes. With the prison population steadily escalating, the demand for criminal defense lawyers grows. The road to becoming a criminal defense attorney requires certain steps.

Instructions

1. Complete an undergraduate degree. People who want to become criminal defense attorneys often study criminal justice, sociology or psychology. Ask an adviser about taking criminal justice electives. During the summer, apply to a court or criminal defense firm to learn about the daily life of an attorney. Inquire about internships at the local, state or federal level.

2. Study for and pass the Law School Admission Test. It consists of three parts that will test your analytical, logical and reading comprehension skills. Apply to a reputable American Bar Association-approved law school.

3. Pick criminal law as your concentration in law school. Sign up for criminal moot courts and clinics. Send resumes out during the school year for internships at district courts or law firms. Join a school-sponsored criminal attorney club. Start and complete your ABA application. After you graduate, prepare for and pass the bar examination.

4. Search for employment at a courthouse as an assistant district attorney or court clerk. Learn the statutes in your jurisdiction. Find a position, preferably in litigation, that will give you experience as a criminal defense lawyer. Seek employment at law firms that specialize in criminal defense.

References

• ABA: Getting a Law Degree
• LawCrossing: Job Opportunities in Criminal Law