How Much Schooling Do I Need to Become a Bankruptcy Lawyer?
Attorneys need several years of schooling to practice law. Lawyers must graduate from an undergraduate program, earn a law degree and possibly pursue a specialty degree in a specific area of the law. Most bankruptcy lawyers focus their second and third years of law school on learning bankruptcy principles, although some obtain additional education in programs dedicated to bankruptcy law.
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Undergraduate Study
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Four years of undergraduate study and successful completion of a bachelor’s degree is required for admission to law school. Many universities do not have a “pre-law” degree or curriculum, but most four-year colleges offer prospective law students guidance on courses that can help prepare them for law school. Undergraduates interested in a career as a bankruptcy attorney must take a variety of courses including economics, government, business, writing and mathematics. Many prospective law students major in political science, business administration, communications and English during their undergraduate careers although admission to law school does not depend on the student’s undergraduate major.
Legal Study
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You must graduate from an ABA accredited law school to become a bankruptcy lawyer. Full-time legal study in a law program typically takes three years to complete while part time study takes about four years. The first year of law school is dedicated to core areas of the law that include criminal law, civil procedure and legal writing. After the first year of law school, you may pursue any legal specialty that suits your interest. Bankruptcy law courses include bankruptcy in business and personal bankruptcy as well as clinical courses that show students how to represent clients during a bankruptcy case.
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Bankruptcy Specialty
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A lawyer can obtain specialty training in bankruptcy law in a variety of ways. Some law schools offer joint Juris Doctorate and Master’s degree programs. With these programs, you can earn a law degree and a Master’s degree in bankruptcy law simultaneously. If a joint program in the bankruptcy specialty is unavailable, you can pursue a Master’s of Law in Bankruptcy after law school. Formal training in a dedicated bankruptcy program is unnecessary to practice as a lawyer but many attorneys pursue specialty degrees to increase proficiency in their chosen area of law.
State Bar
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After earning a J.D. from an accredited law school, you become eligible for licensure to practice law. You must pass a bar examination in the state where you want to practice law. The bar examination is a written standardized test which measures the prospective attorney’s knowledge of basic legal principles. The bar examination is not limited to one area of law. The test does not solely cover general bankruptcy principles. The exam covers all areas of the law including state specific legal fundamentals.
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References
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