Becoming An Attorney: Steps To Practicing Law

Becoming an attorney at law is a challenging process that requires academic skill, ambition, and a passion for helping others. To become an attorney, you must complete several steps, including obtaining an undergraduate degree, passing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), earning a Juris Doctor (JD) law degree, and passing state bar examinations.

The path to becoming an attorney can be rigorous and demanding, requiring a strong commitment to studying and a high level of academic performance. It is important to start early, develop good study habits, and gain a broad educational foundation to build upon in law school.

In addition to academic qualifications, aspiring attorneys should also cultivate strong communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills. Effective listening, comprehension, and persuasion abilities are essential for success in the legal field.

With hard work, dedication, and a clear understanding of the requirements, you can embark on the journey toward becoming an attorney at law.

Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

Passing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a lawyer. The LSAT is a standardised test that assesses your reading comprehension and verbal reasoning skills. It is an integral part of the law school admission process in the United States, Canada, the University of Melbourne in Australia, and a growing number of other countries.

The LSAT is designed to help law schools evaluate your application and determine your suitability for law school. The test is divided into multiple-choice sections and a writing sample. The multiple-choice sections include two scored logical reasoning sections, one scored reading comprehension section, and one unscored variable section. The writing sample, also unscored, takes the form of an essay where you argue for one of two given options.

The LSAT is offered four times a year and takes half a day to complete. It is recommended that you take the test in October or June, but December scores are usually accepted for fall admission. The test is challenging, and it is important to prepare thoroughly. Official practice tests and preparation courses are available to help you get ready for the exam.

Your LSAT score is a significant factor in the law school admissions process and can also influence financial aid decisions. A high LSAT score can increase your chances of gaining admission to law school, especially if your undergraduate GPA is not very competitive. Therefore, it is crucial to take the test seriously and aim for a high score.

Earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a crucial step in becoming an attorney at law. The Juris Doctor (JD) is the nationally recognized degree for practicing law in the United States. It is considered a ""first degree" in law and is required to practice law in almost all cases. While the JD is primarily for aspiring lawyers, it can also open doors to other careers such as law librarian, academic, or consultant.

Prerequisites

Before applying to a JD program, you must earn a bachelor's degree. There is no specific major required, and law schools accept students from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, certain majors like political science, economics, English, and communications can provide a strong foundation for law school and help develop essential skills such as reading, research, and writing.

Additionally, most law schools require you to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This standardized test evaluates skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical abilities, which are crucial for success in law school.

Program Structure

Most Juris Doctor programs are full-time and typically take three years to complete. However, part-time options are available, usually lasting four to five years. The first year of the program covers foundational law courses, while the second and third years offer more specialized upper-level coursework.

During your studies, you will develop advanced analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills. You will learn about legal research and writing, animal law, antitrust law, international arbitration, and international taxation, among other topics. Some schools may also require a capstone project, externship, or internship to provide practical experience.

Accreditation and Recognition

It is essential to ensure that your chosen law school is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Currently, there are 205 ABA-accredited law schools offering the Juris Doctor degree. This accreditation ensures that your degree will be recognized and respected by employers and the legal community.

Dual Degree Options

Some students choose to pursue a dual degree, combining their Juris Doctor with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), or Master of Public Health (MPH). These dual degree programs typically take around four to five years to complete and can provide a more specialized skill set for certain industries or practice areas.

Costs and Scholarships

Earning a Juris Doctor can be costly, and tuition fees vary across law schools. It is important to consider the financial investment required and explore scholarship opportunities or financial aid options.

Bar Exam Eligibility

Completing a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-approved law school is a crucial step towards becoming eligible to take the bar exam. While requirements may vary by state, earning your JD degree is the first step in demonstrating your knowledge and competence to practice law.

Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

Passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is a crucial step in becoming an attorney at law. The MPRE is a mandatory prerequisite for the bar examination in 49 US states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the US Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Only Wisconsin and Puerto Rico do not require the MPRE, but they still incorporate local professional responsibility rules in their bar exams.

The MPRE is a 60-question, multiple-choice exam that lasts for two hours and is administered online by Pearson VUE, the test contractor for the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), which develops the exam. The exam covers legal ethics and professional conduct, testing your ability to think like a practising attorney or judge when faced with ambiguous ethical situations. It is purposely designed to be complex and tricky. The questions are based on the American Bar Association's (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as constitutional decisions and principles established in leading federal and state cases and procedural and evidentiary rules.

The MPRE is offered three times a year, in March, August, and November. It is recommended that you take the exam during your second year of law school or in the summer between your second and third years, allowing time for a retake if needed. You will need to achieve a passing score within a specified time before or after passing your state's bar exam. While each jurisdiction determines its own passing score, the lowest score accepted by any jurisdiction is 75, and the highest is 86. Your raw score will be adjusted through scaling, which accounts for differences in difficulty compared to past exams. You will typically receive your score within about five weeks, and it will only be available until the next exam administration, so be sure to retrieve and save it.

Pass the Bar Exam

Passing the Bar Exam is the final step to becoming a lawyer. The exam is not easy, with passing rates as low as 40% in some states. It usually consists of multiple-choice questions and essay questions that evaluate your knowledge of state law and your ability to apply the law to various fact-based scenarios.

The Bar Exam is a two-day process. On the first day, you will complete the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which consists of multiple-choice questions. On the second day, you will focus on writing examinations covering various legal matters.

In addition to passing the Bar Exam, the state board of bar examiners will also consider the candidate's educational background, competence, character, and ability to represent others in legal matters before offering full legal licensure.

Passing the Bar Exam allows you to practice law in the state in which you took the exam. If you wish to practice in another state, you will need to pass that state's Bar Exam.

Specialise in an area of law

Specialising in a particular area of law is an important step in your career as an attorney. While it is not necessary to choose a specialty, it can have many benefits, including maintaining a sense of autonomy, simplifying your workflow, and allowing you to concentrate on becoming an expert in your chosen field.

There are numerous areas of law to choose from, each with its own laws and regulations. These include:

• Criminal law: Handling cases that involve breaking the law, such as traffic violations, possession of controlled drugs, fraud, assault, and murder.
• Constitutional law: Interpreting, following, and amending the rules and structures that underpin a political system, such as the United States Constitution.
• Commercial law: Providing legal advice and guidance to corporate organisations, including drawing up legal contracts and protecting against corporate liability.
• Corporate law: Governing the formation and conduct of companies, including business restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions.
• Taxation law: Advising on the tax implications of financial transactions and ensuring compliance with tax codes.
• Restructuring and insolvency law: Acting on behalf of individuals or companies in financial difficulties, providing legal assistance, and helping to recover debts.
• Equity and trusts law: Regulating circumstances where an individual places their trust in another to manage their affairs, often involving charities and the resolution of conflicts between beneficiaries.
• Banking and finance law: Focusing on the activities of lenders and borrowers and the management of financial liabilities, including cross-border financing arrangements.
• Private client law: Managing the affairs of individuals and families, including planning finances, wills, trusts, investments, estates, and taxation.
• Personal injury and criminal negligence law: Helping clients receive financial compensation for accidents, injuries, or medical malpractice.
• Tort law: Helping individuals claim damages for intentional or accidental wrongs committed against them and ensuring they do not suffer unnecessary loss.
• Probate: Proving the legal wishes of a deceased person and settling their debts, as well as distributing their assets according to their last requests.
• Land law: Resolving disputes over land matters, such as rights of way and boundary issues, involving landowners, private individuals, or the State.
• Construction law: Negotiating contracts and procurement before a project begins, and providing legal advice and evidence gathering during disputes.
• Environmental law: Enacting and enforcing principles, policies, and regulations to protect the natural world.
• Insurance law: Focusing on the destruction of assets and insurance against professional mistakes and malpractice.
• Media law: Providing legal services related to publishing, broadcasting, music, advertising, gaming, and other media.
• Employment law: Governing the relationship between employers and employees, including terms and conditions, health and safety, discrimination, discipline, and dismissal.
• Contract law: Regulating legally binding agreements, including contracts between parties where one party agrees to fulfil an obligation for the other party.
• Intellectual property law: Protecting the rights of individuals or companies regarding their creative works, including inventions, designs, brands, artwork, and music.
• Family law: Dealing with disputes and aspects of care relating to marriages, children, and neglect, often requiring liaison with local authorities.
• Human rights law: Handling cases related to the Human Rights Act and how governments or regimes apply enforcement measures.
• Litigation: Bringing a case to court, which can be either lengthy or brief, depending on its complexity.
• Alternative dispute resolution: Resolving disputes between consumers and traders outside of a court setting, through mediation or arbitration.

To prepare for a career in your chosen area of specialisation, you should gain relevant legal knowledge, develop your skills through legal experience, and choose a course taught by experienced legal professionals. It is also important to note that lawyers can change specialities throughout their careers, and their skills are highly valued in senior positions across diverse sectors.

Frequently asked questions