Have you ever wondered what's required to become a lawyer and what they actually do, beyond what we see on TV?

Martin Lawrence walking into a courtroom as a lawyer. He wears sunglasses and struts toward his table.

Lawyers play an essential role in society, ensuring the application of laws.They help promote justice in contexts like education, healthcare, and human rights.

Discover the steps on how to become a lawyer in the United States so you can decide if it's the right career path for you.

Skills to Succeed

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On the journey to becoming a lawyer with a fulfilling career, these essential skills will set you up for success:

Education: High School and College

High School

You can prepare to become a lawyer as early as high school. Besides focusing on the essential skills, you can boost your chances of becoming a lawyer if you:

  • join the debate club

  • study history and political science

  • take an Advanced Placement (AP) class

  • keep a high GPA

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To be admitted to law school, you'll need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

According to Harvard Law School, some of the best college degree options to choose before law school are:

  • Criminal Justice

  • Psychology

  • Philosophy

  • History

  • Political Science

  • English

You can also choose a degree that aligns with a legal field you want to practice in the future.

Choose Your Expertise Area

As a lawyer, you'll have a wide range of legal fields to choose from and specialize in.

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Some of the most common areas lawyers practice are:

  • Criminal

  • Civil

  • Family

  • Constitutional

  • Immigration

  • Finance

  • Business

  • Intellectual property

  • Real estate

  • Entertainment

  • Healthcare

  • Administrative

Learn more about different fields of law here.

Quiz Time!

Icon of man Mario is a model and discovered his photoshoot for a hair product promotion was used by a small salon to promote their business, without his permission.

Quiz

Which legal area does this dispute fall under?

Post College

The next steps on how to become a lawyer are the LSAT and law school application.

LSAT

To enroll in law school, first you'll take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

A man during a test looking ar a written note on his hand that says,

This multiple-choice test has the following sections:

  • two logical reasoning sections (scored)

  • one reading comprehension section (scored)

  • one section with either logical reasoning or reading comprehension questions (unscored)

  • an argumentative writing section requiredto access your final score (unscored)

Learn more about each LSAT section here.

Law School Application

There are two main types of law school programs: Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.).

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J.D.

  • Most common program

  • Full-time or part-time

  • 3-4 years duration

LL.M.

  • Ideal for international equivalent degrees

  • Chosen by JD graduates

  • Specialization in a field

  • Up to 1 year duration

Other options are master's degree programs, such as Master of Science in Laws (MSL), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and Juris Master (JM).

Quiz Time!

Icon of woman Jasmine is preparing for the LSAT, but she's struggling with the logical reasoning section. What should she do?

Quiz

What are some actions that Jasmine can take to improve her logical reasoning skills? Select all that apply:

The Bar Exam

After completing law school, the next step on how to become a lawyer is to complete the bar examination.Successful completion of the bar exam will determine whether you're qualified to practice law.

The most common type of exam is the Uniform Bar Examination.

A gavel with an American flag in the background Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

The bar exam structure varies by state. You'll be tested on the state's particular laws, and in most cases, you're only allowed to practice law in the state where you took your bar examination.

The most common elements of the bar exam are:

  • Multistate Bar Examination: a 200 multiple-choice question test.

  • Multistate Performance Test: covering analysis and legal reasoning, written communication, and organization skills.

  • Multistate Essay Examination: an essay examination with 6 questions.

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Moral character and fitness standards are also considered for approval.

Advice from a Pro

Whether working in a firm, court, or as a solo practitioner, networking is a lawyer's key resource to guarantee clients, contracts, and valuable connections.

Listen to lawyer Jennifer Felipe describe the importance of networking:

Take Action

Saul Goodman from Better Call Saul says,

Despite the stressful and time-consuming steps on how to become a lawyer, being a lawyer is overall a very rewarding career. It allows you to combine financial gain with advocating for a cause that matters to you.

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