As of 2023, there are more than 1.3 million lawyers in the U.S. and that number continues to steadily climb. To add on, since 2013, there has been a 5% increase in the total number of lawyers nationwide (ABA Profile of the Legal Profession 2023). Although there has been a noticeable increase in the number of lawyers, that does not mean the job has become easier to obtain. Becoming a lawyer requires hard work, dedication, and many years of education. Lawyers play an extremely important role in society, advocating for justice, upholding the law, and representing a plethora of clients in various legal matters. If you are considering becoming a lawyer but are unsure, here’s a simple guide on how to become a lawyer:
- Complete Your Earlier Education
The very first step to many career paths is to finish the necessary and proper education for your future career. In High School, it is important to focus on developing your reading and writing skills so you can build upon them in the future (these can be built in history and English classes). Lawyers are required to read heavy law material and write various legal documents and reports, so building these foundational skills will ensure you are one step ahead. After graduating from High School, it is important to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a University/College before taking the LSAT. Although most people major in history, English, political science, business, or philosophy, it truly does not matter what you receive your bachelor’s degree in as long as you are challenging yourself and maintaining a high GPA. According to the American Bar Association, “Taking a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors is excellent preparation for legal education.” Therefore, you should major in a subject that intrigues you and will push you to learn new things, so you can prepare yourself for the rigorous learning environment in law school.
- Take the LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is the standardized test required for admission to most law schools in North America (Canada and the U.S.). The 3 hour LSAT exam measures reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning. It is important to do well on the LSAT by earning a high score because the higher the score, the higher the chance you have of being accepted into many law schools. You should aim for a score of around 150 or above (Ohio Northern University).
- Apply and Go to Law School
After successfully passing the LSAT, you should then begin to apply to many law schools by researching. To find out what law schools are the best fit for you, consider the schools’ ranking, location, cost, faculty, and areas of specialization. Once you have compiled a list of schools of interest, you must then obtain letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a personal statement. Similar to applying to undergraduate school, searching for scholarships is also essential as law school tends to be expensive.
- Earn a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree
Once admitted into law school, you will spend the next 3 years educating yourself on all types of law with the hopes of earning a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree. In addition, during this time it is very important to explore internships and gain experience to further enhance your understanding of law and its practice.
- Pass the Bar
After completing law school, you must face the extremely challenging bar exam in the state where you will practice. However, states have different difficulties with bar exams. “California has a notoriously hard bar exam,” cautiously states JD advising, “with only 45% of first-time takers passing the Feb 2024 bar exam.” Thus, it is important to keep in mind how much time you should spend studying for the exam depending on how hard the bar exam is in the state that you are taking it in. In addition, a few days leading up to the exam, you should also make sure you eat and sleep well because the exam is 12 hours and is broken up between 2 days (The State of Bar of California).
- Character and Fitness Review
In addition to passing the bar exam, future lawyers must undergo a character and fitness review. This involves an evaluation of your ethical/professional conduct and a thorough background check to safely ensure you are fit to practice law. Thus, it is important to keep a clean social media presence and record.
- Become Licensed and Begin Practice
Once you pass the bar exam and character review, you will be sworn in as an official attorney–thus, meaning you can now practice law. Young lawyers often begin their careers by joining law firms, working as government attorneys, or clerking for judges. However, you may choose to start your own legal business and work in corporate legal departments to gain experience.
- Continue Education/Consider Specialization
Even after completing many tedious years of school, lawyers are still expected to continue their education and stay updated on new laws and policies. Most states require Continuing Legal Education (CLE), which involves taking courses on different legal topics every few years. In addition, as you continue to educate yourself, you may find yourself wanting to specialize in certain areas of law. With experience and practice, you will learn what type of law best suits you, and you can shift your focus to specializing in that area. Thus, causing you to become an elite expert in your field and attracting more business.
Although the journey to becoming a lawyer is extremely time-consuming and tedious, do not let it discourage you. Anyone can become a lawyer if they display dedication and determination. In the end, all your hard work will pay off knowing you will be rewarded by making a positive impact on your community and the law.