A first or second career working in law is the perfect way to stay active, stimulate the mind, and pursue a positive financial opportunity.
Depending on the level of lawyer you wish to become, the prerequisites needed to achieve the goal aren’t as dense as you may think. If you’re interested in starting the journey towards this career, here are the steps required to become a working lawyer.
Initial Education
It’s never too late to seek higher education, thanks to many accessible institutions that offer great degrees. An accredited bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for becoming a lawyer. You can choose to study disciplines like political science, journalism, English, or economics.
Additionally, you must pass an LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) that consists of general legal work questions and writing sections. This test judges your abilities as a lawyer. Once you have a degree and excellent LSAT scores, you can begin applying to law schools and earn a Juris Doctor Degree.
Law School
Your time in law school will consist of you narrowing down your preferred area of practice in pursuit of a J.D. degree. These fields include business, corporate, family, health and patient, and tax law. Law school is challenging, but this is where you’ll learn the demands of a legal job. While these institutions appear to cost a heavy sum, there are many helpful guides on applying for law school loans and financial aid.
Bar Examination
The ABA-approval Bar Examination is the final test you complete before officially becoming a lawyer, usually after your time at law school. This test is a two-day experience that contains questions regarding legal practices of different forms of law.
With all education requirements combined, the entire process takes no more than seven years. This may prove difficult for people pursuing a second or third job, but an exciting career with high earning potential rewards the hard work.
Apprenticeship
Say you are starting a second career as a lawyer and wish to skip some of the educational requirements—you can achieve this through a legal apprenticeship. If you find yourself in Virginia (along with three other states), you don’t need a J.D. degree to practice law!
An apprenticeship doesn’t mean you’re cutting corners, as you’ll spend a few years diligently learning and working under another practicing attorney. It’s known as “reading the law,” and it’s a good option for confident women seeking a new career.
With around four to seven years of rigorous studying and training, you will complete the steps required to become a working lawyer—congratulations! Now it’s time to hunt for the perfect job opportunity and realize your dreams of becoming an attorney.
