With law being one of the most popular career paths in the US, law school can lead to a career as an attorney, an arbitrator, an investigator, and so much more. It is also a financially stable career, having an average annual salary of over $100,000. However, becoming a lawyer may be more complex than many expect, especially in the United States. Here are the five crucial steps to getting a law degree:
1. Must earn a Bachelor’s Degree (usually four years)
Interestingly, there isn’t a singular recommended major for those interested in law, but the most popular pre-law majors include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism. What will matter, however, is not the major but your GPA. The higher your GPA, the more likely you will get into a top law school.
2. Take the LSAT
After your undergraduate degree, you must pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to apply for law school. The higher your score, the more options you will have to attend high-ranking law schools.
3. Attend Law School (usually three years)
Submit your LSAT score, GPA, undergraduate coursework, extracurriculars, and service to your chosen law school. It is recommended you aim for at least 150, but for top-ranking schools, you should aim for 170 or better.
4. Earn a JD Degree
After finishing law school, you will earn a Juris Doctor (JD), the degree for practicing law in the United States. During your degree, you should also decide what area of law you want to concentrate on: real estate, criminal, environmental, tax, labor, etc.
5. Pass the Bar Exam
The state administers the Bar Exam, most requiring a JD Degree in order to be qualified for. Though structure and content may vary from state to state, the exam is usually a two-day process and is not based on concentration. If you have not passed a state bar exam, you are prohibited from engaging in law practice in that state. However, if you pass the Bar, you earn full legal licensure in that state.
After passing the Bar, you can pursue further education, apply for a job at a law firm (if you didn’t already during law school), work for an NGO, etc. The road to becoming a licensed lawyer in the United States may be more demanding and prolonged than in most countries, but it will provide you with many career opportunities.
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