Studying law is hard work and practicing law is one of the most challenging professions in the world. People peruse this field for different reasons; some do it for the sake of family tradition, some do it for the ample job opportunities or handsome pay scales, and some truly want to fight for justice. There could be a million other objectives, but those are the most common ones. The U.S law is profound and complicated, which makes room for several types of lawyers. When you choose to become a lawyer, you specialize in a specific area of the law, depending on your aptitude and interests.
Basic Requirements for Getting into Law School
The qualifications for law school in the U.S are different from those in other parts of the world, like Europe and Asia. All universities demand a Bachelor’s degree; your degree can be in any subject, but relevance to law studies may support your chances. Taking the LSAT is mandatory for acceptance into a law program. It is an official exam designed to test your analytical abilities for pursuing this career. A high score on the LSAT will help secure a place in your dream school, whereas low scores are prone to rejection from all good schools. Whenever you start looking at law schools, it is smart to apply at multiple institutes. Two or three can be your preferred choices and the remaining should be safety schools. Safety schools are important, no matter how good your grades or how outstanding your overall application.
Top Universities for Law Studies
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Harvard University
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Yale University
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University of California
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Stanford University
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Columbia University
Becoming a Lawyer
In order to start practicing law, you are required to attain the Juris Doctor degree. This program is offered by all law-teaching schools in the U.S and constitutes three years of full-time study. It is beneficial to work as an intern at a local law firm after you have received your degree. Most of the top-rated universities provide training to law students during the course of study. Several affiliated nonprofit organizations allow students to work with experienced lawyers and gain real-world experience.
The next step is to take the State Bar Exam, which is held by different entities within the U.S. You will select the bar exam that is relevant to the State where you wish to practice law. Passing the bar exam is critical as it will grant you the license for legal practice in your country. Many students wonder why it is important to take this exam in spite of achieving the rightful degree. The truth is that the Bar Exam should just be considered as one last challenge to prove your capability.
After passing your bar exam, you are eligible to work privately, or as part of a law firm. If you desire to broaden your horizons with respect to a particular segment of law, you can always apply for the L.L.M (Masters of Law degree). Many law schools also offer the S.J.D (Doctor of Juridical Sciences) degree, which is similar to a Ph.D. program in other subjects. This is the highest academic degree in the field of law and is recommendable to individuals who want to teach law in the future.
