Want To Become A Lawyer? Read This

Attending law school is generally the first step many take to become a lawyer.

But experts say prospective lawyers can do much more in preparation.

Ilana Kowarski, a reporter for US News, recently discussed what steps students should take if they’re interested in becoming a lawyer.

DO RESEARCH

Like anything you’re interested in pursuing, research is an important and helpful first step to discovering what’s out there in terms of career direction and goals.

“You don’t need to have your future career path mapped out to apply to law school, but it is helpful to have a direction in mind,” Gabriel Kuris, a contributor at US News and founder of Top Law Coach, writes. “Clear career goals can help you stay focused and motivated throughout the law school application process, from LSAT practice to weighing competing opportunities.”

Kuris recommends prospective lawyers to go through articles and posts from lawyers, law firms, and legal news sites to get a bigger picture idea of what careers interest them.

“Don’t worry if your research turns up more questions than answers,” Kuris writes. “Ultimately, it’s best to approach law school with an open mind but some informed ideas about your future career.”

DEVELOP THE RIGHT SKILLS

Skills involving communication and reasoning tend to be useful when it comes to law.

Experts recommend that prospective lawyers take part both academic and extracurricular activities that can cultivate these types of skills.

“Aspiring lawyers should take classes that involve extensive reading and writing so that they can become better readers and writers, since those skills are critical to most legal jobs,” Kowarski writes. “Courses in social science are also helpful, since those classes cultivate societal awareness and teach people skills.”

DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL

Ultimately, many aspiring lawyers will attend law school.

However, certain states allow people to become a licensed lawyer without attending law school.

Traditionally referred to as “reading the law,” states such as California, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington allow aspiring lawyers to sit for the bar exam after without requiring them to attend law school.

Check out the full step by step guide by US News here.

Sources: US News, US News, ABA Journal