Kenyan
what does it takes to be a lawyer
i like debating . #college #law #lawyers
3 answers
Paul V. Suppicich, Esq.
Paul V.’s Answer
In the United States it takes a Juris Doctor degree, 7 years of university and Bar Exam passage in your jurisdiction. Lawyers are many types of professional people these days. In other words, your bachelor's degree can be in almost any discipline. There are many areas of law where a lawyer can decide to practice; there are civil and criminal lawyers, trial and appellate lawyers, personal injury and tax lawyers, and many more. If you like debating, maybe trial advocacy is what you should look in to. Being a good speaker is a skill that can reap many rewards in the practice of law.
Winifred Winston, M.S., CDF
Winifred Winston,’s Answer
Hi there,
To become a lawyer, you'll need to complete the following steps:
Step 1 - Earn a bachelor's degree (A bachelor's degree is usually completed in 4 years earning 120+ credit hours, depending on your school and major. There is no required undergraduate major for law school. However, the most common are history, philosophy, political science, and English just to name a few)
Step 2 - Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test; think of this exam as the SAT for law school. It's very challenging and the higher your school the better your changes are of getting into your school of choice)
Step 3 - Acceptance into Law School - (You want a law school accredited by the American Bar Association)
Step 4 - Graduate law school earning your Juris Doctor degree or JD
Step 5 - Pass the Bar exam for the state you'd like to practice law. (Another challenging exam, many well known public figures have had to take it multiple times. You can also take the bar for multiple states; for example, you may take the NY and NJ bar exam or the D.C. and MD exam)
Good Luck!
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Hi Kenyan!
This site will tell you much about becoming a lawyer.
http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/so-you-think-you-want-to-be-a-lawyer
Are you in a debate club? If not, consider joining one. Talk to you favorite teachers about becoming a lawyer and see if they can help you to get to know some to get some first hand knowledge. Best of luck! Keep me posted. I would like to help further, if I can. Send thank you notes to those who help you.