2 answers
Peyton
Student
Kleinfeltersville, PA
3
Questions
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How long does it take before you can practice law?
How long does the average lawyer go to law school and intern before they can take the bar exam and practice law?
#law
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2 answers
Alejandra Klein
Law
2
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Alejandra’s Answer
HI Peyton, I am happy to hear you are interested in a career in Law! While Kim's answer above is correct, you should also be advised that in order to actually practice law, you need a) to be a summer intern at at least one firm b) clerking for a judge is super helpful and would place you at a competitive advantage. c) after law school and clerking you would still need to take and successfully pass the bar exam in your state. The Bar exam is highly competitive and takes about 4 months to prepare. You would not be really practicing law at your first job. Like any other job you will need some hands on experience and your first job would be more like an entry level attorney position. Then after a few years you can actually practice law! Hope this helps! All the success, Alejandra
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1738
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Peyton!
The customary path to becoming a lawyer is 4 years of undergraduate college (to earn a Bachelor's degree) followed by 3 years of law school.
While you are working on your undergrad degree, you will take the LSAT, a difficult test which will evaluate your ability to be successful in law school. There are study groups and study material available, and you will definitely want to use them!
While you are in law school, you will have the opportunity to work for law firms over the summer, work for the law school's Review (a scholarly journal) and work in law clinics providing basic legal services to the needy. Towards the end of your schooling, you will take the bar exam. Once you pass the bar, you are a lawyer. But, as you recognize, you will still have a lot to learn. People refer to new lawyers as "baby lawyers!"
Once you become a lawyer, you will want to join various groups, subscribe to publications, attend training, etc to stay current in your field. Lawyers tend to specialize in certain areas - it is not possible to stay current in everything! One group I found was awesome is the National Police Accountability Project. These are lawyers suing police officers and their departments for Civil Rights violations. They share ideas and research with one another, and discuss their cases. It is truly awesome!
Good luck!
Kim
The customary path to becoming a lawyer is 4 years of undergraduate college (to earn a Bachelor's degree) followed by 3 years of law school.
While you are working on your undergrad degree, you will take the LSAT, a difficult test which will evaluate your ability to be successful in law school. There are study groups and study material available, and you will definitely want to use them!
While you are in law school, you will have the opportunity to work for law firms over the summer, work for the law school's Review (a scholarly journal) and work in law clinics providing basic legal services to the needy. Towards the end of your schooling, you will take the bar exam. Once you pass the bar, you are a lawyer. But, as you recognize, you will still have a lot to learn. People refer to new lawyers as "baby lawyers!"
Once you become a lawyer, you will want to join various groups, subscribe to publications, attend training, etc to stay current in your field. Lawyers tend to specialize in certain areas - it is not possible to stay current in everything! One group I found was awesome is the National Police Accountability Project. These are lawyers suing police officers and their departments for Civil Rights violations. They share ideas and research with one another, and discuss their cases. It is truly awesome!
Good luck!
Kim