7 answers
Franklin
Student
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
5
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what subjects should i focus on in highschool to get into law school
i want to become a court judge #law #lawyer #highschool
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7 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1616
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Franklin, If it is your lifelong dream to becoming a lawyer, you can begin taking these steps to improve your chances of getting into a good law school as early as their high school days. Here are some things you can do to get a head start on the law school application process, and some pitfalls you'll want to avoid.
THREE STEPS HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD CONSIDER FOR LAW SCHOOL
STEP 1: AP CLASSES – Being a lawyer isn't all arguing and yelling "objection!" in court. The job requires familiarity with long, sometimes hard to understand texts. Taking classes that strengthen your reading and writing abilities will serve multiple purposes. In addition to showing admissions officers you were law school back in high school, AP classes also lay the groundwork for you to become a successful college student and provide you with some tools that will come in handy in preparing for the LSAT and once you get to law school, where fast – but careful – reading is required.
STEP 2: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – Sure, debate team is nice, and it prepares you for the logical thinking required on the LSAT and law school to some extent, but it isn't likely to move the needle much when law schools consider your application. Try exploring opportunities that offer some hands-on experience in the legal world, such as internships in law firms, courthouses, representatives' offices and other places you might want to work after law school. It might not be the most glamorous way to spend your summer, but it will look great on your resume, and you'll gain invaluable information about the mechanics of the court system and legislature, the daily work of an attorney or even basic things like the difference between a memo and a brief.
STEP 3: REMEMBER YOUR GPA – Don't stretch yourself too thin. While it's admirable that you're motivated enough to plan ahead for more than five years into the future, remember that you can't just skip ahead and get to law school. You still have classes to worry about, in addition to college applications, AP exams, SAT or ACT prep, and hobbies and a social life. Overloading yourself can hurt your grades and by extension, your chances of getting into a good college, and burn you out before you've even graduated from high school.
SIX STEPS ON HOW TO BECOME A JUDGE
STEP 1: BACHELORS DEGREE – No specific major of study is required to attend law school, but prospective law students commonly earn an undergraduate degree in political science, history, business or economics. Law school admissions can be competitive, and it is helpful to prepare during your undergraduate years.
STEP 2: LAW DEGREE – Do you have to be a lawyer to become a judge? In most cases, yes. Most judges begin their careers as lawyers, and prior legal practice is a prerequisite for many state and federal judgeships. Lawyers must hold Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees, which require completing three years of legal education at a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
STEP 3: PASS YOUR BAR EXAM – After earning a J.D. degree, you'll need to apply for admission to the bar in your state or state you this to practice in. Although admission and testing requirements vary, admission to the bar usually requires being licensed, which is gained by passing the numerous exams.
STEP 4: PRACTICE LAW – Most judges work as attorneys prior to acquiring their judgeship. As an attorney you'll represents clients before a court or in other legal proceedings to resolve disputes. Other tasks may include appearing in court, drafting court documents and conducting legal research.
STEP 5: HERE COMES THE JUDGE – To become judges, you must either be appointed or elected. Lawyers may apply for judgeships by submitting their names for consideration to a judicial nominating commission, or they may be recommended by senators or other politicians.
STEP 6: COMPETING YOUR TRAINING – After being elected or appointed, judges may be required to complete state-administered introductory training. Federal Judicial Center provides training programs for federal judges and other federal court personnel. Most judges are required to complete continuing education courses throughout their careers to stay informed about changes to the law.
Hope this was Helpful Franklin
THREE STEPS HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD CONSIDER FOR LAW SCHOOL
STEP 1: AP CLASSES – Being a lawyer isn't all arguing and yelling "objection!" in court. The job requires familiarity with long, sometimes hard to understand texts. Taking classes that strengthen your reading and writing abilities will serve multiple purposes. In addition to showing admissions officers you were law school back in high school, AP classes also lay the groundwork for you to become a successful college student and provide you with some tools that will come in handy in preparing for the LSAT and once you get to law school, where fast – but careful – reading is required.
STEP 2: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – Sure, debate team is nice, and it prepares you for the logical thinking required on the LSAT and law school to some extent, but it isn't likely to move the needle much when law schools consider your application. Try exploring opportunities that offer some hands-on experience in the legal world, such as internships in law firms, courthouses, representatives' offices and other places you might want to work after law school. It might not be the most glamorous way to spend your summer, but it will look great on your resume, and you'll gain invaluable information about the mechanics of the court system and legislature, the daily work of an attorney or even basic things like the difference between a memo and a brief.
STEP 3: REMEMBER YOUR GPA – Don't stretch yourself too thin. While it's admirable that you're motivated enough to plan ahead for more than five years into the future, remember that you can't just skip ahead and get to law school. You still have classes to worry about, in addition to college applications, AP exams, SAT or ACT prep, and hobbies and a social life. Overloading yourself can hurt your grades and by extension, your chances of getting into a good college, and burn you out before you've even graduated from high school.
SIX STEPS ON HOW TO BECOME A JUDGE
STEP 1: BACHELORS DEGREE – No specific major of study is required to attend law school, but prospective law students commonly earn an undergraduate degree in political science, history, business or economics. Law school admissions can be competitive, and it is helpful to prepare during your undergraduate years.
STEP 2: LAW DEGREE – Do you have to be a lawyer to become a judge? In most cases, yes. Most judges begin their careers as lawyers, and prior legal practice is a prerequisite for many state and federal judgeships. Lawyers must hold Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees, which require completing three years of legal education at a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
STEP 3: PASS YOUR BAR EXAM – After earning a J.D. degree, you'll need to apply for admission to the bar in your state or state you this to practice in. Although admission and testing requirements vary, admission to the bar usually requires being licensed, which is gained by passing the numerous exams.
STEP 4: PRACTICE LAW – Most judges work as attorneys prior to acquiring their judgeship. As an attorney you'll represents clients before a court or in other legal proceedings to resolve disputes. Other tasks may include appearing in court, drafting court documents and conducting legal research.
STEP 5: HERE COMES THE JUDGE – To become judges, you must either be appointed or elected. Lawyers may apply for judgeships by submitting their names for consideration to a judicial nominating commission, or they may be recommended by senators or other politicians.
STEP 6: COMPETING YOUR TRAINING – After being elected or appointed, judges may be required to complete state-administered introductory training. Federal Judicial Center provides training programs for federal judges and other federal court personnel. Most judges are required to complete continuing education courses throughout their careers to stay informed about changes to the law.
Hope this was Helpful Franklin
thank you I really appreciate it
Franklin
Amazing, thank you once again for your insightful responses!
Aun
You Are Welcome Franklin. “If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven't done anything today.” – Lou Holtz
Doc Frick
Thank You for your Support Aun. “Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes
Doc Frick
Thank You Amy. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” –Anne Frank
Doc Frick
Amy Westergren
Regulatory Counsel
1
Answer
Jersey City, New Jersey
Updated
Amy’s Answer
Hey Franklin. It’s cool you’re thinking ahead. I had no idea I was going to be a lawyer when I was in high school. The reality is that lawyers come from a lot of different backgrounds. There’s no magic combination of classes you have to take, but you do have to get a four-year degree with decent grades and a good score on the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT).
One of the best things you can do in high school is to set yourself up to get into college. Make good grades, challenge yourself with AP classes, and do some extracurriculars that you enjoy (sports, debate, volunteering). Practicing the law involves a lot of research, reading, writing, and analytical thinking. To the extent that you want to take classes to prepare you for law school, English, debate, philosophy, math, and science classes will help you build the intellectual skills you’ll utilize most.
Good luck!
Check out the American Bar Association’s resources for pre-law students
See if a law school near you has a program for high school students
Give yourself a pat on the back for thinking ahead
One of the best things you can do in high school is to set yourself up to get into college. Make good grades, challenge yourself with AP classes, and do some extracurriculars that you enjoy (sports, debate, volunteering). Practicing the law involves a lot of research, reading, writing, and analytical thinking. To the extent that you want to take classes to prepare you for law school, English, debate, philosophy, math, and science classes will help you build the intellectual skills you’ll utilize most.
Good luck!
Amy recommends the following next steps:
thank you!
Franklin
Andrew Kenny
4
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hi Franklin,
It is great that you are thinking ahead and are trying to set yourself up for law school. There are a lot of different paths to take when it comes to obtaining a law degree and working as a legal professional. My advice is to start thinking about which area of law you may wish to pursue, whether it be a trial attorney, a patent attorney with a science background, or in house counsel for a large corporation. From there you can start to take some courses that may be relevant to those concentrations. The one thing that is very important in law school is writing, so I suggest a focus on English and writing if it is offered.
The curriculum in law school does focus on teaching a history of the law so a good place to start would be a few history and government courses to give you a foundation I the structure of the Judicial system. Ultimately it does not matter what courses you take in high school as long as you properly study for the LSAT exam and are prepared to work hard!
It is great that you are thinking ahead and are trying to set yourself up for law school. There are a lot of different paths to take when it comes to obtaining a law degree and working as a legal professional. My advice is to start thinking about which area of law you may wish to pursue, whether it be a trial attorney, a patent attorney with a science background, or in house counsel for a large corporation. From there you can start to take some courses that may be relevant to those concentrations. The one thing that is very important in law school is writing, so I suggest a focus on English and writing if it is offered.
The curriculum in law school does focus on teaching a history of the law so a good place to start would be a few history and government courses to give you a foundation I the structure of the Judicial system. Ultimately it does not matter what courses you take in high school as long as you properly study for the LSAT exam and are prepared to work hard!
Paul Ratner
SR Director Premium Suite Sales
7
Answers
El Cerrito, California
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Hey Franklin - I am not a lawyer, but when I was in high school I had some aspirations to be a lawyer as well as having many friends that are lawyers now. The most common thread I see with them is they were on their Speech & Debate team in high school and continued into college. I'd highly recommend doing that and you'll find the experience very rewarding towards the subject as well. I did speech & debate for a semester in college until I went into my current career and it was a fantastic experience.
Blake H.
Business
478
Answers
Updated
Blake’s Answer
Hey Franklin,
I would like to preface this with the fact that I am not a lawyer, however, it was one of my original career interests. What I was always told was to practice was reading, as well as public speaking. I'm not sure if this was the best advice, but seems like it would be important for the field.
Blake
I would like to preface this with the fact that I am not a lawyer, however, it was one of my original career interests. What I was always told was to practice was reading, as well as public speaking. I'm not sure if this was the best advice, but seems like it would be important for the field.
Blake
Erica Favela-Johnson
Tax Accounting
7
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Erica’s Answer
I would focus on taking classes in History, Government, Social Science, and if there's any type of Introduction to Law. It just depends on what is offered in your high school. I would also reach out to you guidance counselor and ask them. Finally, depending on what grade you are in, you could take a community college class related to the courses I mentioned before and possibly get dual credit (high school and college credits). Good luck.
Fiona Meow
Legal Counsel
123
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Fiona’s Answer
I found history and English to be more relevant. Some recommend Latin because a lot of legal terms are in Latin - i did not take this and it was still fine so not strictly necessary.