How can be a lawyer

Powered by. Skills and experience employers are looking for Hi there , have any of these? Administrative Law. Interpersonal Sensitivity. Judgement and Decision Making. Analytical Thinking.

Team Work. Sign in or Register. Based on your skills, here are some roles to explore. Roles where your skills are commonly valued by employers. Upskill with an online short course Get instant access to online training for these in-demand Lawyer skills.

Is Lawyer the right role for me? Job market trends for Lawyers. Source: SEEK. Latest Lawyer reviews. Being a Lawyer is intellectually stimulating, if you are in the right role. Reviewer's Qualification.

The work can be interesting and challenging at times. Developing your own research is imperative to the role as a young Lawyer it is not unusual to be asked about things that you or your supervisors Depending on the area in which you practice, there will be tasks that are necessary and of great importance to the practice group, however, for the person executing them ie. Read more. Being a lawyer in a volunteer legal centre is rewarding and helps the people of the community.

When you are restricted by others or have clients that do not follow sound advice. Explore similar careers. See all Legal careers. One exception is for someone that is interested in property law. A person who wishes to practice property law will need to have a degree in math or a technical science such as computer science, electrical engineering, chemistry, or biology.

The reason for this is that a property lawyer has to sit for the patent bar as well as the bar which requires a math or technical science degree. This test is required for any law school that has been approved by the ABA as well as most law schools in Canada. Law schools use this information to assess their applicants. Many schools also use the LSAT as a factor when determining financial aid.

The LSAT is administered around the world at hundreds of different locations four times each year. Most schools will require that the LSAT be taken by the month of December in order to be admitted to law school for the following fall semester. However, it is recommended taking the test in October or June if possible. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to even be eligible to take the bar exam, you first need a legal education that culminates with a law degree typically the Juris Doctor.

In most states, you must graduate from an accredited law school in order to be eligible to take the bar exam. In other states, you can attend an unaccredited law school, but you must complete additional testing requirements. Law schools have their own requirements for admission and graduation.

Admission to law school is selective. Most law schools admit students who have an undergraduate degree and a good grade point average. Applicants typically must submit scores from the LSAT.

Law school requires three years of full-time study, but students who choose to study part time can take four or five years to complete their education. It is a prerequisite for writing the bar exam in all but three U. The final step to becoming a lawyer is to write and pass the bar exam. In some states, the passing rate is only 40 percent. The bar exam usually consists of multiple choice and essay questions that evaluate your knowledge of state law and your ability to apply the law critically to various fact scenarios.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that lawyers typically work in an office setting. While lawyers might occasionally have to hit the pavement in order to meet with a client or find a witness, most of what attorneys do happens behind a desk. Lawyers do require a wide range of academic and interpersonal skills. Lawyers need to know how to use technology. Whether a lawyer works in private practice, for a government agency or even as a judge, they have to work with various software systems.

Most law firms use a case management system to manage files and bill clients. At the very least, attorneys must type and use software systems for basic document preparation.

Several free and paid services offer attorneys access to software for legal research. An attorney must be able to listen to the client in order to understand the specifics of their situation. Cases often hinge on the details, and a lawyer must be able to pick up on those details.

When a judge gives an oral opinion and directs the parties to reduce it to writing, an attorney has to be able to make an accurate record of what the judge says. Lawyers spend their careers receiving good news and bad.

They have to tactfully negotiate with opposing counsel. Sometimes, the wheels of justice turn slowly. Attorneys have to have the patience to weather these ups and downs. For attorneys in private practice, the business of practicing law means running a business. Lawyers must know how to sign clients, how to bill and how to process payments. They must learn how to market their business and how to choose wisely among potential clients.

Most attorneys must have an understanding of business management in order to work effectively. Lawyers have to understand and analyze large amounts of information. Then, they need to effectively communicate this information in writing. Some legal specialties lean primarily on speaking, while other careers focus entirely on writing. However, all lawyers need to be able to read, write, and speak effectively.

Lawyers need to be able to apply facts to law. They must be able to look at a situation and determine if the rule applies and whether any exceptions apply to the rule.

Attorneys have to be able to create logical arguments, reason and evaluate the arguments of others. Most law schools teach the same basic first-year courses, but from there, law schools vary considerably. If you already know your chosen specialty, you can choose the law school that has a clinic focus or elective courses in your chosen field. Some law schools have generous scholarship and grant programs that can defray the cost of a legal education.

You might consider your financial aid package when you make a decision. Most lawyers practice in a small, niche area of law. Many areas of law are inherently complex, and no attorney could effectively understand them all. Those who represent and defend the accused may be called criminal law attorneys or defense attorneys. Attorneys also work for federal, state, and local governments. Prosecutors typically work for the government to file a lawsuit, or charge, against an individual or corporation accused of violating the law.

Some may also work as public defense attorneys , representing individuals who could not afford to hire their own private attorney. Others may work as government counsels for administrative bodies and executive or legislative branches of government.

They write and interpret laws and regulations and set up procedures to enforce them. Government counsels also write legal reviews of agency decisions.

They argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government. Corporate counsels , also called in-house counsels , are lawyers who work for corporations. These issues may involve patents, government regulations, contracts with other companies, property interests, taxes, or collective-bargaining agreements with unions.

Public-interest lawyers work for private, nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to disadvantaged people or others who otherwise might not be able to afford legal representation. They generally handle civil cases, such as those having to do with leases, job discrimination, and wage disputes, rather than criminal cases. In addition to working in different industries, lawyers may specialize in particular legal fields.

Following are examples of types of lawyers in these fields:. Environmental lawyers deal with issues and regulations that are related to the environment. For example, they may work for advocacy groups, waste disposal companies, or government agencies to help ensure compliance with relevant laws.

Tax lawyers handle a variety of tax-related issues for individuals and corporations. They may help clients navigate complex tax regulations, so that clients pay the appropriate tax on items such as income, profits, and property.

For example, tax lawyers may advise a corporation on how much tax it needs to pay from profits made in different states in order to comply with Internal Revenue Service IRS rules. Intellectual property lawyers deal with the laws related to inventions, patents, trademarks, and creative works, such as music, books, and movies.

Family lawyers handle a variety of legal issues that pertain to the family. They may advise clients regarding divorce, child custody, and adoption proceedings. Securities lawyers work on legal issues arising from the buying and selling of stocks, ensuring that all disclosure requirements are met. They may advise corporations that are interested in listing in the stock exchange through an initial public offering IPO or in buying shares in another corporation.

Lawyers work mostly in offices. However, some travel to attend meetings with clients at various locations, such as homes, hospitals, or prisons. Others travel to appear before courts. Lawyers may face heavy pressure during work—for example, during trials or when trying to meet deadlines. The majority of lawyers work full time and many work more than 40 hours per week. Lawyers who are in private practice and those who work in large firms often work additional hours, conducting research and preparing and reviewing documents.

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor J. ABA accreditation signifies that the law school—particularly its curricula and faculty—meets certain standards. A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into most law schools.

Undergraduate fields of study may include law and legal studies , history , or social science. Law students may choose specialized courses in areas such as tax, labor, and corporate law.

The requirements vary by state and jurisdiction. For more details on individual state and jurisdiction requirements, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Most states require that applicants graduate from an ABA-accredited law school, pass one or more written bar exams, and be found by an admitting board to have the character to represent and advise others.

Prior felony convictions, academic misconduct, and a history of substance abuse are just some factors that may disqualify an applicant from being admitted to the bar. After graduation, lawyers must keep informed about legal developments that affect their practices. Almost all states require lawyers to participate in continuing legal education either every year or every 3 years. Many law schools and state and local bar associations provide continuing legal education courses that help lawyers stay current with recent developments.

Courses vary by state and generally cover a subject within the practice of law, such as legal ethics, taxes and tax fraud, and healthcare. Some states allow lawyers to take continuing education credits through online courses.