Lawyer Education
If you want a career as a lawyer, you must be willing to endure a rigorous and long educational and training process to earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.). Many people believe a lawyer’s education begins after high school, when in fact it begins during those years. Student’s who want to excel above the rest of their class during high school, undergraduate and graduate levels of education need to pay extra attention to specific classes offered in the various levels of education. Like medical professionals, it’s generally the students who rank top in their class who go on to work in prestigious law firms, making the highest of lawyer salaries.
After high school, it usually takes 7 years (4 years of undergraduate education and 3 years of law school) of full-time study to become a lawyer. Let’s breakdown each level of education and go over which courses one should elect to take.
A Lawyer’s Education: High School
High school is a critical time in a teenager’s life. Many teens choose to utilize their time getting into trouble or doing things that are unproductive. When in fact, they should be taking advantage of the education they’re being offered. Student’s who dream of becoming a lawyer in high school should take these additional courses:
- Economics
- Humanities
- Social Studies
- History
- Communications
- Debate
- Foreign Languages
- English
- Government
- Mathematics
Many high schools require student’s to take one or more of these classes as a requirement for graduation. However, many students choose not to take honor classes in these subjects. Honor classes give students a deeper understanding of the subject, which prepares them for future educational courses that are similar and usually required in the next level of education.
A Lawyer’s Education: Undergraduate Degree
There is no required pre-law undergraduate major, however, future lawyers should develop skills during their undergraduate years in a variety of areas such as writing, speaking, researching, analyzing, reading, and thinking logically. Courses that should be taken to help you develop these necessary skills include:
- English
- Foreign Language
- Communications
- Debate
- Analytics
- Economics
- History
- Philosophy
- Government
- Public Speaking
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Contracts
It’s important, not necessary, for a prospective lawyer to figure out what type of lawyer they want to be. For example, if you’re interested in becoming a Tax Lawyer, you may want to take additional courses in mathematics and accounting. If you’re interested in becoming a family lawyer, you may want to take additional courses in psychology. Taking courses that will help you become the specific type of attorney you want to be can be beneficial during law school. Remember, you have four years before you can complete your undergraduate educational requirements, so take your time and decide which type of lawyer you want to be when the time is right.
A Lawyer’s Education: Law School
Entering law school doesn’t require a specific type of undergraduate law degree, however it does require one. Law schools vary when it comes to acceptance factors. Generally, law schools look at an applicant’s undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores, prior work experience, where you received your undergraduate education, and how well you demonstrate the ability to study law. Sometimes, the law school requires personal interviews as a part of their enrolling process. There are over 200 ABA-accredited law schools and all of these schools require applicants to take the LSAT, but again, many of them vary on their acceptance requirements.
During the first year to year and a half of law school, a student can expect to take courses such as:
- Constitutional Law
- Property Law
- Torts
- Contracts
- Civil Procedure
- Legal Writing
- Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
- Legal Method
During the remaining year and a half to two years law school, students are allowed to focus more on their specialty or field of interest, as many law students take courses in:
- Corporate Law
- Labor Laws
- Politics
- Tax Law
- Commercial Law
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Professional Responsibility
- Wills and Trusts
- Civil Litigation
- Administrative Law
- International Law
- Environmental Law
- Conflict of Laws
- Criminal Procedure
- Jurisprudence
Law students also participate in events to gain more practical experience through:
- School-sponsored legal clinics
- Moot court competitions, conducting appellate arguments
- Joining school teams, clubs and organizations, e.g. debate team
- Practice trials under the supervision of experienced lawyers and judges
- Research and writing on legal issues for the school’s law journals
- Part-time or summer clerkships in law firms, government agencies and/or corporate legal departments
Gaining experience during your final years of law school should be at the top of a prospective lawyer’s priority list. Many of these events can lead to careers or jobs after graduation. Plus, getting involved in these types of events can help a prospective lawyer narrow down their specific field of interest. You may or may not want to do a specific type of job as a lawyer, and these events allow you to realize that, and allow you to continue to focus your education and experience on something that interests you.
