Becoming a Lawyer

[aplefka]

My dad's a lawyer and after 20 years, he hates it. And he's managed money really poorly so we're always in a financial bind somehow.

If you really do wanna go through with it, just remember that unless you work for a business/corporation, you're never guaranteed a check at the end of each month.

 

[Kelemvor]

Just watch lots of Law & Order. It's on like 5 times a day.

 

[Orsorum]

<--- going to work (hopefully) as a tax accountant for three/four years, then coming back for my JD. Woo.

 

[Frenchie]

The answer depends upon what state you live in.

Generally:
1. Obtain a bachelors degree from an accredited college. The major doesnt really matter. Some law schools prefer non pre-law/CJ majors to add some diversity.
GPA, activities, and leadership roles are important.
2. Take LSAT. The higher your grade, the better the chance of acceaptance to law school as well as better chance for a scholorship
3. Obtain a JD from an accredited law school.
4. Apply for the state bar exam. (A few states only require that you graduate from a law school in their state, no bar exam necessary.) The application process generally entails, fees, criminal background check, drivers license check, credit check, reference check, etc.
5. Pass bar exam.
6. Apply for admission to the states bar (may need a sponsor)
7. To start/continue practicing, you may need to take exams (as in NJ) or Continuing Legal Education credits (as in PA), pay annual fees, and do pro bono work.

I'm licensed in NJ and PA and used to be a volunteer in my law schools admission and recruitment dept.

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Just watch lots of Law & Order. It's on like 5 times a day.

:thumbsup:

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Frenchie
4. Apply for the state bar exam. (A few states only require that you graduate from a law school in their state, no bar exam necessary.) The application process generally entails, fees, criminal background check, drivers license check, credit check, reference check, etc.

So if you don't have a criminal background, they figure you're not going to be a good lawyer?

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Frenchie
4. Apply for the state bar exam. (A few states only require that you graduate from a law school in their state, no bar exam necessary.) The application process generally entails, fees, criminal background check, drivers license check, credit check, reference check, etc.

So if you don't have a criminal background, they figure you're not going to be a good lawyer?

i think its more of an ethics issue. in your law school applications, they also ask you to disclose a criminal background. if you don't pass the background check later when you take the bar, it's almost pointless to even go to law school in the first place.

it's the moral character test, i forget what it's called exactly. yeah yeah make all the jokes you want, but the state bars don't want convincted felons becoming lawyers.

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: alent1234
don't listen to what anyone says, most lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom. Trial lawyers a tiny part all lawyers. if you get into a good law school you can make $100,000 a year starting doing corporate law

Oh yeah, corporate law. Now THAT'S a nice profession with no reputation for poor morality.

management makes the decisions

you are there to tell them of the legal ramifications and risk

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: freesia39
i think its more of an ethics issue. in your law school applications, they also ask you to disclose a criminal background. if you don't pass the background check later when you take the bar, it's almost pointless to even go to law school in the first place.

it's the moral character test, i forget what it's called exactly. yeah yeah make all the jokes you want, but the state bars don't want convincted felons becoming lawyers.

Yeah, I suppose you wouldn't be much of a lawyer if you got CONVICTED of your crimes...

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: Anonemous

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Just watch lots of Law & Order. It's on like 5 times a day.

:thumbsup:

don't forget to watch My Cousin Vinny at least 10 times

 

[Frenchie]

As a member of the bar and office of the court, you hold a position of public trust. As such, there are strict rules about money handling, safekeeping of documents and information, disclosures, etc. Part of that is confirming that you dont have a criminal history. They even require that you fully disclose any charges that were brought, but dropped, any arrests that didnt lead to charges, and any expundements. If you had any charges or convictions for things like frud, theft, deception, embezzlement, or any related/similar moral crimes. ("Crime Involving Moral Turpitude").

Actually, the early episodes of Law & Order were used for illustrative purposes in some law school's criminal law classes.

 

[kermalou]

speeling in imrortant

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580

Originally posted by: Anonemous

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Just watch lots of Law & Order. It's on like 5 times a day.

:thumbsup:

don't forget to watch My Cousin Vinny at least 10 times

Vinny Gambini: Yeah, everything that guy just said is bullshit... Thank you.
D.A. Jim Trotter: Objection. Counsel's entire opening statement is argument.
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Sustained. Counselor's entire opening statement, with the exception of "Thank you" will be stricken from the record.

 

[CptObvious]

1. Get a B.A. or B.S.
2. Take the LSAT

That's pretty much it. There's no set curriculum. I got into law school with a psychology degree (and I was pre-med before I switched).

As someone who's about to graduate without any job prospects, I wouldn't recommend it :thumbsdown:

 

[thegimp03]

Make sure you maintain a very high gpa in college as well as some of what other people have mentioned. Good law schools won't look at you if you have below a 3.8 sometimes. Getting 170s on your LSAT helps a lot too.

 

[Spencer278]

If you go kill someone, you can be a laywer with out having to deal with any of that Law School BS.

 

[axelfox]

from my experience, working in a law firm is VERY boring. If you have a short attention span, forget it. Most of the stuff you'll do is research and writing. Again, very few lawyers see the inside of a courtroom and less than 10% of all cases go to trial. I learned awhile back that I ain't working as an attorney for very long.

But that's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[AndrewR]

Favorite quote from Arrested Development: "They're lawyers. That's Latin for 'liar'!" Just found that hilarious. No offense, Frenchie or DonVito.

 

[Frenchie]

axelfox: Depends what firm your with and what the area of specialty is. I was at one firm where I hardly left the office. I was at another where I was in court so often, I was barely even used my office.

AndrewR: No offense taken. I frequently put lawyer jokes on my exams.