Becoming a Lawyer in the USA
Like anywhere else in the world the demand for legal services continues in the United States and its increase or
decrease may depend on prevailing economic factors. Despite the high level of competition in the legal job market, there is also an increasing number of law students waiting to enter the market. In such a dynamic environment, it is important that you decide your future career options in the US carefully before deciding to study law.
Typically lawyers in the USA hold profiles ranging from defence attorneys, government counsels, corporate counsels (also known as in-house counsels) to legal aid lawyers. Lawyers can specialise in a particular area such as environmental law, tax law, intellectual property law, family law, securities lawyers, etc. Apart from these, they can also consider becoming arbitrators, mediators, or conciliators. If eligible they may become judges or hearing officers where they apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.
Some students enter law school directly from their undergraduate studies without having had any basic work experience while others take a break from their work to pursue specific topics to enhance their future career prospects. FIND YOUR PERFECT LLM PROGRAM
Do You Need An LLM?
Although an LLM is not a necessary qualification to have when you want to become a lawyer in the United States, many of the skills needed can be learnt – or at least enhanced – by studying an LLM program. Essential skills such as reasoning, presentation, research and communication skills are all an intrinsic part of studying an LLM program. Therefore if you want to become a lawyer and are interested in expanding your knowledge in a particular field – and want to enhance your CV at the same time – an LLM program is well worth considering. Find out more here.
Skills Needed To Become A Lawyer
The American Bar Association suggests that to become a lawyer you must possess the following:
* A skill in applying applicable law to the facts of each case
* Good vocabulary
* Sound reasoning skills
* The ability to understand complex written material as well as to write clearly and concisely
* A good memory
* Good listening skills
* The ability to communicate well orally
Other skills that you should demonstrate to succeed in this career include:
* Good analytical skills
* Strong communication, research and problem-solving abilities
Financing your studies
Legal education is a long-term investment for your future. It is important that you look into LLM funding and weigh your options carefully before applying for study loans. Run through the scholarships, grants, and fellowships well in advance – and ascertain how these could help you complete your training.
4 main stages in becoming a lawyer in the United States
Completing a Bachelors Degree
You may choose from several subjects to help you prepare for law school. It is advised that courses in English, history, political science and economics can be completed within a variety of majors and can give students an idea of what area of law they want to pursue. However it is very important that you perform well in your undergraduate degree to gain entry into the right law school.
Appearing for the LSAT exam
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an exam that you must take before entering law school. It is offered four times every year and tests your reading and verbal reasoning skills. This is one of several factors that law schools will take into consideration before assessing applicants. Questions on the exam cover reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning.
Enrolling into Law School
Lawyers are required to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school accredited by the ABA. Students are shortlisted based on several criteria including GPAs, LSAT scores, statement of reason, etc.
General requirements for application:
As mentioned above, you will need to have a bachelors degree or its equivalent (4-year university degree) in any subject
Register for the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)
Submit LSAT scores
Recommendations
TOEFL scores if English is not your native language
Financial documents showing proof of funds
It is advised that during law school, you invest time in considering your future options and building your CV. Participate in co-curricular activities such as moot court competitions and debates and keep an eye out for holiday internship opportunities that are advertised.
Sitting for the Bar Exam
Bar exams are considered as the toughest form of exams in the US. Each state requires law graduates to pass the bar exam in order to practice law. While each state may offer their own exam, some states have adopted the Uniform Bar Exam, which allows lawyers to practice in any other state that also accepts this exam. The exam is prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and composed of questions from the Multistate Essay Examination, Multistate Bar Examination and Multistate Performance Test. Some states may allow students to take the bar exam before they graduate law school.
To get help with exam preparation, students enrol in bar review courses which assist them in reviewing substantive law, drafting, tests and training in multiple choice questions.
Other considerations
The criteria for eligibility to take bar examinations or to qualify for bar admission are set by each state’s bar association. Therefore you are advised to consult the advisory for the specific state’s jurisdiction based on your choice of state in which you plan to practice.
While completion of an LLM degree in the US (for a foreign graduate) does not guarantee eligibility to take a bar examination, some states may make it eligible to take the bar exam on this basis alone, through a recognised law school. Please check websites such as the American Bar Association for updates on Bar Admission requirements.
If things go well and you pass the bar exam, you could be offered a position in the law firm that accepted your interest and agreed to offer you the position subject to you clearing the bar exam. It is important that you remember to identify well in choosing the right law firm including your interest in a specific area of practice. Things will be much easier if you find a job as an intern at a law firm or familiarised yourself well in the area. Having consistently excellent grades in law school also adds significant value to your credentials.
Best 10 U.S. Law Schools in 2021 and How They’ll Help You Become a Lawyer
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If you’re preparing to apply to law schools in the United States, you are most certainly eager to know which are the best universities and colleges.
Law school rankings from America are by far the most stable ones, which have barely changed in the last 20 years. Very often, the only difference is the order of the first ten universities, which is slightly different every year. You could say that the only thing that matters is that you got admitted to a top law school in the US, no matter which one it is.
On the other hand, some of you have to follow the family tradition and go to a specific college, the one from which all your family members graduated. For others, it is important to get admitted to one of the top three or top five from the ranking.
View Law Masters in the U.S.
One thing is sure, though: American law schools and colleges have a long and outstanding tradition in excellent academic teaching. While it is important to take note of these annual rankings, you should make your final decision based on multiple criteria set by your own judgement.
Best law schools in the U.S. in 2022
According to the U.S. News, these are the best law schools in America:
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Columbia University
- University of Chicago
- New York University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Virginia
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- Duke University
Here are other American law schools we recommend:
- Northeastern University
- Wichita State University
- Pepperdine University
- National University
If you want to know what former students of these top law schools think about their experience, here are some of their reviews:
- Reviews of Harvard University
- Reviews of Columbia University
- Reviews of New York University
- Reviews of Duke University
How to get into the best law school in the United States
You should know that compared to Europe, law schools in the United States have different requirements. These are the steps you need to follow during the admission:
- Complete a Bachelor’s degree – it can be related to Law studies, but that is not mandatory. Law schools accept all candidates that finished a Bachelor’s degree, regardless of their former fields of study.
- Take the LSAT – an official exam that tests your critical and analytical abilities – necessary for further pursuing a Law degree.
- Decide on two or three law schools and start applying.
Types of Law degrees in the U.S.
Juris Doctor
All law schools in the US, both public and private, grant the J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree that is required to practice law in the country. A J.D program involves three years of study for full-time Law students and four years for part-time students.
Master of Laws (L.L.M.)
A Master of Laws degree is a one-year full-time study course after finishing a J.D. program. An L.L.M. is designated for those students that want to further improve the knowledge of a particular area of law or for foreign students that need to additionally adjust to the U.S. legal system.
Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)
The Doctor of Judicial Science degree is similar to a usual PhD program and it is the highest academic degree in the legal field. An S.J.D. lasts three years and is more often pursued by students who are interested in teaching Law. However, most law schools from the States provide a small number of S.J.D. programs.
Teaching style and curriculum at U.S. law schools
During the three or four years of studying Law, you will have classes that will cover topics such as administrative law, legal theory, analytical legal methods, bankruptcy, business law and ethics, civil rights, constitutional law and much more.
Between the 2nd and 3rd year, most local and international students in the United States engage in an internship program in order to gain practical experience that can sometimes lead to a future job after graduation.
Beginning with the 3rd year, you can choose elective courses tailored for the particular Law specialization that will define your future career.
Specializations in Law in the United States include:
Law degree studies use the Socratic method
A popular practice in terms of teaching and learning style in all law schools from the USA is called the Socrates method.
Following the premises of the antic philosopher that had the habit of asking and debating different people about various philosophical ideas, law teachers from the U.S. are known to challenge students to analyze and present arguments to various law issues, similar to stating a case in court.
Although this is not an easy task for students, American teachers consider it is the best tool to prepare future law professionals to be critical, analytical and quick problem-solvers.
You can also check out online Bachelors and Masters in Law and study a degree offered by an American university from the comfort of your home.
Passing the bar exam to become a lawyer in the U.S.
After successfully finishing Law school, you have to take one more step that will help you to become a genuine lawyer, and that is passing the bar exam.
You can take the bar exam in any state, but you have to select the exact state where you plan to practice law. Each state has its own rules for bar admission and once you are admitted in one state, most often you will only be allowed to work as a lawyer in that state only.
There are some exceptions, as some states have signed agreements in this sense, giving law professionals the right to practice without having to take another bar exam.
Why become a lawyer in the U.S.?
You’ve probably heard a thousand reasons why being a lawyer in America is so intense and fascinating. To start with, the U.S. is a big country and that inevitably leads to numerous career possibilities. Second, the legal system of the States is by far the most transparent, challenging, surprising and straightforward – all at the same time.
Last, but not least, the lawyer profession is extremely rewarding from any point of view. Financially, the annual income of a “fresh” lawyer starts at around 160,000 USD. Morally speaking, you will get to be an every-day hero for many people and actually make a difference in their lives.
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