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You have likely stumbled on this article because you are interested in becoming a lawyer, but you are not yet sure if it is the right career path for you.
Choosing a job that you will be doing for the rest of your life is never an easy thing to do. To make it easier, you should pick something that you would enjoy spending your time on.
Certain personality traits are better suited for some jobs over others, and that is why you will need to decide whether or not the qualities of a lawyer align with who you are as a person.
Below are some tips on what is required of you in order to become a lawyer in the first place.
The qualities of a lawyer
Your first priority should always be to determine whether or not you could picture yourself in the role of a lawyer. Have you thought about what qualities make up a successful lawyer? Can you see them in yourself?
Some key characteristics include:
- Good communication skills
- Critical and analytical
- Research skills
- People skills
- Perseverance
Picking an undergraduate degree
Before you are able to attend law school, you will need to select a college major. Ideally, you want to prepare yourself for law school during this time by enrolling in a degree that will benefit you later on.
Some options could include a degree in criminal justice or criminology, economics, and business. That being said, your undergraduate degree can be in anything from history, communication, or something else entirely.
Studying for the LSAT
Once you have finished your undergraduate degree, the next logical step is to prepare for the law school entrance exam. This is known as studying for the LSAT. This will require several weeks, if not months’ worth of preparation.
The exam is primarily geared towards testing your ability to think critically. The score you receive will determine whether or not you will get into law school.
Passing the bar exam
Unfortunately, your time spent studying has not yet ended quite yet. You now will have to pass the bar exam at the end of law school in order to be qualified to work as a lawyer.
Networking and finding a job
The last step will require you to network and find a job.
First, you should get into the habit of using online websites that are specifically geared towards finding jobs in your niche. One example of this includes the specialist lawyer jobs that are posted online on Law Absolute.
Alternatively, you can also attend industry-relevant events where you can talk to people that are working in the field that you want to work in.
When it comes to your career path, you are the only one that can decide whether or not you are making the right choice. However, it’s important that you are sure about your decision. After all, a large portion of your day will be spent at work. Might as well make it a great day!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”
I thought about becoming a lawyer but in the end it just wasn’t for me so I decided to just get a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice instead.
That’s a great degree!! My niece is leaning toward that 🙂
Some major tips, definitely seek out specific guidelines on your road to becoming a lawyer. Nice!
It’s def not a field for everyone but some people just seem meant to do it lol.