Have you thought about becoming an attorney at law but don’t know much about the profession? In this blog we talk in detail about everything related to the profession and how you can become an attorney as well.
Before you dive head straight into the field it is always a good idea to first learn about the profession, what you will be studying and what will your job be like. This clears out any misconceptions that you may have and also gives you an insight about the profession. It also mentally prepares you for what may come towards you down the line. Nowadays, everything is available online and you can find various online resources where you can watch the professional life of attorneys and the coursework they have to study. It is also a good idea to visit any practicing attorney near you and ask them questions you may have about the profession.
Strong communication skills equal a good career at law
Strong communication and persuasive skills are a law attorney’s most important tool. No matter how good you are at fact finding and case building, if you cannot convey that effectively in court your client does not win. This means you need to have strong communication skills which you can use to convey your message in the most effective way possible. If your communication skills are not as good as you think they should be, you should work on them. There are mentors you can seek help from to enhance your communication skills and making sure they’re as sharp as you need them to be.
You can also take part in activities such as debates competition or public speaking. This is a great way not only to enhance your skills but also prepare you to speak in front of people. This can help you boost your confidence and give you that push you are looking for to get you started.
Attend Law school or read law as a legal apprentice
You may not know but there are more than one ways to becoming a lawyer, however the other option is not legally allowed in a lot of states anymore. Nowadays, most of the people who want to pursue a career as a lawyer go to a law school to get a law degree. This has become a requirement in a lot of the states; however, some states don’t require you to have a degree in law in order to be an attorney at law.
Not long ago, people were allowed to become a lawyer without a law degree. To become a lawyer following this route, the aspirants had to spend years under the supervision of a practicing attorney. This method was referred to as “reading the law”. Although this was a common practice a few years ago, it is not followed much now as some states require a law degree in order for you to qualify as a lawyer. There are however some states that still do not require a law degree and the method of “law reading” can still be followed in those states. As compared to getting a law degree, it takes more time and effort to become a lawyer if you wish to follow this method.
Get good scores on your LSAT / GRE exam
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a traditional way of getting in a law school. It is the most followed method taken by students to get into a law school as well. Although the test is hard, you need a good score to improve your chances of getting in a law school. Although most law schools only accept LSAT as a formal entrance exam. Some have started accepting Graduate Record Examinations test as well. This is a general form of test and you can enter your GRE exam score instead of LSAT score. Just make sure the law school you are applying to accepts GRE score if you want to give GRE instead of LSAT.
Attend a good law school
Now that you have received a good LSAT / GRE score, it is time to get into the actual law school. While deciding on which law school to attend, you should make sure that the school you wish to attend not only educates you about law but also develops other soft skills that will help you in your career. Moreover, a good law school will also prepare you for the kind of job you will be pursuing in your professional career.
When choosing a law school, look for one that has a good reputation in the industry. This will increase your chances of landing a good job at a good law firm. To find out about what a law school has to offer to its students, you can visit the school and get all the details about how they plan to prepare you to become a good attorney at law.
Get admitted to a bar
Finally, one last thing that is keeping you from becoming an attorney at law is a bar test. In order to practice law as a lawyer, you need to pass the bar exam of the jurisdiction you intend to practice in. Only after you have passed the exam can you legally practice law in the United States. Some bar exams can be difficult than others so make sure you properly study before you appear in one. A thorough six to eight weeks of study before the bar exam can help you in passing the bar and finally making you eligible to become a lawyer.
Areas of law a lawyer can practice
There are 12 different areas a lawyer can practice in depending on their interests. They are as follows:
-
Bankruptcy lawyer
Bankruptcy lawyers handle insolvency issues for individuals or corporations. Being experts in the US bankruptcy code, they can specialize either in consumer bankruptcy or commercial bankruptcy. The role of a bankruptcy lawyer includes solutions for financial restructuring, plan confirmations and valuation disputes.
-
Corporate Lawyer
Corporate lawyers also known as business lawyers make sure that all the legal matters of a business are in place. They ensure that the business they represent follows the laws of the land and do not do anything illegal. This type of lawyers find themselves performing mergers, acquisitions, patents etc.
-
Constitutional Lawyer
The job of constitutional lawyers is to deal with the interpretation and implementation of the US constitution. They also work to make sure that the interests of government institutions are balance with the interests of individuals.
-
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Criminal defense lawyers represent individuals accused of criminal activities in court of law. They fight to ensure that their clients are given all the rights and try their best to prove them innocent in court of law.
-
Employment and labor lawyer
The job of employment and labor lawyers is to make sure that the work environment of the business they represent is safe for workers. They are responsible for dealing with issues such as discrimination, harassment etc. Handling relationships between employers and employees is also a part of such lawyers.
-
Entertainment Lawyers
These lawyers get to represent celebrities related to the entertainment industry such as athletes, artists, etc. Their job is to make sure that the individual they represent is properly legally represented. They also safe guard the intellectual property of their clients. Other roles of an entertainment lawyer include contract negotiation, fee arrangements etc.
-
Estate Planning Lawyer
These lawyers are related with the matters of property such as wills, trusts etc. They provide legal assistance to their clients and aid them in property related issues and disputes.
-
Family Lawyer
Although they are mostly known for their roles in divorce settlements, child custodies etc. there is more to what a family lawyer can do. Family lawyers over also look matters such as guardianship, juvenile delinquency, and other family related issues.
-
Immigration Lawyer
Immigration lawyers such as Richard S. Kolomejec help people in all sorts of immigrations. They can provide consultation to their clients, help them in properly filling out the paperwork required for immigration and provide legal representation if need be. Their job is to make sure that their clients have all the required paperwork filled out properly and protect their rights during the process of immigration.
-
Intellectual Property Lawyer
These lawyers are responsible for protecting the rights and creations of inventors, artists, etc. They overlook the matters of trademarking, copyrighting, patenting etc.
-
Personal Injury Lawyer
Charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights of clients who sustain injury, these lawyers make sure that the damages owed to you are paid. This can be because of a car accident, workplace accident or any incident that has caused an injury to their client.
-
Tax Lawyer
As the name suggests, tax lawyers’ main responsibilities include tax planning, tax law interpretation, etc. They understand tax laws and have to keep themselves updated with frequent changes in tax laws. They can work in a variety of settings such as corporations, for profit and nonprofit organizations, etc.
Final Words
Starting a career in law can be intimidating. However, getting the right guidance can help boost your career. Are you looking for career guidance or just some advice about law? Contact the office of Richard S. Kolomejec to get the legal advice you require. We provide services in immigration law to make sure you get the best chance in immigrating to the land of opportunities. Book an appointment today and make your dreams come true.
