It is a very long road in order to become a recognized and high paid lawyer. The first step in this long journey is taking law and/or business classes in high school. These classes will give you an early understanding on the career. They will also introduce the basics on the career. The next step is graduating high school. Your chances of becoming a successful lawyer without your high school diploma are extremely slim. Almost every single firm in the country requires a high school graduation. Getting an internship at a law firm while still in high school or when graduated would be very helpful because it will show you hands on what the job is about. After high school, the minimum requirements for becoming a lawyer are a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school and passing the a written bar examination. To get into law school you will also have to take the LSAT (law school admission test). These requirements can vary though, each state has their own laws. Federal courts and agencies have their own requirements. The competition is very fierce to get into law schools.
To become a successful lawyer, there are many skills one must have. Being a good leader and speaker are two of the most important skills a person should have. Another important thing is to score high on the LSAT (law school admission test) and on the bar examination to stand out. Once in a law firm or other company, climb the career ladder to get better and bigger cases. The hours worked as a lawyer vary depending on the firm and also what work is being worked on. When working on a big case, long working hours and time on the weekends for research is expected. As a lawyer becomes more recognized and when he begins to win bigger cases, he will move up the ladder in his firm. Typical work will be doing research on the case and also working with the patient and giving him legal advice. About 70% of all lawyers in the United States work in private firms, businesses, or alone. Lawyers can work and represent banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies, manufacturing firms, and other businesses. Lawyers can also work in the government. Most lawyers that work within the government work at the local level, very few make it high in the federal government. They hold positions in the department of justice, treasury, and defense. A lawyer should always dress very professionally. He should wear business attire, such as a suit, at all times.
Lawyers offer many great opportunities for people but they also have their advantages and disadvantages. I think that this is a good career for me because I am a good debater, leader, speaker, and I am very confident in myself. I also want to become a good lawyer so that I can be respected. I also think that it is the right career for me because I like a variation of jobs and being a lawyer you do lots of everything. The salary will start out low but as I move up the ladder it will increase and that is what I am looking for. Some disadvantages of being a lawyer is that it is a very competitive job and also requires long hours sometimes. As you reach the higher levels, it gets extremely competitive.
I learned a lot about myself during the research process. I had an idea of wanting to become a lawyer but now I more convinced in that I want to become one. As I gathered information about the career, I realized that the job was perfect for me.
