It doesn’t hurt to take Latin if your school offers it. Many legal terms are in Latin, so knowing the language will give you a heads up and keep you from having to memorize a bunch of foreign terms. Take classes such as criminal justice for electives, if offered. These classes will give you an introduction to the legal issues faced by attorneys every day.
If you want to practice criminal law, you should look into getting a degree in criminology or criminal justice. If you wanted to work in insurance or healthcare law, a nursing degree is recommended. A business or accounting degree is very helpful for corporate and real estate law. Try to keep your GPA as high as possible to improve your chances of getting into a good law school and potentially qualify you for scholarship money. Avoid too many withdrawals on your transcript. Although law school admissions do not care if you withdrew once or twice, many withdrawals may leave the admission officer suspicious and question your dedication to your academics.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure what area of law you want to practice in yet. You have plenty of time to decide, and many people don’t make their final decision until they’re already in law school. Use this time to explore areas that capture your interest. It is a good idea to work at a law firm as a file clerk or receptionist so you can see the behind-the-scenes work of what lawyers actually do to help make a more informed decision if lawyering is for you. It is generally advised you do not work as a paralegal because it is a separate career that can be heavy in terms of the workload and hours.
The LSAT is a measure of your reading comprehension and verbal reasoning skills. You can pick up study guides online or in bookstores. There are also prep classes available that you can attend. Start studying for the test as soon as possible. Do at least 3 practice tests under simulated test conditions before you sit for the actual test. If you receive testing accommodations for a disability, you may request accommodations for the LSAT through the Law School Admissions Council website.
Apply to at least one “reach” school. This is a school with a low acceptance rate, or one for which your test scores and GPA fall at the low end of acceptances. Choose 2 or 3 schools where your test scores, GPA, and other credentials are competitive. You should fit comfortably in the middle of the range of students accepted by that school. Add on 1 or 2 “safe” schools. These are schools where your credentials are at the top end of the range of students accepted by that school, if not above the average range.
Do the readings for each class, and try to give yourself time to review before each class. Most law school professors teach by Socratic method, where they randomly call on students and ask questions about the assigned reading. It’s important to be prepared. Take notes and prepare an outline for each of your classes. This will help you study for the final exam. Most law school classes have only one final exam at the end of the semester. Your performance on this exam determines your grade for the entire course. Joining a study group can help you make better sense of the readings and understand the major themes for each class.
If you want to clerk for a federal judge, you generally want to be in at least the top quarter of your class. Large law firms typically recruit from the top 30 percent of classes at higher ranked law schools. The lower your law school is ranked, the higher your rank should be in your class to compensate.
It’s usually best to practice in the state where you go to law school. Your law school will be well known and there will be plenty of alumni hiring. In addition, law schools typically discuss the law in their state, but seldom the law of other states. If you want to practice law in another state, it will be up to you to learn the law for that state.
When you get your bar application, skim through it first. Determine which questions will take you longer to answer. Identify questions you’ll have to hunt down information for. Your bar application must be approved before you will be able to sign up for the bar exam. Get started on it as soon as possible.
Only Maryland, Washington, and Wisconsin don’t require the MPRE. If you plan to practice in Connecticut or New Jersey, you don’t have to take the test if you earned a grade of C or better in an ethics course in law school.
Bar study programs typically cost several hundred dollars. They primarily get you ready for the multi-state bar exam (MBE), the multiple-choice portion of the bar exam. However, they also have practice essays to get you ready for the state portion of the exam. Bar study programs offer tests in simulated test conditions, which makes them the most valuable. The bar exam is a grueling, stressful experience. The more practice you have working under those circumstances, the calmer you’ll be.
If you’ve accepted an offer from a large law firm, your firm likely has a bar study course and other resources available to you. Take advantage of them. Specific information about the topics covered by your state’s bar exam can be found on the website of your state’s board of bar examiners.
You may also be asked questions about information from your bar application, including your educational background and experience.
Unless you live extremely close to the bar exam testing site, it’s a good idea to get a hotel room nearby for the duration of the test. This will allow you to focus and not have to worry about making long drives or arranging a ride. If you hold a law degree from (or practiced law) in another country other than Canada, you must refer to your state’s bar exam eligibility to see if you qualify.
The test results are typically posted online on a specific day, so you can find out if you passed immediately. Your final score on the bar exam typically isn’t made available. If you find out you didn’t pass you can take the test again. You can take the bar exam as many times as you need to, although taking it more than 2 or 3 times would be quite a setback for your legal career.
The oath is a ceremony to which you typically can invite family and friends. Afterward, there’s usually a reception. Local attorneys come to the reception to meet the newest members of the bar, which can provide you with valuable networking opportunities.
Don’t be afraid of asking your supervising associate what else you can do to stand out or set yourself apart from the other summer associates.
In addition to writing reference letters, law professors frequently know practicing attorneys in the area. They may be able to provide you with a connection or introduce you to attorneys in a field you’re interested in.
It is in the law school’s best interest to have high rates of employment among graduates. The career services office is going to do everything it can to help you find a position and ensure that you succeed.
Always act professionally at mixers or other events where members of the bar are present. Talk to as many people as you can and get your name out there. If alcohol is available at an event, limit yourself to one drink. Getting drunk or even getting “buzzed” won’t impress practicing attorneys – even if they are imbibing themselves.
Some informational interviews can lead you to find a mentor, but don’t push it. When you meet someone who can mentor you in the profession, you’ll feel it.
Buy heavier bond paper and put some effort into making your résumé and cover letter look professional. Keep in mind that hiring attorneys typically are older. They may appreciate getting a paper résumé since this is a medium they’re familiar with.
