What it Takes to become a Lawyer
The legal profession is for many a relatively secure career choice, especially in the United States which is a very litigious society. There are many different types of law which can be studied, and it is usually to your benefit to decide early what specialty you might want to pursue.One very popular and potentially lucrative area of law is criminal law. If you are interested in becoming a criminal attorney, there are some crucial steps you should be aware of before you begin your endeavor.First, you will have to apply to law school just as anyone else would. Law schools typically do not admit students based upon what their desired concentration will be, normally because this changes for many after their first year. So, to begin you should do well in whatever your major is as an undergraduate, and study hard for the LSATs; the law school entrance exam.Depending upon how prestigious of a school you are aiming to enroll in, you may have to have a very high Grade Point Average and LSAT score. Make sure that the school where you are applying to Law school offers an accredited criminal law concentration. If you are already decided on becoming a criminal attorney, it is in your best interest to take as many specified courses in the subject as possible.After your first year in law school, which will entail a broad array of courses that are fairly standardized across most law school campuses in the nation, you should do your best to secure an internship in a criminal defense firm. Many schools will now pay you a stipend for this internship if you are working at a non-profit institution or an institution that requires you to travel abroad.While at your internship, discuss criminal law in depth with the attorneys who work there. This first-hand experience is very important so that you can get a better sense of what aspects of the job you are drawn to, and what further specialties you might want to acquire through internships and courses before you begin work.After you finish law school, you will need to pass the bar exam to be able to practice in your chosen state. At this point, any internships and connections that you have built up along the way in your law school career will be very beneficial in helping you land your first job as a junior attorney.Criminal law is an area of the law that is constantly changing, with new laws and regulations being passed every year. Because of this, you will have to stay constantly updated on the newest court rulings and cases. Unlike many other types of lawyers, criminal attorneys spend a great deal more time in the courtroom and traveling to meet their clients.As a criminal attorney, your job will be that of defensive strategy, and you will often have to meet with various third parties for interviews and collection of evidence. Remember, becoming a criminal attorney is a challenging career choice that requires that you to be comfortable representing individuals accused of very serious crimes. If you are uncomfortable with this, you may want to reconsider your choice.That being said, criminal attorneys are often the highest paid amongst lawyers, as they often represent high profile clients and larger corporations. Becoming a criminal attorney can be both a challenging and highly lucrative career choice.
