A lot of people today say they’d like to be a lawyer with the idea that lawyers stay in court, fight the bad guys, scream in court and win the case. While once in a while that might be true, it’s definitely not true most of the time. Plus, you have to know what kind of lawyer you’d like to be. For those interested in becoming a lawyer, I’ll go over a few steps here to get you started on the right path.
First things first. Do you know exactly what a lawyer does? They assist in drafting wills, help merchants sue customers for unpaid bills, advise clients in a divorce, prepare loan documents for banks, research tax law and international trade, prosecute in criminal trials and some other stuff. You can be a public defender, prosecutor, city counsel or city attorney. A lot of lawyers never even see the inside of a courtroom.
State laws are different on the requirements for becoming a lawyer and being able to practice law in that state. We’ll use California as an example.
18 years old
Pass equivalency tests or two years of undergrad work
Graduate from a state approve, bar association law school
Register with the state bar within 90 days after starting law school
Pass the first year law student exam
receive a positive moral character determination
Pass the California bar exam and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam
Provide your social security number
Comply with any court ordered child or family support payments
Before law school you wanna know what you need to do in order to do well, right? Here are some tips: Write logically and concisely, analyze problems and create solutions, articulate a position on an issue and engage in debate and read, analyze and retain large amounts of material.
Applying to law school can take a while. There’s usually a wait list so you’ll probably need to apply a year or so before taking the LSAT (law student admission test). The LSAT is given four times a year.
In California, you can become a lawyer without going to law school. You’ll have to have four years studying law under a judge or an attorney. To get a moral character determination they’ll need evidence of honesty, respect for the law and others rights, fiscal responsibility and records of fidelity and trustworthiness in other areas of licensed work. If you’ve been convicted in the past… not good moral character.
The bar exam must be passed. It’s a 3 day long test with 6 essay questions, two performance tests and a 200 question, multiple choice test on constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, evidence, real property and torts. If you fail it, you can take it again as long as you go under oath saying you’ll meet the requirements within 5 years.
In short, we can narrow it down to seven steps.
1: Get a bachelors degree from accredited university
2: Take the LSAT
3: Get into law school
4: Graduate from law school
5: Study for the bar exam
6: Pass the bar exam
7: Pass the moral character evaluation
And there ya’ll have it. Seven steps to being a lawyer. Good luck with it and if you have questions, comments, suggestions or just wanna tell me I suck then feel free to send me a message.
By: Dakota Blue
Posts Tagged ‘Public Defender’
Do You Need To Secure A Lawyer When Guilty Of Drunk Driving?
January 8th, 2010
No matter what it is called, whether it is a DWI, DUI, OWI, or some other acronym, drunk driving is a serious crime that carries heavy consequences. In many states you could pay thousands of dollars in fines as a result of a drunk driving charge. You could end up in jail, even if you are facing your first drunk driving charge. One consideration you will need to make when facing a drunk driving conviction is whether or not to hire a lawyer. Lawyers are not cheap, so you need to make sure that you really need professional help before hiring one.
There are many reasons to consider hiring a lawyer. First, lawyers will help you understand the legal situation you are facing. Remember, the public defender may not tell you all of your options. A lawyer will be able to provide you with information that could keep you out of jail.
Understanding the consequences you face can be difficult, especially in states with confusing DUI laws. A lawyer will make sure you understand exactly which consequences you face, and how you could avoid some of them. A lawyer will also make sure that you file all of the necessary paperwork on time so that you do not end up losing your license prematurely.
You will face a day in court as a result of a DUI conviction. A lawyer will represent you in the best possible light. Lawyers know what arguments work well to lessen your charges.
So do you need to hire a lawyer? The answer depends on several factors. If you have several DUI convictions on your record, injured someone as a result of your drunk driving, or need to keep your license in order to work your job, you should hire a lawyer. In these situations going without a lawyer is dangerous.
If you are not facing these types of extenuating circumstances, you may choose to go without a lawyer. You may still want one, however, to help you understand your state’s DUI laws. Also, you may want one if your blood alcohol content was quite a bit over the legal limit. In these situations a lawyer is not considered absolutely necessary, so you could consider going without professional representation.
If you still feel unsure about whether or not you could benefit from representation, feel free to contact a lawyer. You will find that many of them provide free consultations for potential new clients. Allow the lawyer to tell you exactly how he can help you, and then make your decision.
By: Cary Bergeron