Becoming a Lawyer: The Steps to Becoming an Attorney in the United States

Factors to Consider if You Want to Become a Lawyer

The basic qualifications for becoming a lawyer in the United States differ based on the jurisdiction in which you decide to practice as a lawyer. Nevertheless, the fundamentals are the same around the country.  Here are the steps you should complete to become a lawyer:

  • Acquire undergraduate degree
  • Write and pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
  • Acquire law degree (typically Juris Doctor)
  • Write and pass Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
  • Write and pass bar exam

Undergraduate degree

You have to go through formal education to obtain an undergraduate degree for a course like law. These days, online learning is on the rise since we are in the digital era. You can check ReviewsBird.com for more information on this. The website is designed to provide you with information about the variety of programs and initiatives offered by education institutions as well as feedback on online education.

Law schools expect applicants to acquire an undergraduate degree. Many people who want a legal profession would need to keep their GPA above 3.0. Many law schools will not care about the specific subject area that a person majors in and choosing an especially challenging subject can potentially be a drawback as your GPA could suffer the effects.

LSAT

To be admitted into law school, an individual is expected to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This test is required for every law school that has been accredited by the ABA. The test is a half-day standardized test that evaluates the verbal reasoning skills and comprehension skills of the participant.

Law degree

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to be able to take a bar exam, you first need professional school education that ultimately ends with a law degree. In certain states, you must graduate from an approved law school to be considered for a bar exam. In other states, you can enroll in an unaccredited law school, but you must fulfill additional testing criteria.

Many law schools accept graduate students with a strong grade point average. Applicants are usually expected to submit scores from the LSAT. Law school requires three years of full-time study, but students who want to study part-time can take 4 or 5 years to complete their studies.

MPRE

Aspiring lawyers must write and pass an ethics examination known as the MPRE – Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination prior to writing the Bar exam. The MPRE is an examination created by the NCBE, which is conducted three times a year. There are 60 multiple-choice questions to be attempted in two hours. It is a requirement for a bar exam to be carried out in all U.S. jurisdictions except Maryland, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

Bar exam

And the last step in becoming a lawyer is to take and pass the bar exam. In certain states, the passing rate for the exam is 40%. It typically consists of multiple-choice and essay questions that test your understanding of state law and your ability to apply the law objectively to …