How Long Does It Take To Become a Family Lawyer

Last Updated on December 24, 2022

You are thinking about how long does it take to become a family lawyer. You want to know if you will be able to handle all the pressure and stress that comes with being a family lawyer. You want to know if you will get enough clients if you become a family lawyer. How much money do family lawyers actually make? Are there any certifications needed to become a family lawyer? How long to become a divorce attorney?

If you are considering a career as a family lawyer, here is information about how long it takes to become a family lawyer.        Earning Your Law Degree You can study for the bar exam for your specific state either at a law school or an accredited law school or through correspondence courses or online legal review course. This involves the completion of:     150 credit hours of classes (intro to torts, criminal law, civil procedure and so forth)                 Written and oral exams             Minimum 3 years in theory; 6 years in total            After being admitted you will then work as an associate until qualified enough to set up on your own practice.         

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Family Law Attorney: What Is It? and How to Become One?

The question many people ask themselves when thinking about a career in family law is: how long does it take to become a family lawyer? Here are the most important steps you need to take before you can say that you have come up to speed with your new career.

How to Become a Family Lawyer

If you’ve decided to become a lawyer, the next question is usually how long it takes to become one. You surely want to know that so you can estimate how long it will take before you begin to get the benefit of your education. The passion to practice as a lawyer and save lives should be your focus, however, so also learn the requirements to become a lawyer. The law brings order and peace to the world, so the load on the shoulders of lawyers to decide who to prosecute is heavy. If they don’t build their cases well and an innocent man gets prosecuted, the scale of justice tilts towards injustice and evil roams the streets. For this reason, lawyers take as long as 7 years of education in most countries before they can practice. But does this number of years apply in all countries and all kinds of law profession?

Family law is a practice area that encompasses the many legal issues that families may face. Some of the issues they may cover include divorce cases and spousal and child support issues.

Interested in becoming a lawyer, in here you’ll get the information needed on how long it takes to become a lawyer, not only does the legal field offer outstanding earning potential, but it also enables you to make a meaningful difference in the world.

To become a lawyer, you must first get your education and pass the infamous Bar exam, both of which require a great deal of time, hard work, and dedication. 

So how long does it take to become a lawyer? Keep reading to find out. 

Most people who want to be family law lawyers will spend between 3 and 7 years in college and law school. Both a bachelor’s degree in any major and a Juris Doctor degree are required for entry into this career. Some students may earn a Juris Doctor first and then pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) over the course of another 1-4 years. Larger law firms may require that their associates have MBA’s before hiring them, even if they don’t require them for the paralegals or other support staff. The most important part of becoming a family lawyer is actually spending time with clients and earning experience, so any real world experience as an adult can be valuable, too.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Lawyer?

So how long does it take to become a lawyer officially? 

The short answer is around 5 to 7 years. 

During this time, aspiring lawyers must fulfill specific educational and licensure requirements. Requirements for becoming a lawyer include: 

  • Earning a bachelor’s degree
  • Taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
  • Attending law school
  • Studying for and passing the Bar exam
  • Applying for acceptance from the Bar Association

Find out everything you need to know about the California Law programs at Alliant University here!

Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree

Earning an undergraduate degree usually takes around 4 years. 

During their time at university, a student can study whatever subject they want. There’s not one specific bachelor’s degree that all aspiring lawyers must pursue. 

However, the following areas of study will provide the best foundation of knowledge for law school:  

  • Political science
  • History
  • Economics
  • Philosophy
  • English
  • Math
  • Public speaking

Taking the LSAT

Once you earn your bachelor’s degree, the next step is to study for the LSAT. This test is like the SAT for law school admission. Your LSAT score will play a large role in which law schools you get accepted into. 

The LSAT is a notoriously challenging exam. To earn a decent score, most students have to study for at least 150 to 300 hours. Depending on your weekly study habits, this process could take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. 

In turn, some students choose to take a gap year between college and law school to allow for adequate study time. 

Attending Law School

It takes roughly 3 years to complete law school and earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. During your legal education, you’ll learn about constitutional law, property law, contract law, civil procedure, and legal writing. You’ll also have the option to pursue advanced courses in tax law, labor law, and corporate law. 

Ideally, you should attend an ABA-accredited law school if you plan to practice as a lawyer in California. These law schools are approved by the Cal Bar Association. In turn, they offer a curriculum that meets the Bar Association’s standards, enabling you to sit for a Bar exam in any state of your choosing. 

Taking the State Bar Exam

To become a licensed lawyer, you must pass your state’s Bar exam. This can take anywhere from a few months to multiple years. It all depends on:

  • How long it takes you to study 
  • Whether or not you pass the exam the first time around

Studying for the Bar examination is no small undertaking. Ideally, you should study for at least 400 hours. This can take up to 9 weeks if you study full-time, or much longer if you study at a slower pace. 

Even if you study hard, there’s a chance you won’t pass the Bar examination your first time around. In this case, becoming a lawyer might take a few months longer than expected. 

Gaining Admission to the Bar Association

Once you pass the bar exam, the next step is applying for admission into the Bar Association. You must complete this process within 5 years of passing the Bar exam. 

The Bar Association evaluates each applicant using specific “character-and-fitness” standards.  These standards exist to ensure that practicing lawyers possess sound character and integrity. Since lawyers are expected to uphold the law, their personal ethics are essential. 

To determine if you are up to snuff, the Bar Association will review your personal history. You could be disqualified from entry for any of the following reasons:

  • Having a history of academic or employment misconduct
  • Having a felony conviction
  • Violating a court order
  • Showing signs of emotional or mental instability
  • Having a history of substance dependency
  • Neglecting financial responsibilities
  • Providing false statements to the Bar Association

Costs of Becoming a Lawyer

The cost for a four-year degree is around $50,000 on average. Law school can run from $120,000 to more than $150,000. The field is expanding, with job growth expected to be around 8 percent through the next seven years.

The typical entry-level position requires a doctoral or professional degree. Lawyers can expect to make around $80,000 to $120,000 during their first few years practicing law. The average is based on the area of practice as well as location.

Bachelor Degree Requirements for Lawyers

Law schools typically require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The Juris Doctor degree is needed in order to take a state bar exam. The state bar exam is required to receive a license to practice law in a certain area.

To be admitted to a law school, a student doesn’t necessarily need a specific major such as pre-law.

Pre-law or criminal justice as a bachelor’s degree can familiarize a student with the basics of the legal system in preparation for an advanced law degree. However, a bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts area such as English or philosophy can also be helpful. Any major that requires critical thinking, writing skills, logic and problem-solving skills are just as valuable as a pre-law major.

Advanced Degree Requirements for Lawyers

A Juris Doctor, or J.D., can be obtained at an accredited law school. These typically include courses such as property, tax, family and patent law.

You will need strong legal writing and debating skills and will learn how to conduct research in legal libraries and online as well as how to interpret that research and apply it to specific cases.

Expectations of a Lawyer

The duties of a law school graduate include the following.

  • An attorney spends a good amount of time interpreting rulings, new laws and regulations for clients and businesses.
  • Lawyers prepare legal documents, including lawsuits, appeals, contracts, wills and deeds. They are charged with filing and protecting these documents as well.
  • They present written and verbal facts to their clients for testimony. They use this factual research to argue on behalf of their clients in person.
  • A lawyer represents individuals, businesses and government agencies on issues that pertain to the local, state and national law. They advise their clients on legal issues and disputes between other consumers, businesses and individuals.

The Different Types of Law Specializations

Another appealing aspect of the legal field is that it’s incredibly diverse. Whether you’re drawn to criminal law or estate law, there’s something in the legal field for everyone. 

Here are some legal sub-specialties to consider:

  • Administrative law
  • Admiralty law 
  • Corporate law
  • Commercial Law
  • Constitutional law
  • Criminal law
  • Environmental law
  • Estate and trust law
  • First Amendment law
  • Health care law
  • Intellectual property law
  • International law
  • Small business law
  • Tax law

What’s it like to be a Family Lawyer?

Family Lawyers provide professional advice, assistance and support with a wide range of issues including: separation, divorce, child support, adoption and property, and financial settlements. Family Lawyers also advise on alternative dispute resolution options, considerations prior to entering a relationship or prior to separating, and financial agreements such as prenuptials, superannuation splitting and spousal maintenance.Family Lawyer

Tasks and duties

  • Resolving legal issues for clients.
  • Corresponding regularly with clients and other solicitors about legal matters.
  • Preparing documents including court applications, contracts and settlement documents.
  • Attending court.
  • Referring clients to counsellors, psychologists, financial planners and other professionals.

Family law can be a challenging area of the law to work in as it involves counselling clients who are going through difficult life experiences, such as the breakdown of a relationship or defending a child who is a victim of domestic abuse. It can also be rewarding as it provides an opportunity to make a real difference in clients’ lives.

How to become a Family Lawyer

To become a Family Lawyer in Australia you will need to apply to the local Law Society for a Practising Certificate. You’ll then need to complete 18 to 24 months of supervised practice at a law firm. Pathways to becoming a practicing Family Lawyer typically require a combined 5-6 years of education and training.

  1. Complete a Bachelor of Law (LLB) undergraduate degree or a Juris Doctor (JD) postgraduate degree. Both courses are 3 or 4 years long.
  2. Complete Practical Legal Training (PLT). This can be completed in less than a year.
  3. Gain admission from the relevant state or territories Admissions Authority within 5 years of graduation.
  4. Apply for a Practising Certificate from the local Law Society.
  5. Complete 18 to 24 months of supervised practice at a law firm. Although it is not compulsory to complete this at a family law firm, it is certainly preferable if family law is your chosen field.
  6. Once you have become a practising lawyer, you may choose to study a Master of Law (LLM) specialising in family law. Again, this is not compulsory in order to practice as a Family Lawyer.

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