Last Updated on December 28, 2022
Details about how to become a lawyer, what subjects do you need to become a lawyer & what undergraduate degree do you need to be a lawyer can be found here. Feel free to keep reading to receive the most updated information.
You will also discover related posts on how many years to become a lawyer, what subjects are needed to become a lawyer in high school and how to become a criminal lawyer on Infolearners.
How Many Years To Become A Lawyer
Law Degree Requirements
The decision to become a lawyer should start at the high school level. The study habits you develop will help you on the path to becoming a lawyer. You should strive to make the highest grades possible. Your high school grades and activities are
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Becoming a lawyer takes a total of seven years, and you must pass the bar exam. Every law school requires a four-year bachelor’s degree from a university or college, and law school takes another three years to complete. You should study English, government, history and public speaking. These courses will help you prepare for a law career. Philosophy, economics and mathematics are also important subjects to consider. Get involved in student activities such as debate teams, student government councils and other organizations.
During your last year in college, you should register to take the Law School Admission Test. This is a standardized test that provides information about your acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills. The results of this test is used as one factor in determining whether you are accepted to law school. The test is offered several times a year at universities and colleges across the country.
The law schools you apply to should be accredited by the American Bar Association, but many candidates apply to several law schools. Read reports and journals that give you an overview of the best law schools. Since you will be advised against working, check into financial aid and other programs. Law programs require a lot of dedication and study, so work to improve your grades during the first year of law school. Afterwards, you may be able to qualify for grants. You should expect to spend many hours studying while attending law school.
At some point during your first year of law school, you will need to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. You need a passing score of at least 75. California and a few other states require a score of 86. Find out the passing score requirements in your state by visiting their website. Consider working at summer internship programs while you are out of school. You will gain some experience and build business contacts that can help you when you graduate.
Law Specialties
Once you finish law school, you will need to determine which type of lawyer you want to specialize in such as divorce, real estate or personal injury, as well as other types including criminal, civil and immigration. Law school gives you the basic foundation you need to study any type of law. You can also choose to be a general practice lawyer that works in a variety of law specialties.
The bar exam covers a large range of topics pertaining to law. Specializing in a particular field of law will allow you to achieve greater expertise than if you were to become a general practitioner. Becoming a lawyer will help clients resolve their complicated issues. Choose a specialty that coincides with your interests, skills and personality to ensure your happiness and success.
Essential Information
Potential lawyers need Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees to practice law. The education path typically takes a total of seven years to complete, including four years of undergraduate coursework and three years of law school. After earning their J.D. degrees, lawyers must pass their state’s bar exam and complete any other requirements necessary to be licensed before they can practice law. Some lawyers choose to specialize in a particular area of law by earning further degrees.
Undergraduate Degree
A bachelor’s degree is required for admission into law school. Although the American Bar Association (ABA) notes that there are no specific undergraduate majors that best prepares aspiring lawyers for law school, it suggests that students complete coursework that stresses problem-solving, writing, critical reading, research, and oral communication. Accordingly, students may consider completing courses in English, political science, business, economics, and mathematics.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree
Admission to Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree programs is generally competitive. All ABA-approved law schools require applicants to sit for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Along with LSAT scores, admission is determined by an applicant’s education, work experience, propensity for law, and general character. Some applicants may be required to sit for interviews and submit certified transcripts.
J.D. degree programs typically take three years of full-time study to complete. The first year of law school usually focuses on general law courses, such as contracts, criminal law, and legal writing. In the final years, students usually develop a specialty, such as corporate or labor law.
How To Become A Criminal Lawyer
Criminal lawyers specialise in criminal cases and represent either the state or the party charged with the crime. Regardless of what side a criminal lawyer works on, it is their job to argue on behalf of their client’s legal interests. A career in criminal law can provide you with a good salary depending on your speciality and location. In this article, we will discuss how to become a criminal lawyer, including what skills and qualifications they need and their job roles, duties and responsibilities.
What is a criminal lawyer?
A criminal lawyer is an attorney who either defends or prosecutes individuals or organisations involved in criminal cases. Criminal law specifically governs conduct that is considered harmful or endangering to the public. This may be in relation to the safety of property or moral welfare. Governments define and impose penalties for criminal misconduct, to moderate people’s actions and to help them understand the consequences.
Duties and responsibilities of criminal lawyers
Criminal lawyers often need to perform the following job duties:
- Identifying and gathering witnesses
- Conducting interviews of witnesses
- Examining crime scenes and evidence
- Developing strategies for cases
- Building good defences
- Drafting, filing and countering appeals
Criminal lawyers may also take on ‘pro bono‘ cases where they work for the public good without taking payment. Handling high profile cases can put criminal lawyers in the public eye and subject them to media coverage. They may have to give interviews and statements in relation to a case on behalf of their clients.
How to become a criminal lawyer
If you are wondering how to become a criminal lawyer, here are some steps you need to take to build a career in this field:
1. Complete higher secondary education and appear for entrance exams.
Towards the end of your 10+2 education or after, you have to prepare and appear for law entrance examinations. You will require an aggregate of 50-60% marks in your board exams to be eligible to pursue undergraduate courses. These are some of the important examinations you should look out for:
- CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
- LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
- AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
- SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)
- Delhi University Law Entrance Exam
2. Complete an undergraduate course in law
You must complete a bachelor’s degree in law from an accredited university or college. There are two ways you can do this. You can pursue an LLB degree, which focuses solely on legal studies or a BA LLB degree, which is an integrated bachelor’s course that also has arts subjects. After completing a bachelor’s course, you are eligible to start your independent practice or to work for a legal firm.
3. Pass the bar exam
After you get your bachelor’s degree, you need to appear for and pass the bar council exam of a particular jurisdiction, to be able to appear in high court or supreme court cases.
4. Pursue a post-graduate law degree
You can pursue advanced legal studies through a master’s course in criminal law, which grants you an LLM (Master of Law) degree on completion. Master’s courses offer scope for specialisation within criminal law.
5. Pursue a doctorate degree in law
If you want to take your legal studies further, you may pursue a PhD or Doctorate in law. This usually requires you to complete a dissertation.
6. Gain work experience
Parallel to your studies or after, you should try to gain work experience under an established criminal lawyer or in a legal firm. Field experience and specialisation are very important for developing a successful career in criminal law.
How long does it take to become a criminal lawyer?
After you complete higher secondary education from a recognised board, legal studies can take you anywhere between 3 and 13 years. You will also need to dedicate some time to clear the bar exam and gain work experience. A criminal lawyer’s academic journey can be broken up as follows:
- A bachelor’s course in legislative law or an LLB degree takes 3 years to complete.
- An integrated arts course or a BA LLB takes 5 years to complete.
- Postgraduate courses in law typically take 1-2 years to complete.
- A PhD in law takes around 6 years to complete.
Specific coursework for criminal law
To pursue a career with a specialisation in criminal law, it is necessary to complete an integrated BA LLB course at the undergraduate level. At the postgraduate level, you can pursue the following courses:
- LLM in Criminal Law
- LLM in Criminal Law and Security Law
- LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
- LLM in Criminal Law, Criminal Justice and Administrative Law
- LLM in Criminal and Business Law
Criminal law encompasses a variety of subjects including:
- Legal Research
- Criminal Procedures
- Criminal Psychology
- Forensic Science
- Criminal Justice
- Penology and Victimology
- Law Ethics
- CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code)
- IPC (Indian Penal Code)
- Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
- Juvenile Justice
Skills for a criminal lawyer
These are some important skills you may have to develop to pursue a career in criminal law:
Analytical and research skills
Research is an integral part of a lawyer’s practice. You must be comfortable with textbook research as well as ground research. Additionally, the ability to analyse details, ascertain information and infer contexts from clients and witnesses is necessary for the legal profession.
Negotiation
Negotiating in and out of court is one of the main responsibilities of being a lawyer, so you should be skilled in persuasion and negotiation. Effective negotiation involves being able to show others your perspective and arrange for a situation that benefits the client.
Integrity
Whether you are working as the defence or the prosecution in a case, you must be committed to representing your client in court. Acting with integrity will help you to attract and keep clients by building relationships and trust.
Determination
The legal process can be slow and extensive, so criminal lawyers must be consistently determined through every step. You must be motivated, especially when working on difficult cases. You should be able to process large amounts of evidence, interview witnesses and continue to look for details that could support their case.
Communication
Communication helps criminal lawyers provide the best possible advice to clients. You also have to regularly communicate with judges, police and other people involved in the legal process.
Types of criminal lawyers
Based on your specific interests and skill sets, you may pursue the following job roles as a criminal lawyer:
Government advocate
Government advocates are employed by state governments to perform specific duties as prescribed by the Indian Code of Civil Procedure (1908). A government advocate often needs to draft and present pleadings on behalf of the government in a court of law. Pleadings are written statements filed by the counsel to counter a plaintiff’s contentions or fundamental arguments in relation to a case.
Public prosecutor
Like government advocates, public prosecutors represent cases from the state-side, against individuals or companies involved in alleged criminal activities. Additional public prosecutors are a part of the state’s judiciary and handle procedures related to litigation. Public prosecutors are appointed based on their performance in the Union Public Service Commission exams.
Criminal law practitioner
Criminal law practitioners formally address important issues in criminal law. They are responsible for the periodic evolution of legal frameworks to improve usability for lawyers, judiciary and students.
Employment sectors for criminal lawyers
Criminal lawyers may be employed in the following domains:
- Independent legal practice
- Law firms
- Legal consultancies
- Law colleges and universities
- High courts and supreme courts
- International organisations
- Legal websites
Is criminal law a good career?
Depending on your experience and track record in the field, a career in criminal law can offer good remuneration. Legal practice is an evergreen field and it offers plenty of opportunities for skilled practitioners. The average starting salary for a law graduate is ₹2,97,155 per year. After you pass the bar exam, you can make an average base salary of ₹3,82,579 per year. For senior attorneys, this figure can go up to ₹6,74,154 per year.
Is criminal law a dangerous career?
Criminal law need not necessarily be a dangerous career option. However, as a criminal lawyer, there are several personal and professional risks you must be willing to take on. The nature of a criminal lawyer’s work can lead to great stress and an unhealthy lifestyle. There are no fixed hours in this line of work and traditional work hours rarely apply to criminal lawyers. Additionally, criminal lawyers have to engage and interact with criminals, crime scenes and victims of crimes constantly. This may put them in life-threatening situations and may result in the gradual decline of their emotional health.
Additional Studies
To gain additional experience with law and the legal process, students may participate in mock trials, contribute to law journal publications, and receive hands-on, supervised training in legal clinics. Some programs also incorporate clerkship programs, in which students work with attorneys at law firms and legal departments. Clerks may be responsible for drafting legal documents, working with judges, and conducting legal research.
Advanced Law Degrees
Lawyers who wish to specialize in specific concentrations of law may consider enrolling in a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree program. These programs generally last one year and focus on specialized fields, such as business or international law. Requirements vary according to the law school but typically entail 21-26 course credits.
Some law schools may offer joint J.D./LL.M. degree programs, which take 1-1.5 years of study in addition to J.D. degree programs. The ABA does not accredit any legal education programs besides J.D. degree programs.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported an annual median wage of $122,960 for lawyers in general. The top paying industries at that time included cable and other subscription programming; motion picture and video industries; highway, street, and bridge construction; computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing; and engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing. The BLS predicted average growth of 6% for lawyers from 2018-2028. Strong competition for jobs was expected, and lawyers with experience who are willing to relocate will have the best employment prospects.
To be a lawyer, you must obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and complete all state licensing requirements.
Lawyers work in the legal system to represent their clients. For criminal justice cases, the lawyer may be prosecuting the case or defending a client in the courtroom. Meanwhile, civil cases can involve anything from property disputes to class action settlements. No matter what kind of lawyer someone decides to become, there are a few degree requirements that they will need to get before applying for their license.
What Degree Does a Lawyer Need?
To become a lawyer, individuals need to spend seven years in school. Initially, students get their bachelor’s degree from a college or a university. Afterward, they must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The student’s university grades and LSAT score will determine whether they get into the law school of their choice.
The majority of lawyers have to spend four years getting their bachelor’s degree and three years attaining their Juris Doctor degree. For the Juris Doctor degree to count, it has to be from a school that is accredited by an organization known as the American Bar Association (ABA). Once the student begins law school, they can take classes in things like property law, labor law, contracts, civil procedure, corporate law, constitutional law and tax law.
What Happens After Law School?
Once the student successfully graduates from law school, their work is still not done. Every person who wants to become a lawyer must take a test known as the bar exam. If the student passes this test, people say that they have been admitted to the bar.
The exact rules for getting a license from the bar vary from state to state. In general, most states require students to have no felony convictions or substance abuse problems. Applicants may be disqualified if they have committed some kind of academic misconduct during their years of schooling. In addition, students need to graduate from an ABA-accredited law school and pass their bar exam to be admitted to the bar.
If the lawyer wants to practice in another state, they will have to take the bar exam all over again. The state may also require lawyers to enroll in continuing legal education every one to three years to keep their license. The number of courses and the kind of courses depends entirely on the state.
What Kind of Bachelor’s Degree Should Students Get?
Technically, students can get into law school with any kind of bachelor’s degree. While there is no required major, it will be easier for students to get accepted into law school if they take courses like public speaking, history, mathematics, English, government and economics. Some schools have a pre-law program that helps to prepare students for going to law school after they graduate with their bachelor’s degree. Criminal justice is also a popular option for students who are preparing for law school.
In general, students should pick a major that matches their future goals. If the undergraduate college does not have a pre-law program, students should take courses that match the law school’s admission requirements. Students can benefit from choosing majors like philosophy, English and economics. While philosophy prepares students for critical thinking, English degrees help students write and read analytically. An economics degree can help students understand the business side of running a law firm.
Is Law School Required?
While some states offer alternative ways to become a lawyer, law school is required in most states. Even when a state allows students to take the bar exam without a law degree, there are potential problems that students should watch out for. In the state of Washington, students can technically study and work for a lawyer for a set amount of time instead of going to law school. Then, they are allowed to take the bar exam. Only a few students ever choose this option because it can be extremely difficult to find a practicing lawyer who is willing to be the student’s mentor. Even if students manage to find a practicing lawyer to mentor them, they will still have a harder time getting hired without a law degree.
Overall, the majority of prospective lawyers will need to spend seven years in school before they can take the bar exam and become a lawyer. After four years in a bachelor’s degree program, students will spend another three years in law school. With a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree, students can take their bar exam and become a practicing lawyer.
