High School Edition: So You Want to go to Law School....

This is piece I recently wrote for a program designed to encourage youth to follow their dreams. I definitely wish that someone had shared these tips with me when I started by law school journey. This is geared towards middle school and high school students. I will be writing additional posts about my law school and legal career experience - feel free to share with those who may benefit. 

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Working as a lawyer can be a rewarding career choice. A lawyer advises clients in their business and personal affairs. That means that lawyers assist in buying or selling homes, adopting children, starting businesses and planning for the needs of their clients' businesses and families. Lawyers also assist clients with litigation in court. For example, in criminal cases, lawyers defend the person accused of the crime and they prosecute the case for the government that has brought the charges. While being a lawyer can sometimes be financially rewarding, it takes years of long hard work and dedication. Some lawyers work for the government, some work in law firms and others work for companies or alone. Many lawyers work for public interest groups representing the poor, protecting the environment or defending our civil liberties. Other lawyers become judges or professors. There is a wide array of career options. The choice is up to you. 

The first question you should ask yourself is “Why Do I Want to become a Lawyer?” The road to law practice can be challenging, so it is important that you have a clear understanding of why you are choosing this profession. Lawyers come from all sorts of backgrounds, races and experiences. Despite the differences, there is one training program that all lawyers complete: They have graduated from high school, college and law school. In addition, before you can work as a lawyer, you generally have to pass the state bar exam, a national legal ethics exam, pass character & fitness, a background check, and receive a license to practice law.

One important thing to remember is that if you are convicted of a crime, you will have to disclose that fact on your law school and bar applications. Many people convicted of crimes have gone on to become lawyers. Still, a criminal record will complicate the process and probably make it more difficult to get the job you want. The bottom line? Get good grades, finish school and stay out of trouble.

TOP 3 TIPS (Summary)

1. Finish High School and College with Good Grades.
2. Pick a College Major that Interests You. Pre-Law is NOT necessary. Just focus on getting good grades.
3. Good law school grades help you get good jobs. It is never too early to connect with law students and lawyers to learn more about the profession. Start today!

Here's a quick overview of a few things to be mindful of as you work towards becoming a lawyer:  

HIGH SCHOOL

The first step to becoming a lawyer is completing high school. In high school, take advantage of classes and activities that help you develop writing and public speaking skills. Lawyers must be able to tell a story clearly and in a way that convinces the audience that the lawyer is correct. Take a speech class or participate in drama or debate; write short stories, news articles and essays; be a leader in student government and activities.

You also need excellent reading comprehension and analytical skills, so English, math and science are also important. If you want to get into your first choice of college and law school, the most important thing is to maintain your good grades.

COLLEGE

A four-year college degree is the next step. No particular major is required to become a lawyer. Some college students who want to be lawyers select traditional liberal arts majors, such as history, literature or philosophy. Other students choose majors to prepare them to specialize in a particular area of law, such as technology, medicine, art, the environment, finance, government or other areas. Unless you are pursuing a specialized area of law (for example, if you’re interested in patent law, you should pursue a bachelor's degree in science or engineering), you can choose any undergraduate degree. You can be a lawyer with a degree in archaeology, astronomy, Russian literature, theater, physical education, art history or whatever else you choose. If you have a strong interest in any undergraduate major, pursue it and focus on getting the best grades you can. Good grades in college will help you get into the law school of your choice. Take a sampling of classes from different areas. You will be able to use everything you learned in college when you are a lawyer. Many colleges offer a “pre-law” program designed for students hoping to go to law school. A pre-law program is not required for law school and may even limit your chance to be exposed to a broad range of classes and activities. Ask your college advisors about the advantages and disadvantages of participating in a pre-law program.

To get into law school, you must take the national Law School Admission Test (LSAT), usually the summer before your final year in college. There are study guides and commercial classes to help you prepare for the LSAT. Law schools review your LSAT score and college grades when you apply for admission, so good grades and a good LSAT score should be among your goals. Several law school guidebooks explaining the admission standards at each of the law schools are available in libraries and bookstores. There are over 230 law schools in the country, so you will be able to find one that is right for you.

 LAW SCHOOL

It takes three years to complete law school if you attend full time. Some schools offer night or part-time programs. Your first year of law school will most likely consist of mandatory classes, but you will be able to choose classes your second and third year. When you're able to choose your classes, take a mix of classes that interest you and those that will prepare you for the bar exam (more on that below) and the practice area that you'd like to pursue (e.g. criminal defense or corporate law). If your law school offers clinics (that allow you to practice law in the real world with supervision of a licensed attorney) take advantage of those practical opportunities. Maintaining good grades is an important factor that will influence your job opportunities.

In addition to good grades, connecting with legal professionals who are working in positions that interest you (otherwise known as "networking") can help you find and create job opportunities. Most lawyers are happy to meet with law students and share their experience, so just reach out and ask for a few moments of their time. Its never to early to start building your network!

After you graduate law school, you must take and pass the bar exam in the state where you want to work. In most states, you must graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school to be permitted to take the bar exam. You will also have to take and pass a national legal ethics exam. You will also have to pass a background check (sometimes called "character and fitness"), which will include a review of your job, financial and other personal history. Poor credit can indicate that you are not fit to be an attorney, so make sure you pay your bills on time and don’t run up excessive credit debt. Once you have passed both exams, the state gives you a license to practice law in that state.

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Karissa Holmes began practicing law in 2008. She has significant in-house and law firm experience and a wide variety of experience ranging from multi-million dollar M&A transactions to start-up neighborhood organizations. She is a multi-disciplined professional and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from a legal and business perspective. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., Communications Studies, 2005), Wayne State University Law School (2008) and the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University (MBA, 2017). Connect with her on LinkedIN: www.dhirubhai.net/in/KarissaHolmes