Learning the Law: Basics of Becoming A Lawyer 

As we all know, legal recourse is rather often an inevitable part of life, with several personal and professional issues requiring legal support and aid. In such times, people are looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy lawyer. So, how can you pursue the path towards becoming a reliable lawyer? Let’s have a look!

As we all know, the basics of our knowledge come from what we study in high school. While you do not need to opt for any particular subjects in high school to pursue a career in law, there are some important skills that certain high school subjects teach you which can help you later on as a legal professional. A strong foundation of English (or the language of your country) is crucial in developing communication skills. Mathematics and Science subjects can help you problem solving and critical thinking abilities, strengthening your ability to provide suitable solutions to your clients as a lawyer. Humanitarian subjects such as history, political science, and civics can aid in building your understanding of society, which is a vital component of being a lawyer. 

First steps towards a career in law: 

Your first steps towards building a career as a lawyer begin after school when you choose your undergraduate program and courses. One thing to keep in mind here is that you should opt to study law in the nation you plan to practice. This is because the legal framework of each country varies. Hence, the first step in choosing what school to attend would be to decide where you’d like to practice law. In India, undergraduate law programs are integrated with various streams such as arts, sciences, business studies, and commerce. These programs are 5 years long and cover foundational law subjects such as constitutional law, contract law, torts, family law, and more as well as subjects related to the chosen stream such as history and politics, business studies and economics, chemistry and biology, and commerce and accounts. In order to successfully gain acceptance into law schools in India, one must pass entrance examinations such CLAT, AILET, and university specific examinations. 

If you plan to pursue your undergraduate studies in the United States of America, you should know that law is a graduate program there. Hence, you are required to pursue a pre-law undergraduate degree which involves opting for  subjects such as political science, history, english, and economics. Undergraduate degrees in the US are typically 4 years long. 

In India, you can choose to pursue a Masters of Law (L.L.M) to gain a specialized knowledge in areas such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, Environmental Law, and more. The duration for these programs are between one to two years, based on the program. Typically, these programs require you to successfully pass entrance exams such as CLAT PG, AILET PG, or university specific entrance exams. You must also have a LLB degree from a recognized university and attain the minimum percentage required as detailed by the university. 

In the U.S, the Juris Doctor program is a necessary step in becoming a lawyer. The three year program requirements include attaining a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, passing the LSAT, and other university-specific requirements such as personal essays, and obtaining the minimum GPA requirement. In this degree, subjects such as Civil, Constitutional, Property, and Criminal Law, Torts, and Legal Research and Writing are taught. 

Students who have attained a LLB or JD degree can also opt for further specialization with LLM programs that include subjects such as International Law, Taxation, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, and more. These programs are typically a year long and require you to have a recognized law degree from an ABA- approved university within the U.S. or from an internationally recognized university. 

Job roles to target:

So, what are some of the roles you can target by following this career path?

In India, you can become a: 

• Litigation lawyer 

• Corporate lawyer 

• Public Prosecutor 

• Legal Advisor 

• Judge 

• Academic 

In the US, you can: 

• Join a law firm specializing in a particular area. 

• Become an Academic 

• Work as Legal Advisor 

• Work in the government in a legal capacity (policy making, prosecutor, etc). 

• Become a paralegal 

Sources:

• https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/security-and-global-studies/resources/how-to-become-a-lawyer-subjects-to-study/

• https://www.careervillage.org/questions/257510/what-subjects-should-i-focus-on-in-highschool-to-get-into-law-school

• https://www.shiksha.com/ll-m-chp

• https://collegedunia.com/usa/article/llm-in-usa

• https://www.lsac.org/

• https://www.cpj.edu.in/how-to-become-a-lawyer-a-comprehensive-step-by-step-guide/