Licensure
To practice law in the courts of any State or other jurisdiction,
a person must be licensed, or admitted to its bar. All States require
that applicants for admission to the bar pass a written bar examina-
tion; most States also require applicants to pass a separate written
ethics examination. In most cases, lawyers must pass the bar exam-
ination in each State in which they plan to practice. Federal courts
and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before
or in them.
To qualify for the bar examination in most States, an applicant
must earn a college degree and graduate from a law school accred-
ited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or by the proper
State authorities. ABA accreditation signifies that the law school,
particularly its library and faculty, meets certain standards. With
certain exceptions, graduates of schools not approved by the ABA
are restricted to taking the bar examination and practicing in the
science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particu-
State or other jurisdiction in which the school is located; most of
lar aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example,
these schools are in California.
prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering
The practice of law involves a great deal of responsibility.
or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of
Lawyers should like to work with people and be able to win the
accounting.
respect and confidence of their clients, associates, and the public.
Law school applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to quali-
Perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability also are essential.
fy for admission. Competition for admission to most law schools is
intense. Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant’s
Advancement
ability to demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law, usually
Most beginning lawyers start in salaried positions. Newly hired
through undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test
attorneys usually start as associates and work with more experienced
(LSAT), the quality of the applicant’s undergraduate school, any
lawyers or judges. After several years, some lawyers are admitted to
prior work experience, and sometimes, a personal interview. Being
partnership in their firm, which means they are partial owners of the
a minority can give you an edge.
firm, or some go into practice for themselves. Some experienced
At school, law students will cover core courses in law, contracts
lawyers are nominated or elected to judgeships. Others return to law
and procedure, and later more specialized courses. They will also
school to teach; a growing number of these lawyers now have
gain practical experience by participating in school-sponsored legal
advanced degrees in other fields as well.
clinics; in the school’s moot court competitions, in which students
Some attorneys use their legal training as a base to work in
conduct appellate arguments; in practice trials under the supervision
administrative or managerial positions in various departments of
of experienced lawyers and judges; and through research and writ-
large corporations. A transfer from a corporation’s legal department
ing on legal issues for the school’s law journals.
to another department often is a way to gain administrative experi-
Law school clinical programs might include work in legal aid
ence and rise through the ranks of management.
offices, for example, or on legislative committees. Part-
time or summer clerkships in law firms, government
agencies, and corporate legal departments also provide
valuable experience. Such training can lead directly to a
job after graduation and can help students decide what
kind of practice best suits them.
A number of law schools have night or part-time divi-
sions to meet the needs of students who work or who can
only attend part-time.
Law school graduates receive the degree of Juris
Doctor (J.D.), a first professional degree. Additional
advanced law degrees may be desirable for those plan-
ning to specialize, research, or teach. Some law students
pursue joint degree programs, which usually require an
additional semester or year of study. Joint degree pro-
grams are offered in a number of areas, including busi-
ness administration or public administration.
After graduation, lawyers must keep informed
about legal and non-legal developments that affect their
practices. In 2006, 43 States and jurisdictions required
lawyers to participate in mandatory continuing legal
education.
S A L U D O S 30 H I S P A N O S
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