The base salary for the average lawyer in the USA can range from 52k to 157k per year, but that’s only the beginning! Many attorneys specialize in and get extra commission fees for extra work they do beyond the walls of their practice. This is great for lawyers who have a passion for a particular part of the law, but what if your passion is simply ‘The Law’?
You can also study and become enrolled as a general practice attorney in the state(s) of your choosing. There are several steps to this process, which you can find out today by reading this handy guide.
The Foundation
Being a lawyer is a noble profession; it’s very rewarding, and it comes with very unique challenges. You’ll need a passionate driving force at the core of your journey to becoming a lawyer. This overarching reason will help you punch through the tough nights of reading cases and learning principles and procedures, which you’ll be doing more of on your way to becoming a general practice attorney.
The type of driving force is different for each law student. Some want the financial stability it offers, while others want to deliver justice or work with people. It doesn’t matter what’s at the core of your desire to get through your education, as long as you have one.
The Basics
With this desire in place, it’s important to know what the basic requirements are going to be for getting into and through law school. The number one skill you’ll need is way above-average reading comprehension. If you’re in high school or pre-law and you’re not reading a ton in your free time, it’s time to change that.
In law school and in practice, you’re going to have to interpret statutes and read cases (primary sources of law) to apply them to your client’s problems. These are sometimes called “legal authority” and the more skill you have in interpreting and applying authority, the stronger your arguments will be.
Communication skills and empathy will also be vital to your journey. These will help you ask for help in law school (most of us needed it at some point), understand your client’s needs, and your boss’s demands, and in delivering convincing arguments in court (if you ever appear before a judge).
Lastly, you’ll need a strong skill set for your bachelor’s. I myself am doing law alongside business and economics, but many of my cohorts are in politics, English, and even Botany. This will give you a well-rounded education, train you to manage time, and a broader perspective in the professional world than just law.
Educational Requirements
Your academic performance and personal affinities will determine which route you take and how long it takes to get there. The first step is to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a college or university. Pre-law, politics, business, economics, chemistry, sciences, and English are some of the best pre-law bachelor’s degrees as each can help you in some way in your legal career.
If you do well enough in your bachelor’s program, you can then go on to law school where you’ll get a laundry list of required and elective legal subjects. Tailor your course choices by avoiding the few electives you don’t want to do rather than picking up everything you would like to do.
However, if you want to be a general practice attorney, I would strongly recommend taking as many courses in Wills, Estate, Sales, Contract, Litigation, Criminal and Civil Procedure, and Evidence as you can. These areas of law are going to be 95% of your work as a general attorney.
Many universities teach the specific rules of evidence within each area of law. In those cases, it’s important to compile all the rules of evidence into one file or document. It’s also beneficial (not a requirement, but helpful) to supplement that with additional courses after your graduation.
General Practice Attorney Work Experience
It’s also a good idea to engage in clinics and vacation internships at law firms. This isn’t a hard requirement, but it comes with too many benefits to be overlooked.
Firstly, you’ll get a feel for the kind of work attorneys do. This may reinforce your desire to become a general practice attorney or convince you to specialize. Not all areas of the law appeal to everyone and it’s vital to know what you don’t want when you sign your employment contract.
Secondly, interacting with different types of attorneys will allow you to work on your legal communication skills, learn from their stories, and have access to help with your coursework and assignments. It also looks good to future law firms if you graduate with some legal work experience.
The Bar Exam
The last active step to becoming an attorney is passing the state bar exams where you want to practice. Every state has its own legal system and constitution, and so every state has its own bar exams. You may only practice law in a state once you’ve passed their bar exams.
Bar exams can be grueling, as they’re made up of several exams stretched over two days of writing. These test your skills and knowledge of many different aspects of the law from various angles. You’ll get multiple choice questions, essays, and situational problem questions which you have to answer from the perspective of a legal practitioner.
These exams aren’t unbeatable, but they’re some of the toughest legal exams in the world. Many students take a few months off between graduation and these exams to prepare well. View this bar exam prep website to help you get through this last crucial step.
Get Passionate About Law Today
General practice attorneys are formidable lawyers in the industry. The great ones have a much broader (and often deeper) understanding of the law than even some specialists. That is why it takes a long time to become a good one.
To become a general practice attorney, you need to start with a vision and drive and start working on basic skills from day one. This will help you through high school, college, law school, and internships. Finish off by passing the bar exams and then let the lawyering begin.
If you want more tips on career paths and study habits, check out our blog today. Our business, education, and lifestyle sections can help you achieve your vision.
