BECOMING A BECOMING A LAWYERLAWYER

How do you become a lawyer?How do you become a lawyer? Go to law schoolGo to law school

Any undergraduate degree is acceptableAny undergraduate degree is acceptable You must take the LSAT to be accepted into most You must take the LSAT to be accepted into most

law schools.law schools. Most graduates get a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) Most graduates get a Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

degreedegree Some lawyers later get an LL.M. in order to Some lawyers later get an LL.M. in order to

specializespecialize Foreign lawyers get an LL.M. in American Foreign lawyers get an LL.M. in American

law to be able to practice in this countrylaw to be able to practice in this country http://prelaw.asu.edu/explore/faqhttp://prelaw.asu.edu/explore/faq Arizona Arizona

State University answers frequently asked State University answers frequently asked questions.questions.

How do you become a lawyer?How do you become a lawyer?

You must pass the bar exam in the You must pass the bar exam in the state in which you practice. state in which you practice.

If you want to practice in another If you want to practice in another state and if you have been practicing state and if you have been practicing for several years, some states allow for several years, some states allow you to practice without retaking the you to practice without retaking the bar exam.bar exam.

Where should you practice?Where should you practice?

Large Full-Service FirmsLarge Full-Service Firms Smaller Firms and Boutique Smaller Firms and Boutique

FirmsFirms GovernmentGovernment Legal Clinics and Advocacy Legal Clinics and Advocacy

OrganizationsOrganizations Working in Industry (In-house)Working in Industry (In-house) Clerking/AcademiaClerking/Academia

Areas of PracticeAreas of Practice

Administrative Law and Regulatory PracticeAdministrative Law and Regulatory PracticeAntitrust LawAntitrust LawBusiness LawBusiness LawCriminal JusticeCriminal JusticeDispute ResolutionDispute ResolutionEnvironment, Energy and ResourcesEnvironment, Energy and ResourcesFamily LawFamily LawGovernment and Public Sector LawyersGovernment and Public Sector LawyersHealth LawHealth LawIntellectual Property LawIntellectual Property LawInternational LawInternational Law

Areas of PracticeAreas of Practice

Labor and Employment LawLabor and Employment LawLitigationLitigationPublic Contract LawPublic Contract LawPublic Utility Public Utility

Transportation LawTransportation LawReal Property, Trust and Estate LawReal Property, Trust and Estate LawScience and Technology LawScience and Technology LawState and Local Government LawState and Local Government LawTaxationTaxationTort Trial And Insurance Practice SectionTort Trial And Insurance Practice Section

What else can you do with a law What else can you do with a law degree?degree?

WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED?WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED? writing, editing, interviewing, organizing writing, editing, interviewing, organizing

information, researching, and giving information, researching, and giving attention to detail attention to detail

legislative analysis and drafting, policy legislative analysis and drafting, policy planning, or lobbying. planning, or lobbying.

persuasion, organization, and persuasion, organization, and communication skills communication skills

experience with client contact, experience with client contact, counseling, and analytical thinking counseling, and analytical thinking

What else can you do with a law What else can you do with a law degree?degree?

ACTORSACTORS

WRITERSWRITERS

GOVERNMENTAL JOBSGOVERNMENTAL JOBS

ACTIVISTSACTIVISTS POLITICIANSPOLITICIANS

PHILANTHROPISTSPHILANTHROPISTS HUMANITARIANSHUMANITARIANS

MEDIA PERSONALITIESMEDIA PERSONALITIES

ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSPEOPLEENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE

MEDIATORS OR OMBUDSPERSONMEDIATORS OR OMBUDSPERSON

Pre-Law HandbookPre-Law Handbook

Visit Visit http://www.prelawhandbook.com/hohttp://www.prelawhandbook.com/homeme..

How is the job market?How is the job market?

Baby boomers are starting to retireBaby boomers are starting to retire There is a recessionThere is a recession Some practice areas have declined in Some practice areas have declined in

recent years: Personal-injury and medical-recent years: Personal-injury and medical-malpractice cases have been undercut by malpractice cases have been undercut by state laws limiting class-action suits, out-state laws limiting class-action suits, out-of-state plaintiffs and payouts on of-state plaintiffs and payouts on damages. damages.

For all but top-tier graduates of elite law For all but top-tier graduates of elite law schools, it's been tough. schools, it's been tough.

There has been a substantial increase in the There has been a substantial increase in the number of law school graduatesnumber of law school graduates

In the 2005-06 academic year, 43,883 Juris Doctor degrees were awarded, up from 37,909 for 2001-02, according to the American Bar Association.

Universities are starting up more law schools in part for prestige but also because they are money makers.

Costs are low compared with other graduate schools and classrooms can be large.

Since 1995, the number of ABA-accredited schools increased by 11%, to 196.

Number of U.S. law degrees awarded, 1980-2006

Also consider,Also consider,

Adding to the burden for young lawyers: Tuition growth at law schools has almost tripled the rate of inflation over the past 20 years, leading to higher debt for students and making starting salaries for most graduates less manageable, especially in expensive cities.

Graduates in 2006 of public and private law schools had borrowed an average of $54,509 and $83,181, up 17% and 18.6%, respectively, from the amount borrowed by 2002 graduates, according to the American Bar Association.