To become a business law attorney, there are a few simple steps. At least the steps are easy to understand, but doing each step requires years of hard work.
1. Take the LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a nationally standardized test. Your LSAT score includes points based on your correct answers on the LSAT. Your LSAT score is also adjusted based on your college GPA and the competitiveness of your college. Once you take the LSAT, you must arrange to have your LSAT score sent to law schools as part of your application for admission. Law schools then compare your LSAT score and other admissions application materials to determine which applicants to accept. The law school admissions process is very competitive, but with good college grades, good performance on the LSAT, and a good law school application, you should be admitted to law school.
2. Attend Law School
Next, you must attend law school. This can’t be just any law school. Your state may only allow you to practice law if you attend an ABA-approved law school. Most states require law students to attend an ABA-approved law school before taking the bar exam in that state. California is a notable exception. In California, you can take the bar exam even if you didn’t attend an ABA-approved law school. However, California has other rules, so check them out if you are considering attending a non-ABA approved law school.
3. Pass the bar exam
Once you have graduated from law school, you will prepare to take the biggest law exam of your life. Each state has its own bar exam, which takes two to three days depending on the state. You must pass the bar exam to practice law in your state. It may be worth noting exceptions to this rule. Most states allow you to practice law if you are licensed to practice law in another state and meet other requirements. A very small number of states will allow someone to practice law if that person has experience as a court clerk, but this exception is rarely used today.
4. Get licensed to practice law in your state
To be licensed to practice law, you must apply for admission. The admissions process involves a criminal record check, a lengthy application, success in passing the bar, and a host of other requirements. If your application is approved, you must be sworn in. After you are sworn in, you are officially an attorney licensed to practice law in that state.
5. Get a business lawyer job or find your own business clients
The final step is to get a job practicing business law at a law firm or find your own business law clients and practice as a freelance lawyer. Working for a law firm or starting your own law practice largely depends on personal preference and whether you would be able to acquire enough clients to work on your own. If you start practicing law at a law firm, you are not normally expected to attract clients for at least a few years.
Getting a business lawyer job is not necessarily easy. First of all, not all law firms practice business law. If you are interested in being a business lawyer, you should look for firms that have business clients. Second, your ability to obtain a business attorney position may also depend on your business experience. Business law jobs are often found at large firms, which can require strong resumes because many lawyers want to work in business law compared to the number of positions available. If you have a business background or an MBA, you will have a better chance of getting a job as a business lawyer. Good grades from law school and other impressive resume items will also be important.
Are you sure you want to be a business lawyer?
As a final piece of advice, here is a suggestion. Before you embark on the long road to becoming a business lawyer, make sure that a career as a business lawyer is what you want. As you may know, the work of a business lawyer is nothing like what is shown on television. He would be disappointed if he spent years of his life taking out loans for law school only to find out later that he doesn’t like being a business lawyer. You may want to interview a few business lawyers, read up on the profession, or even observe a business lawyer or two for a day. That would let you see what a day in the life of a lawyer is really like. Before you invest money and time in pursuing a legal career, make sure you really want it.
Conclusion
As you can see, the steps to become a business law attorney are simple to understand. However, the process involves years of hard work. Determining whether you want to become a business lawyer is an important question that deserves careful consideration before investing so much time and money. Many people have really enjoyed being a business lawyer, and for them, the years of training and the cost of education were an excellent investment.