So You Want to Be a Criminal Lawyer?
We have all seen the various incarnations of Law and Order.
Countless other television shows and movies portray the life of a criminal lawyer as glamorous, gratifying and exciting.
Of course, you know that just because it is on television does not necessarily mean that it is true.
This profession can be grueling and tedious at times.
Often it is consumed with research, paperwork and routine procedure.
Also, when you first get started you will not make much money.
After reading the above, if you are still interested in being a criminal lawyer, then go for it.
Keep reading below to see what you will need to do.
In the law field, choosing the path of criminal lawyer can be the most challenging and rewarding.
Do not fool yourself.
It is a long road, but if you have the fortitude to stay the course, you can earn the opportunity to defend or prosecute criminals or even become a judge! You have to be ready for a modest beginning though.
This will probably include working for the public defender's office in a small town for the modest income of anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 per year.
Of course, this is after the massive amounts of time and money you have spent on law school, but that is all part of staying the course.
If you are seriously considering a career as a criminal lawyer, be sure to take your schooling seriously.
When law schools accept students they have been known to research a potential student's transcripts going all the way back to high school to determine whether or not this individual has the study habits and aptitude necessary to succeed as a lawyer.
While pursuing your undergraduate degree, you can use most any area of study as a major and still be invited to law school as long as your grades are impeccable.
Even with this in mind, however, it should be noted that students that major in criminal justice will have a significant leg up in terms of course work and career ideology if they are zeroing in on the profession of criminal lawyer.
After your undergrad, the next step you need to take to get into a law career is to take the Law School Admissions Test or LSAT.
This comprehensive exam will test your aptitude for practicing law and is used as a benchmark by law schools nationwide in choosing whether or not to accept prospective students.
If you are able to perform well on the LSAT and get into law school, this next endeavor will take approximately three years to complete.
Be ready to research, study, give many arguments, do more research and write countless essays on the judicial system, laws and regulations.
Once you pass this step, you will probably want to gain experience as a paralegal while you prepare for the Bar Exam, which you need to pass to become a licensed attorney.
The Bar Exam is unequivocally the hardest test that you will ever take.
Each state has its own variation, so you will have to pass the test in the state where you desire to be a lawyer.
You may need to take the test several times before you can pass it, but once you do, you will be ready for a career in law.
Countless other television shows and movies portray the life of a criminal lawyer as glamorous, gratifying and exciting.
Of course, you know that just because it is on television does not necessarily mean that it is true.
This profession can be grueling and tedious at times.
Often it is consumed with research, paperwork and routine procedure.
Also, when you first get started you will not make much money.
After reading the above, if you are still interested in being a criminal lawyer, then go for it.
Keep reading below to see what you will need to do.
In the law field, choosing the path of criminal lawyer can be the most challenging and rewarding.
Do not fool yourself.
It is a long road, but if you have the fortitude to stay the course, you can earn the opportunity to defend or prosecute criminals or even become a judge! You have to be ready for a modest beginning though.
This will probably include working for the public defender's office in a small town for the modest income of anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 per year.
Of course, this is after the massive amounts of time and money you have spent on law school, but that is all part of staying the course.
If you are seriously considering a career as a criminal lawyer, be sure to take your schooling seriously.
When law schools accept students they have been known to research a potential student's transcripts going all the way back to high school to determine whether or not this individual has the study habits and aptitude necessary to succeed as a lawyer.
While pursuing your undergraduate degree, you can use most any area of study as a major and still be invited to law school as long as your grades are impeccable.
Even with this in mind, however, it should be noted that students that major in criminal justice will have a significant leg up in terms of course work and career ideology if they are zeroing in on the profession of criminal lawyer.
After your undergrad, the next step you need to take to get into a law career is to take the Law School Admissions Test or LSAT.
This comprehensive exam will test your aptitude for practicing law and is used as a benchmark by law schools nationwide in choosing whether or not to accept prospective students.
If you are able to perform well on the LSAT and get into law school, this next endeavor will take approximately three years to complete.
Be ready to research, study, give many arguments, do more research and write countless essays on the judicial system, laws and regulations.
Once you pass this step, you will probably want to gain experience as a paralegal while you prepare for the Bar Exam, which you need to pass to become a licensed attorney.
The Bar Exam is unequivocally the hardest test that you will ever take.
Each state has its own variation, so you will have to pass the test in the state where you desire to be a lawyer.
You may need to take the test several times before you can pass it, but once you do, you will be ready for a career in law.
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