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US Law School
Completing a degree program from an accredited US law school is essential to practice as a lawyer in almost all states in the U.S. A law degree is awarded after three years of full-time work. Most states do not accept bar applications from graduates of law schools that are not accredited by the American Bar Association. The degree awarded by the United States law schools is Juris Doctor. Masters of Law or LL.M is awarded after a specialized program of study. In most countries, the required degree program must follow a basic four-year college or University degree.
There are some features of the profession of law that attracts people:
- Service to people
- Independence
- Control
- Prestige
- Income
Patient study and the ability to reason and analyze is required to be a good lawyer.
Broad introductory topics are the basic requisites in the first year of law school. These topics may include torts, contracts, civil procedure, criminal law, property and constitutional law. Courses on legal writing and legal research may also be taken up in the first year in some law schools. Students take up specific areas of law like business, international, litigation or family law in the second and third years. Further, courses on federal income taxation, corporations, commercial law, and professional ethics may also be required. Second and third year law students can gain some legal experience through legal aid clinics and internships. Even though the class size is considerably large in law schools, the teaching is highly interactive.
There are other extracurricular activities that provide law school students with additional useful experience. Legal academic journals like law reviews are edited and written in part by students. The criteria for membership in these law reviews are the first year grades or the results of a writing competition. Moot court sessions provide students with an opportunity to compete with each other. Moot court sessions consist of giving mock oral arguments before a panel of judges.
The general requirements for admission to the bar are similar throughout the states. An applicant must have good moral character, be a resident or employed in the state, graduated from an accredited / certified law school, and pass a bar examination. There may be some exceptions to these general requirements.
Lawyers are trained to prepare legal documents for clients, to explain the law, to provide advice on personal and business matters and to represent clients before courts and government agencies.
US Law School Ranking
Many factors determine law school ranking. According to the US News and World Report, the top five Law Schools in America are:
- Yale University
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Columbia University
- New York University
The rankings are based on peer assessment, assessment by lawyers and judges, the 2004 undergraduate GPA 25th to 75th percentile, 2004 LSAT score 25th to 75th percentile, 2004 acceptance rate, 2004 student/faculty ratio, 2003 graduates employed at graduation, those employed nine months after graduation, the school’s bar passage rate in the jurisdiction, and the jurisdiction’s overall bar passage rate.
The detailed online law school report can be read here: usnews.com - America’s Best Graduate Schools 2005: Top Law Schools
Becoming a Lawyer
Education: A competitive degree and successful scores in Law School Admission Tests are the essentials for gaining entrance into the Law school. Merely half the numbers of students who apply to law colleges manage to secure admission. It is mandatory for students to successfully clear the state bar exam before they are given permission to practice law. Advanced courses are certainly helpful to people who desire to specialize in a particular area. Some students pursue joint degree programs that require an additional year. Joint degree programs are offered in many areas such as Business or Public Administration. The lawyers are essentially required to update themselves on developments in their areas of practice. They must update themselves on the various amendments and changes to the law that they are interpreting.
It takes seven years to get a law degree in the United States. The law shool student students have to complete four years of under-graduate degree where they will not have a detailed study on Law. The students have to subsequently undergo a period of three years in the study of Juris Law degree. Good communication skills and analytical abilities can help an aspiring lawyer in his career. It has been observed that law school students prefer to do their under- graduation in Political sciences, economics and history. A successful lawyer needs to be able to conduct his research thoroughly. A student who aspires to become a lawyer should attend civil trials and acquaint himself with the court proceedings. Interacting and working with experienced Lawyers on legal matters can provide the cutting edge for a wannabe lawyer.
Essential Qualities to Become a Lawyer
A Lawyer should be objective and yet at the same time should be capable of putting himself into the shoes of his client. A lawyer should empathize with his client and try to use his analytical skills so as to find solutions for his client’s problems. An aspiring lawyer should be capable of educating his clients and clearing their misconceptions. Tact is an essential trait of any successful Lawyer. He needs tact to disclose unpleasant information to his clients. He also needs tact to educate his clients on their incorrect understanding of the law. To be able to convince others articulately is an essential trait for any successful practitioner of law. The practice of law is demanding and it entails careful study of the law and its interpretations. A Law student should be a meaningful participant in the affairs of the community, as it would help him have a broader idea of the issues that affect the community.
We thank you for visiting our directory, and wish you well in whatever endeavor brought you here. We are constantly adding new information and resources to our site, both general and state specific in nature, so check back often.
Disclaimer: The articles provided herein are for information purposes only and are not destined as a substitute for specific legal advice. The reader is urged to seek professional legal counsel for their specific circumstances, as the law constantly changes and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and is subject to changeable interpretations.
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