Expert: Sally A. Kane - 11/13/2008

Question
hi my name is genna, i am 18 years old and a freshman in college. At the moment I am working towards getting my business bachelors' degree. I am thinking about getting into corporate law, so my question is after i receive my bachelors in business what are the exact steps i need to take to get into corporate law and how many years of schooling do i need?
Please help, thank you
Genna

Answer
Dear Genna,

To become a corporate lawyer, you will need to:

1.   Obtain your bachelor’s degree;
2.   Graduate from an accredited law school; and
3.   Pass the bar exam.

It generally takes seven years to complete your undergraduate and law school education; undergraduate school is usually completed in four years and law school is generally a three-year program.
For a detailed explanation of the requirements to become a lawyer, see http://legalcareers.about.com/od/educationandtraining/a/Education.htm

As far as law school entrance requirements, you will need to score well on the LSAT (law school admission test), a standardized test required for admission to law school (for more information, visit http://legalcareers.about.com/od/educationandtraining/a/LSAT.htm).

Law schools also view your college cumulative grade point average as an indicator of your likelihood of succeeding in law school. A high grade point average in college will increase your chances of law school admission since a record number of students are competing for a limited number of spots in the nation’s law schools.  Following law school, you must pass a bar examination in order to practice law in any given jurisdiction.

I hope this is helpful in outlining the requirements for becoming a corporate lawyer.  Thanks for writing.

Best of luck!

Sally A. Kane, Esq.
About.com Guide to Legal Careers
http://legalcareers.about.com/