Expert: Sally A. Kane - 11/3/2008

Question
hey my name is sarah,  and im 18 and fresh in college. my major right now is respiratory care and i hate it. I'm looking to be a state prosecutor, can you tell me the requirements i need!

Answer
Hi Sarah,

To become a state prosecutor, you will need to graduate from a four-year undergraduate program, score well on the LSAT (law school admission test) and graduate from an ABA accredited law school.  It generally takes 7 years to complete your undergraduate and law school education (law school is generally a 3-year program although it can take 4 years if you attend part-time).

You don’t need to change your major to prepare for law school.  However, if you dislike your current major you might consider a liberal arts degrees such as Communications, English or Writing.  A liberal arts major provides a good foundation for law school, especially if you want to be a litigator.   

The classes you take do not matter as much as achieving an “A” in those classes.  Since law school admission is highly competitive, achieving good grades – a 3.5 grade point average or higher if possible - will help you gain acceptance.

As far as getting into law school, the two key factors are a high grade point average and a high LSAT score.  A record number of students are competing for a limited number of spots in the nation’s law schools and the higher your G.P.A. and LSAT score, the better your chances of admission.

For more information on the requirements to become a lawyer, see: http://legalcareers.about.com/od/educationandtraining/a/Education.htm

This article provides additional information about the LSAT: http://legalcareers.about.com/od/educationandtraining/a/LSAT.htm

Thanks for writing and best of luck with your education!

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