Become a Criminal Defense Lawyer
A person charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for at least six months has a Constitutional right to an attorney, regardless of whether they are innocent or not. For this reason, there will always be a need for criminal defense lawyers. As a criminal defense lawyer, you will safeguard your client’s Constitutional rights, making sure that the state proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before they deny your client of liberty. Although the road to becoming a criminal defense attorney is long, it is a rewarding career for those suited to the job.
Obtain a bachelor’s degree. In order to get into law school, you first need a bachelor’s degree (4 year degree) from an accredited college or university. It does not matter what kind of bachelor’s degree you get, but most pre-law students obtain bachelor’s degrees in political science, psychology, or sociology.
Make sure the school you choose is accredited. To ensure that the school you choose is accredited, check the U.S. Department of Education’s (“DOE”) Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs for a listing.
You do not need to major in “criminal justice” as an undergraduate. In fact, criminal justice majors are admitted to law schools are admitted at a lower rate than those who majored in journalism, philosophy, or economics. Although you will not be penalized for majoring in criminal justice, there is no automatic benefit in law school admissions for having done so.
One of the most important skills you will need as an attorney is the confidence to speak in front of anyone. You can begin to develop this skill while in college. Join debate or public speaking clubs.
You will also want to strengthen your research and writing skills, so you should take classes that allow you to write long research papers.
The higher your undergraduate GPA, the more selective you can be about what schools to apply to. Even if you do not care about the rank of the law school you attend, a higher GPA makes scholarships easier to get.
A great way to build relationships with faculty is to work as a research or teaching assistant.
The LSAT is by far the most important part of your application, and you will need a score around the 50 percentile in order to get into an accredited law school.
Because of the recent decline in law school applicants, law schools are giving away more scholarships than ever before. A high LSAT will help you qualify for free money from your law school of choice.
Create a free account at the Law School Admission Counsel’s (“LSAC”) website.
Find a test date and location. To do this, start on LSAC’s Law School Admission Counsel’s website Dates and Deadlines page.
Your local library or bookstore should have copies of old LSAT exams. Find the most recent to take as practice exams.
The LSAT has five multiple choice sections and one unscored essay. Four of the five multiple choice sections count toward your score. The fifth is experimental and does not count toward your score. Unfortunately, you will not know in advance which section is experimental.
Follow the rules for test day very carefully. If you fail to follow any of the test day rules, you may not be allowed to take the test. A complete set of test day rules can be found on the LSAC’s website on its Day of the test webpage.
10. Retake if your score is low.
Applicants are allowed to take the exam more than once. Schools may choose to accept your higher score, or they may choose to average the two. If you take the LSAT twice but your score doesn’t improve, you should reconsider before taking it a third time.
On average, test takers are able to increase their score only two to three points on a re-take.
1. Qualifying for Law School
Obtain a bachelor’s degree. In order to get into law school, you first need a bachelor’s degree (4 year degree) from an accredited college or university. It does not matter what kind of bachelor’s degree you get, but most pre-law students obtain bachelor’s degrees in political science, psychology, or sociology.Make sure the school you choose is accredited. To ensure that the school you choose is accredited, check the U.S. Department of Education’s (“DOE”) Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs for a listing.
You do not need to major in “criminal justice” as an undergraduate. In fact, criminal justice majors are admitted to law schools are admitted at a lower rate than those who majored in journalism, philosophy, or economics. Although you will not be penalized for majoring in criminal justice, there is no automatic benefit in law school admissions for having done so.
2. Practice public speaking.
One of the most important skills you will need as an attorney is the confidence to speak in front of anyone. You can begin to develop this skill while in college. Join debate or public speaking clubs.You will also want to strengthen your research and writing skills, so you should take classes that allow you to write long research papers.
3. Keep your grades up.
Not everyone gets into law school. To increase your chances of getting in, keep your grades up. You want to graduate with at least a 3.0, but of course a 3.5 or 4.0 would be even better. Admissions committees view a high GPA as an indicator that you are a hard worker who is self-motivated.The higher your undergraduate GPA, the more selective you can be about what schools to apply to. Even if you do not care about the rank of the law school you attend, a higher GPA makes scholarships easier to get.
4. Build relationships with professors
When you apply to law school, you will need to submit letters of recommendation. Make the most of your four years in college by building relationships with professors who can write you strong recommendations.A great way to build relationships with faculty is to work as a research or teaching assistant.
5. Intern with a criminal defense lawyer.
Many small law firms need clerical and support staff assistance in the summer but also throughout the year. You can work part-time for a criminal defense lawyer as you work toward your undergraduate degree. Doing so will give you a taste of what criminal defense work is like.
6. Study for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
The LSAT is by far the most important part of your application, and you will need a score around the 50 percentile in order to get into an accredited law school.Because of the recent decline in law school applicants, law schools are giving away more scholarships than ever before. A high LSAT will help you qualify for free money from your law school of choice.
7. Register for the test.
The LSAT is offered four times a year, in June, September, December, and February. It is offered on Saturdays, but there are special sessions for those who observe a Saturday Sabbath.Create a free account at the Law School Admission Counsel’s (“LSAC”) website.
Find a test date and location. To do this, start on LSAC’s Law School Admission Counsel’s website Dates and Deadlines page.
8. Study for the test.
The LSAT may be the most important factor in your law school application, so take it seriously. It tests reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. Test prep companies offer tutoring, but you can also study on your own.Your local library or bookstore should have copies of old LSAT exams. Find the most recent to take as practice exams.
9. Take the test.
The LSAT has five multiple choice sections and one unscored essay. Four of the five multiple choice sections count toward your score. The fifth is experimental and does not count toward your score. Unfortunately, you will not know in advance which section is experimental.Follow the rules for test day very carefully. If you fail to follow any of the test day rules, you may not be allowed to take the test. A complete set of test day rules can be found on the LSAC’s website on its Day of the test webpage.
10. Retake if your score is low.
Applicants are allowed to take the exam more than once. Schools may choose to accept your higher score, or they may choose to average the two. If you take the LSAT twice but your score doesn’t improve, you should reconsider before taking it a third time.
On average, test takers are able to increase their score only two to three points on a re-take.
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