Law is a practice that’s as diverse and complex as our judicial system itself. Lots of young people aspire to become lawyers and become experts in their own respective fields. Some may choose to gain expertise on Labor law, while some may focus on abortion malpractice. You have to consider your interests and aptitudes. You may decide to become a personal lawyer, sensing an aggressive pursuit of justice for people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Learn how to become a personal injury lawyer in this quick, professional guide.
Four-Year Degree
The first step to becoming a personal injury lawyer is graduating from a four-year school and getting your degree. You can’t become any kind of lawyer without a bachelor’s degree. Common majors to get into law school includes economics, philosophy, business, political science, and English. But these are not the only majors accepted.
Good GPA and LSAT Score
Getting your four-year degree is not enough—you have to make sure you excel. Getting a high GPA in a four-year university is crucial to getting into law school. The higher the GPA you achieve, the better the law school that you can get into. And that’s how to jump-start a young, budding career. You’ll also need to take the LSAT and achieve a good score. The two main factors law schools consider when reviewing applicants are GPA and LSAT scores.
Law Degree
Law school is a three-year program you go through after your undergraduate program. The first year consists of core legal subjects such as torts, property law, criminal law, and constitutional law. For those interested in personal injury law, the course in torts will give a good overview of the basis for personal injury claims. Participate in trial coursework if possible. Being a clerk at a law firm while attending law school is also a good idea.
Bar Exam
After graduation from law school, the bar exam is required by individual states to practice law within that state. The exam itself will cover state-specific issues, general legal areas, and a multi-state bar exam multiple-choice test.
Practicing as a Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s always advisable to obtain hands-on practice with a reputable law firm after graduation. After law school and passing the bar exam, you can expect to receive a range of typical cases, from car accidents to workplace accidents. Many personal injury attorneys are former defense attorneys who try cases for insurance companies. Insurance defense attorneys can gather trial experience relatively quickly. The training aspect of a law firm should be one of the primary considerations for your first job as a practicing attorney.
Continued Learning
And lastly: always keep learning. Learn from your bosses and co-workers. Learn from experienced individuals in your work life. If you want to get into law, learning how to become a personal injury lawyer is the first step. You can be a great lawyer if you’re willing to work at it.