What does a Lawyer do?
Published 3 min read
A lawyer is someone who represents clients in legal matters. They may work in a variety of fields, such as criminal law, family law, or business law. Lawyers typically work for law firms, but some may also be self-employed.
Lawyer job duties include:
- Advise clients on business and legal transactions
- Draft and review legal documents
- Negotiate settlements
- Represent clients in court
- Research and analyze legal issues
- Advise clients on tax law, intellectual property, and other legal matters
- Prepare wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents
- Handle real estate transactions
- Manage corporate legal departments
Lawyer Job Requirements
In order to become a lawyer, one must first obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Once you have your degree, you must then pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in order to gain admission into law school. After completing three years of law school, you must then pass the bar exam in order to practice law in your state. Some states also require that you take an ethics exam. In order to stay up-to-date on the latest laws and regulations, many lawyers also participate in continuing education courses throughout their careers.
Lawyer Skills
- Analytical skills
- Research skills
- Writing skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Organizational skills
- Public speaking skills
- Argumentative skills
- Persuasive skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Negotiation skills
Related: Top Lawyer Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Lawyer
There are many reasons why someone might want to become a lawyer. Maybe they want to help people in their community, or maybe they want to make a difference in the world. Whatever the reason, becoming a lawyer is a long and difficult process. Here are a few steps on how to become a lawyer:
1. Get a bachelor’s degree: In order to be accepted into law school, most schools require that you have a bachelor’s degree. During your undergraduate studies, you should take classes that will challenge you and help you develop critical thinking skills.
2. Take the LSAT: The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test that all law school applicants must take. The LSAT measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning skills.
3. Go to law school: Once you have your bachelor’s degree and your LSAT score, you can apply to law school. Law school is three years of full-time study, and you will take classes such as constitutional law, contracts, and civil procedure.
4. Pass the bar exam: In order to practice law in most states, you must pass the bar exam. The bar exam is a two-day test that covers topics such as constitutional law, contracts, and torts.
5. Find a job: After you pass the bar exam, you can start working as a lawyer. You can work in private practice, for a corporation, or for the government.
Related: Lawyer Resume Example