Post College Professions

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There are almost countless professions that can be attained through achieving a college degree. Attending a college or university opens the door to numerous opportunities for students. They can become computer programmers, financial analysts, or scientists among many other careers. One of the most acclaimed careers in the United States of America in terms of status, salary, and respect is that of a lawyer. The profession of a lawyer is one which many parents hope that their children aspire to become. It is, as with any other sought after commodity, difficult to become a lawyer and it involves a long process filled with much schooling.

The Process of Becoming a Lawyer

Becoming a lawyer entails a lot of hard work and a commitment to your dream of attaining the law degree and becoming a lawyer. The process is a multi-step arrangement that goes like this:

1. The first step to becoming a lawyer is to attend a college or university and earn your bachelor’s degree. It does not particularly matter what major you choose as students of any major can earn acceptance into a reputable law school. The key is to make sure that you earn a strong grade point average and take some writing courses and political science courses.
2. The next step, which generally starts around your junior year of college or university, is to start preparing to take the Law School Admission Test. This is a comprehensive examination that is required for entrance to all ABA (American Bar Association) accredited law schools. After taking the LSAT you must apply to the law schools of your choice. This process consists of sending them your LSAT scores and a personal statement along with your college or university transcript.
3. After applying to law schools, you must attend one if you are accepted. This takes at least three years of full time study to complete. A law school education mostly consists of reading briefs on cases along with legal documents and writing opinions upon them.
4. Once you graduate law school, you are still not able to practice law within the United States. In order to be able to practice law in the United States, you must pass the bar examination. The bar examination is an examination given in all states that allows you to practice law within that state. It consists of:

• The Multistate Bar Examination which is the same for all states. This consists of multiple choice questions which test knowledge of common law and the Uniform Commercial Code.
• State-specific examinations which are additional questions given by the state in which you are taking the exam. These may be multiple choice or essay-based questions.

Law Schools in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey has three law schools within its borders. These schools are:

• Rutgers School of Law-Camden: Located in Camden, NJ, Rutgers School of Law-Camden has an enrollment of 750 students and is ranked the 77th best law school by U.S. News and World Report.
• Rutgers School of Law-Newark: Located in Newark, NJ, Rutgers School of Law-Newark has an enrollment of 610 students and is ranked the 84th best law school by U.S. News and World Report.
• Seton Hall University School of Law: Located in Newark, NJ, Seton Hall University School of Law has an enrollment of 1,142 students and is ranked the 64th best law school by U.S. News and World Report.