To become a lawyer in the US, one must first obtain a bachelor’s degree. Many students opt for business degrees as it helps prepare them for law school.
Business lawyers oversee all legal aspects associated with running a company. While this career can be lucrative and rewarding, it is also highly complex.
Bachelor’s Degree
Business is an expansive field, and a bachelor’s degree can open doors in numerous industries – marketing, finance, accounting, real estate and even education are just a few examples of its breadth. Students studying this discipline can develop strong leadership qualities while gaining a greater insight into how businesses function.
Business degrees provide an ideal platform for budding entrepreneurs and students pursuing master of business administration degrees (MBA). Both degrees lay a solid foundation to pursue higher-level career opportunities.
Students interested in business degrees may have two main choices for degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BBA) and Bachelor of Science in Business (BS). Although the differences may seem subtle, the distinctions are significant: while BBA degrees provide a comprehensive overview of multiple disciplines within business, while BS provide more practical experience that can be applied across industries.
Some BS programs also feature an area-specific focus, like the bachelor of science in healthcare administration. This program provides a strong basis for students aspiring to management roles within healthcare. Students learn about key issues related to healthcare administration such as legal compliance and employee management strategies as well as its technical side so that they may build stronger networks within the industry.
Law School
Law school can be an intense challenge and a step up from undergraduate studies. Although the American Bar Association doesn’t recommend any particular major for legal study, you should aim to take challenging classes and hone your analytical abilities as best you can. History, English or philosophy majors might help deepen your knowledge of legal system while developing more philosophical approaches to arguments; while science technology engineering math degrees provide technical insight into patent law or other areas of intellectual property law.
Make time for law-related activities, like shadowing or networking with lawyers in your preferred practice area, interning at law firms or taking on legal-related work before applying to law school. Or take an enriching gap year job that builds your resume in legal fields before beginning studies in law.
Beyond your academic interests, it is also wise to pursue courses and experiences which will strengthen your communication skills. Lawyers frequently present oral arguments before being understood by both clients and peers; therefore, communication skills development before attending law school will help you excel once studying to become one.
Licensing
Becoming a lawyer is an appealing career option for many students, whether because of social prestige, family tradition or potential salary gains. To succeed in the field, students need a solid knowledge base in areas like politics, economics and history as well as experience gained during undergraduate studies through student government meetings, joining debating societies or serving as summer interns at local firms.
At its core, being a lawyer requires an intense investment of both time and resources. On average, becoming a business lawyer takes between six to ten years, starting from receiving a bachelor’s degree to attending law school and passing the bar exam. Students considering attending law school should prepare early by studying for and taking courses such as Securities Regulation and Secured Transactions that cover statutes regulating securities trading or purchasing assets.
Prior to taking their bar exam, students should also consider enrolling in a bar review course such as barbri, to help prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The MPRE is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and passing scores will vary based on state.
