How to Become a Lawyer

If you are interested in becoming a Houston lawyer, there are many steps to take. There are thousands of good lawyers, but there is always a market for new attorneys. This article will discuss some of the important steps you will need to take if you decide you want to practice law. 

Pick a Good Major

As an undergraduate student, it is important to pick a major that will help you with the ultimate goal of practicing law. There is not a specific set of undergraduate degrees or credentials needed to become a law student, however there are some degrees that are more helpful in this pursuit than others. Degrees that are writing intensive will be the most helpful. Examples include English, history, political science, philosophy or the humanities. These types of degrees are very helpful when studying for the law school entrance exam. 

Take the LSAT

The Law School Aptitude Test, or LSAT, is a test that you are required to take in order to enter into law school. Although any application will technically be considered at any university, most schools only consider students who achieve a minimum score determined by the particular school's admission board. The test itself has three sections. These sections are reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning. Reading comprehension consists of sections of long passages that are read by an applicant, and then followed up with multiple choice questions about the particular passage. The logical reasoning sections includes smaller multiple choice questions that determine an applicant's ability to choose the best answer out of several that answer the question in varying degrees. The analytical reasoning section is more commonly known as logic games. These "games" are complicated story problem puzzles that often test students to the end of their abilities. These sections can be mastered through practice and repetition. Many students study for a period of three to six months to get better at this test. There are test preparation programs that can assist with classes, instructors, and practice sessions. These classes can be expensive, but very helpful when preparing for admission. Practice tests are also very helpful; old tests are available online or for purchase which can help you familiarize yourself with the test sections and question types. 

Visit Schools

After taking the LSAT test, you will be required to wait several months to receive a score. Once you receive your score you will know what tier of law school you can apply to. Law schools are ranked starting at number 1 and ending at 300 or 400, depending on the ranking system used. Tier 1 schools are the schools ranked 1-50, tier 2 schools are the school ranked51-100, and so on. Initially, many people refer to the top tier schools as the top 20, or even the top 10 schools. These include schools like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton that you would expect, and others that you may not expect like the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and the University of Washington. The two things highly considered by most schools are your LSAT score, and your undergraduate grade point average. Most schools are less concerned with your particular major than they are with your scores and sometimes your extra curricular activities and participation in school groups and clubs. For specific advice on how to be competitive while applying to a particular school, it is helpful to contact a school's admissions office for advice. You can also schedule site visits to any school you would wish. It is not uncommon for students to be admitted to multiple schools, at which point it is helpful to visit to determine which school will best help you become a Houston lawyer. 

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