I want to become an attorney/lawyer, but I don't know anything about law school, can anybody tell me about it?

Question

I am in the navy now but plan on getting out to become an attorney/ lawyer but I have no idea where to begin. I don't know what I need to go to law school. Is a law degree the same as being a lawyer? how long does it usually take to become a lawyer?

I appreciate any help i can get with this...

Answer 1

You need a degree to apply to law schools.  Get it in something that will get you a job in the event that law school doesn't work out.  Do NOT get a degree in paralegal studies.  It's not necessary, doesn't look good on an application and will not get you a job if you don't go to law school.  Going full-time, college is 4 years and law school is 3 years after that.  After law school, you take a bar review course and take a bar exam.  You should not hang out your shingle right out of law school since school teaches theory not practice.  Most lawyers do not have any idea how to actually do anything right out of school.

Law school is insanely expensive - even for a poor one (and it really, really matters where you go to law school).  If the navy doesn't pay, plan on $100,000-$150,000 for law school.  It's not that hard but it's a lot of work and a lot of time management.

Before committing to law school, get a job in a law firm.  A huge majority of lawyers are miserable in law.  Find out what it's really like before you make this much of a commitment.

Answer 2

You should put in a package to be a legal man they give you a bachelors so you are a para legal then the option to go jag after 5 years of it.  My shipmate left to start school the other day.  By the time you are 40 you will be ready to retire and have your degree.

GI bill just wont pay for all your law school so you will go in dept plus you will have to work for the da to get your experience.  It would take you just as long to have a good civilian career if you went  jag as if you got out and went to law school on your own.  Plus instead of student loans you would have a pension.

You need a bachelors to apply for law school.  On completion of law school you have to take the bar exam to practice law in the state you want then register with the local bar association.  The bacholors can be in whatever but leagal studies para leagal stuff like that looks better on the application.