How do I become A lawyer?

Question

What steps do I have to take ? I live in the UK and I'm wondering what happens after I leave school, and when I have to pick my lessons what do I pick?

Answer 1

I'm going to assume that you're just finishing GCSEs, and that by "lawyer" you mean solicitor or barrister rather than Legal exec, paralegal, trademark or patent attorney etc.

For either the main route is:

qualifying Law Degree ( 3 years ) OR non-law degree ( 3 or 4 years ) AND Graduate Diploma in law (1 year crash course ),

For Solicitors, followed by:

Legal Practice Course (1 year) AND Training Contract.

For Barristers, followed by:

Bar Vocational Course (1 year) AND Pupillage (1 year )

It's not necessary to do Law A-level, or any subject in particular, so long as you can get into a good university. However, if you have a particular area of law in mind certain subjects would obviously be quite useful - If you want to work in construction and engineering law, then Physics, Electronics etc would be useful... if you want to do a lot of financial law then do stats and maths type subjects. In any case I'd say that English language and or literature are useful, since language is so important in the operation of the law.

Answer 2

You will have to start by going to a school of higer learning that offers courses in the field of law. Simply tell them what you dream of becoming and they ought to assist you in selecting the appropriate courses for the field. Good-luck!

Answer 3

Low IQ would be a start

Answer 4

You are most likely to get into law school if you have a degree, though I believe it's possible to get in with "A" levels alone. You can take any subjects you like, though a degree in law may shorten your time in law school. Most lawyers have a background in the humanities but a background in science could make you more competitive, particularly if your grades are good.

You will also need to decide whether you wish to be a solicitor or a barrister. If you wish to be a barrister, you may wish to study acting as an extracurricular subject. Courts are very theatrical.

Answer 5

Do what you're good at. You haven't given any clue as to what that might be, but you may choose any serious academic subjects to apply to a law faculty at university. The main thing is to demonstrate that you are able to think and express yourself clearly and to be able to get really good A Level results. Not all lawyers read law at university, but I think that this would probably be the most sensible option, even if at the end of your course you decide to take up a non-legal career. Not everybody with a law degree proceeds to take postgraduate training to become a barrister or solicitor, but as that is what you are aiming at now, a law degree is the best option.

Answer 6

A degree in law would be handy =)