The Steps of Becoming a Lawyer (Part I): High School

Are you passionate about pursuing law or becoming a lawyer? A lawyer, as you know, is someone who is pursuing law and represents clients in the courtroom. Lawyers have duties and responsibilities that you should know before you start pursuing law. There are also steps you can be taking in high school to further your future career in law.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lawyers have many duties and responsibilities. According to CareerPlaning.com, there are twenty-two duties and responsibilities in total. However, I will only list a few, they are:

1.) Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, the advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.

2.) Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses.

3.) Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.

4.)Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.

5.) Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases (Inc.).

Steps in Becoming a Lawyer: High School

In high school, there are different steps you can be taking now. You can start thinking about what area of laws you want to work in. You do not have to know right away, but it is important to keep this in mind on your journey to pursuing law. The things you can be doing in high school are:

Having/maintaining a good GPA.

Having/maintaining a good GPA is essential when applying to colleges. With a good GPA, you can show how much of a dedicated student you are to your studies. Most college's minimum GPA is 3.0. Try not to stress out too much about your GPA because that is just one factor that colleges look at.

Having good SAT/ACT scores

Having a good SAT/ACT score is also important when applying to colleges. However, due to COVID-19, many colleges are now test-optional or test blind. If some of the colleges you are applying to are test-optional, I recommend taking both of these exams. Test optional schools might give you an advantage over other students.

Extracurriculars

Extracurricular is another factor that colleges consider in your application. You can find activities at your school or communities to show your interest in law. At school, you should join clubs, such as the Debate team or Model UN. Any club that is related to the law would demonstrate your interest. If these clubs are not available, you can start one either at school or in your community. In your community, you may have the opportunity to shadow a lawyer to volunteer at a local law firm.

Classes

I recommend taking AP, Honor, or Dual Enrolment classes. It does not have to be directly related to law, but it will help you stand out against other applicants when applying to college. Doing well in these classes would also look good on your transcript and help your GPA.