how to become a lawyer with an english degree

• Your Strengths. English majors learn to read reflectively, analyze critically and creatively, write and research. You may have studied literature and culture, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, film and technical communication.
• The Application. Most law school applications have several pieces, but your grade point average and Law School Admission Test score are, by far, the most important.
• Well Prepared. Law school requires reading and analyzing huge amounts of complex material for which your comprehension and analysis skills will prove useful.
• Less Prepared. With an English degree, you may need extra preparation in American government and the court system. ...

Full Answer

How do I become a lawyer in the UK?

There are also opportunities within large law firms which deal with international legal cases. To become a lawyer in the UK, you'll likely need to complete a university degree and several years of training. It is an academically challenging profession and highly competitive.

What are the best degrees for becoming a lawyer?

According to the ABA, students from nearly every educational discipline are admitted to law schools, ranging from English to history, political science to business. Popular undergraduate degree areas to consider include philosophy, economics, political science, journalism, and math.

Can you go to law school with a Bachelors in English?

Law School After an English Degree. You may be surprised at the number of English majors you will meet when arriving at law school. Law school is very different from undergraduate studies of literature, however. With a bachelor's degree in English, you are well-prepared in some ways and less so in others.

Why become a lawyer?

Lawyers are needed today more than ever before, within a side variety of specialties that have arisen due to recent changes in technology, foreign and domestic policy, and health care.

Can you go to law school with an English degree?

English. The English major is a very popular major for law school because of its immediately obvious benefits: advanced reading comprehension and persuasive writing skills.

Is English a good pre-law major?

Average LSAT Score: 155.3 English is another famous choice for pre-law students, since so much reading and writing is required to perform well in this field. Learning to synthesize a lot of content and becoming sensitive to careful word choice will make you a stronger applicant and a better lawyer.

What can u do if u major in English?

Jobs You Can Get With an English DegreeTeaching in K-12 classrooms.Teaching English abroad.Private tutoring.Communication or public relations roles.Social media management.Content creation and management for websites.Professional or technical writing for companies.

Can you be a lawyer if English is your second language?

You will encounter plenty of well-meaning individuals in both your educational and social setting, who will suggest to you that because English is your second language, you are doing phenomenal just by having been accepted to law school. Is getting accepted to law school a tremendous accomplishment? Absolutely.

What majors do law schools prefer?

As you select your undergraduate major with the intent to apply to law school in the future, these are some of the leading majors to consider.History. ... Business. ... English. ... Philosophy. ... Political Science. ... Economics. ... Arts and Humanities. ... Psychology.More items...

What degree is best for law school?

Political science is the most popular major for those planning to head to law school for good reason. As a political science major, you'll study the theory and practice of government and its link to the legal system.

Are English degrees useless?

Yes, an English degree is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting 4% job growth in media and communication occupations over the next 10 years. Common English careers in this field include writer, editor, reporter, high school teacher, and public relations specialist.

Do English majors make money?

The national average salary for an English major graduate in the United States is $45,185 per year or $21.72 per hour. If you are in the top 10 percent, you will make over $94,000; however, if you are in the bottom 10 percent, you will earn less than $21,000 per year.

What jobs can I get with a BA in English?

Careers for English majorsProduction assistant.Editor.Technical writer.Writer.Marketing associate.Reporter.High school English teacher.Communications officer.More items...•

What language is most useful for law?

According to the State Department, Mandarin is a critical language. Other languages that are important for aspiring lawyers and other job seekers are German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, French, Arabic, Hindi and Russian.

Which foreign language is in demand for lawyers?

Owing to its growing economic, social and religious influence in the world, good knowledge of Arabic would be useful to the international law community. Other languages such as Spanish, Russian, Japanese, German and Portuguese could also be useful to international lawyers.

Which English is more important for a law student?

As far as a law student is concerned, usually writing perfect English is way more important than speaking. Making a mistake while speaking is still one thing, but making the same mistakes in writing is going to kill your reputation.

How to Become a Lawyer

Becoming a legal professional takes time, so it’s best to break it down into smaller steps. Here are the recommended steps to become a lawyer…

What Does a Lawyer Do?

First, let’s start with the various tasks performed by lawyers. Then we can move into the education. Lawyers provide advice and recommendations to clients of all type regarding their legal options and rights. They are versed in the laws of their area, and use this knowledge to represent individuals, businesses, organizations, or groups of people.

Lawyer Education Requirements

How long is law school? That’s a common question that is a big concern for many aspiring lawyers and people wondering how to become a lawyer. The education of a lawyer is long, complex, and requires an advanced education from a top-class institution.

Required Licensing & Certification for Lawyers

You’ll have to pass a test to become a lawyer, which means passing the bar exam. After completing your law degree, you can’t just jump into the career of a lawyer. First, you need to complete the bar exam, the final hurdle for how to become a lawyer. It’s one of the most difficult exams you’ll ever take, so you’ll need to be prepared.

Career Outlook

If you are thinking of becoming a lawyer, you probably want to know how much does a lawyer make. Lawyers, as you may know, have a reputation as one of the most high-earning professions in the world. While much will depend on your skills and your chosen profession, it’s reasonable to expect a high lawyer salary.

Start Your Law Career with the Right Education

If you want to become one of the best lawyers in the world, you need the right education. Head to our degree database to view the leading online law degrees, all properly accredited, to help you become a leader in the legal profession.

What does it mean to be a lawyer?

As a lawyer, you may represent clients in court, or you may offer legal advice regarding personal and business affairs. Either way, your job involves researching laws and judicial decisions that you can apply to a client's particular situation. You may choose to specialize in a particular type of law, such as environmental, intellectual property, ...

What do lawyers do?

Lawyers will consult with clients and provide legal advice on how to address their issues. They may prepare filings for court, represent their client in a mediation or court proceeding, or other negotiations.

What is a clerkship in law?

Clerkships allow you to gain experience by working in a law firm, corporate office or government agency. For some, a clerkship can lead to an employment offer following graduation from law school.

What degree do paralegals need?

Paralegals and legal assistants need an associate's degree, and typically work in law offices. They assist lawyers by preparing documents and information related to the cases they're working on. Judges and hearing officers are responsible or hearing the arguments of both sides in a case or dispute.

Do you need a bachelors degree to become an arbitrator?

Arbitrators, mediators and conciliators are only required to have a bachelor's degree and they do not take sides, but attempt to work with opposing sides in a dispute to reach an agreement about how to resolve the dispute.

What are the steps to become a lawyer?

Prospective lawyers must undertake a series of steps to practice law, including completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees, examinations and licensing processes. Prior to embarking in this journey, those interested should ask themselves why they want to become a lawyer and if they are willing to commit several years to studying law in order ...

What skills do lawyers need to be successful?

These skills share a common trait--they are relied upon by lawyers in all legal fields. Law school teaches future lawyers how to think like a lawyer, and critical thinking and reading are the basis for judgment and evaluation. Students learn how to critically analyze their own thinking process.

How much do lawyers make in 2020?

The BLS reports that the median annual wage for lawyers was about $126,930 in 2020, with the top 10 percent of earners taking home more than $208,000 per year. Those working in state and local government tend to earn less while lawyers specializing in financial and insurance law are in the top bracket.

What majors do prelaws have?

Common undergraduate majors for prelaw students include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism.

How long does it take to get a JD?

The degree typically takes about three years of full-time study to complete. According to the ABA, there are currently 205 approved higher education providers. Not to be confused with other degrees such as the Doctor of Science of Law, the JD is a professional degree specifically designed to train future lawyers and prepare them for the bar examination.

What is the LSAT?

Admissions officers use scores from the LSAT as an objective measure to assess the knowledge and quality of applicants.

What is the job of a lawyer?

Lawyer Career Basics. Lawyers are licensed by their state’s bar association to represent clients on a wide range of legal matters. Law is a broad field, but professionals typically provide legal advice, perform research, gather information, draft legal documents, and more.

What degree do I need to become a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer is a long and competitive process. A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university is mandatory — an associate degree will not suffice. Your major is not important since this will not affect your chances of entering law school, but your grade point average will.

How to prepare for bar review?

The best way to prepare and pass on the first try is to take the bar review course. The money is worth the investment because it aids in organizing your thoughts and ensures you covered all the necessary information. The last step is passing the Character and Fitness evaluation.

Your Strengths

English majors learn to read reflectively, analyze critically and creatively, write and research. You may have studied literature and culture, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, film and technical communication. On your way to an English degree, you learned to define your own intellectual interests and conduct research independently.

The Application

Most law school applications have several pieces, but your grade point average and Law School Admission Test score are, by far, the most important. Assuming that you did well in college and can crank out a pretty good essay, the place to focus is on your LSAT.

Well Prepared

Law school requires reading and analyzing huge amounts of complex material for which your comprehension and analysis skills will prove useful. The first-year curriculum typically also includes a legal research and writing course.

Less Prepared

With an English degree, you may need extra preparation in American government and the court system. However, the rudest shock for many students who enjoyed college is that they find the competitive atmosphere of first year very unpleasant.

What is the next step to become a lawyer?

If you hold a bachelors degree, the next step to become a lawyer is the LSAT Exam. Find information on exams. Lawyer Education. A bachelors degree will be your first step. There are pre-law degrees along with online legal studies programs. Or view ABA accredited universities. The State Bar Exam. The bar exam is the next step to become a lawyer.

What majors are required for law school?

However, the ABA suggests certain undergraduate majors over others, such as English, history, political science, philosophy, business, or economics.

How much do lawyers make in a year?

As of May 2019, lawyers in the United States averaged $122,960 per year. However, this comfortable salary does not come easily. Becoming a lawyer in any jurisdiction requires years of undergraduate and graduate education, passing challenging examinations, and maintaining licensure through continuing education.

Table of Contents

Step #2: Decide on whether you want to study a Bachelor of Laws (BBL), a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Law

The path to a career in Law (International and UK students)

There are generally four stages to becoming a fully qualified lawyer in the UK.

Next steps

We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the processes involved with applying to law school, and to learn about some of the best universities for Law degrees in the UK. You can find more detailed information about studying Law and a career as a doctor in the Subjects/Career Guides section of the Kings website.