what clases should i take in high school to become a lawyer

by Prof. Katarina White 8 min read

High School Classes to Become a Lawyer

  • English. The College Board recommends that high school students complete advanced placement courses in English language and literature.
  • Social Studies. Courses in history, government, politics and economics will give you a broad understanding of the forces that influence society.
  • Speech. Classes in public speaking can enhance your verbal skills and self-confidence. Also look for opportunities to give class presentations and speeches.
  • Mathematics. Mathematics teaches problem-solving skills, useful to many aspects of law. ...
  • Science. High school science classes can introduce you to the scientific method and research techniques. Through experimentation, you learn to observe, record and interpret data in the laboratory.

Here are the most useful high school subjects for future lawyers:
  • English. ...
  • Public speaking. ...
  • Social studies. ...
  • Science. ...
  • Mathematics. ...
  • Statistics and data science. ...
  • American history and government. ...
  • Communication.
May 17, 2021

What are the best schools to become a lawyer?

  • Business law. ...
  • Corporate law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Federal judicial clerkships. ...
  • Health law: Aspiring health lawyers often combine a master's in public health with a J.D.
  • Medical malpractice: Having either a medical degree or a biology degree is helpful for lawyers who litigate malpractice cases, though it is not mandatory. ...

More items...

What colleges offer classes to become a lawyer?

What Are Three of the Best Schools for Medical Law Education?

  • Duke University in Durham, NC. Duke's law school ranked 10th in U.S. News & World Report 's evaluation of law schools nationwide for 2019.
  • Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. ...
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore in Baltimore, MD. Established in 1816, the University of Maryland's Francis King Carey School of Law was ranked 52nd in the country by U.S. ...

What courses do you need to become a lawyer?

The aspiring lawyer must have a bachelor's degree, and a regular paid full-time employment in Washington State with a lawyer or judge who has at least 10 years of active experience and will serve as the applicant's primary tutor. Applicants find their own employment.

What college classes are needed to be a lawyer?

Voter restrictions have been around for as long as our country itself. When America was founded, voting was restricted to white male property owners. The Constitution left voting rights to the states. This resulted from a compromise over slavery and inexperience by our founding fathers with a representative democracy.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

Close reading and reasoning. Lawyers often need to quickly familiarize themselves with relatively large passages of previously unknown text, so classes that involve reading literature very important for developing these skills.

What can lawyers learn from science?

By learning about science, future lawyers can develop the skills they need to understand various pieces of evidence, use them to investigate cases and connect all the available information to come up with a reasonable conclusion. 5. Mathematics.

What are the duties of a lawyer?

Their exact duties and responsibilities are: 1 Providing expert advice to clients regarding potential legal issues that they may expose themselves to or ongoing litigations 2 Analyzing all documents involved in a legal case against their clients, such as witness accounts, police reports, accident reports and other official documents 3 Using their knowledge of the law to find passages and precedents that may then be used in the defense of their clients 4 Working with their clients to develop the most appropriate strategy for each situation, based on the particularities of each legal case 5 Preparing various civil legal documents, such as wills, deeds and contracts 6 Appearing in court before a judge and using legal rhetoric to defend their clients' interests

What do lawyers need to know?

Lawyers generally need to have extensive knowledge of any subject that can describe and influence society, such as economics, history, politics, government affairs and other similar ones. Taking a social studies class can help you understand concepts like how laws and regulations are made, how legal procedures and precedents work and other similar concepts that are vital for successfully practicing law.

Why is math important in law?

Therefore, mathematics is an important aspect of the job, as the skills you acquire when learning how to solve math problems are usually transferrable to several aspects of the law.

Why is it important to study English in high school?

Excelling in high school English language and literature classes can help aspiring lawyers develop their spoken and written communication skills as well as their comprehension abilities. As many law schools require applicants to submit an essay before admission, working on your English skills is crucial for improving the odds ...

What is a lawyer?

Lawyers, also called attorneys, are tasked with advising their clients and representing them in civil and criminal cases. Their responsibilities span from simply offering legal advice to preparing legal documents on behalf of the client and ultimately representing the client in front of a court of law.

What is a criminal defense lawyer?

Last but not least, a criminal defense lawyer is skilled in handling all stages of a criminal lawsuit. They provide valuable counsel to their clients from the time they are arrested, through the investigation, charging, arraignment and sentencing. Their work isn’t quite done if their clients wish to appeal their case. A good criminal defense attorney knows how to navigate the nuances of the law, which allows them to keep their clients out of prison.

What is a business lawyer?

Also known as corporate lawyers, business lawyers are legal eagles who cover a more full range of expertise in building, managing, maintaining, transferring, and dissolving a business. Lawyers in this area of practice deal with the formation of the company, employment contracts, tax compliance, acquisitions, and mergers.

What is labor law?

Labor lawyers speciali ze in handling unlawful lay-offs and workplace discrimination. They also negotiate their clients’ severance pay. These attorneys usually work with unions, but they are most helpful for non-unionized employees because these are the workers who do not have anyone advocating for their cause.

What is a real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers provide legal guidance for individuals or companies seeking to buy or sell a property. They work with their clients and the real estate agents to draft documents and ensure that the paperwork is legally binding. They may also negotiate for the buyer or seller, or represent a property owner during a foreclosure dispute.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.

What is an intellectual property lawyer?

Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected from copycats and duplicates. If you’ve created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song, or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.

Why do we need malpractice lawyers?

Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards , they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.

How to prepare for law school?

1 . Take advanced classes. College is difficult, and law school is even harder.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

These skills include: Problem-solving. Reading comprehension. Spoken and written communication. Research. Organization and time management. Critical thinking.

How to prepare for the LSAT?

Learning strategies and best practices for succeeding at standardized tests can prepare you for eventually taking the LSAT. 8 . Practice public speaking and writing. Communicating skillfully and clearly is important, both in applying to and succeeding in law school. 4  Even in high school, you can start practicing these skills.

What are the skills that high schoolers need?

Critical thinking. Community involvement and public service. As early as high school, you can begin pursuing classes and extracurriculars that help you improve and grow these skills. 1 .

How to improve your chances of getting into college?

These steps will also improve your college admissions chances and prepare you for doing well in undergraduate classes. Look for hands-on experience. Even as a high school student, you might be able to gain hands-on experience in the legal profession. Whether it’s a summer job or an internship for course credit ...

What is more important than your major?

More important than your major are your grades 4  and your relationships with faculty members. 5  You’ll need a high GPA and strong recommendations for law school, which means you’ll need to do well in your classes and get to know at least a few faculty members. 6 . While you’re considering which college to attend, ...

Do law schools matter?

However, most law schools state that undergraduate major doesn't matter.

How much do lawyers make?

Lawyers make a median salary of $129,910, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But there is a large amount of variation between different specializations and the public and private sectors. According to Salary.com as of October 20, 2019, the average salary for the below specializations are as follows:

How many hours do lawyers work?

Working 60-80+ hours a week is typical here (especially at larger firms), but most lawyers can expect to work long hours no matter what field. Most law school graduates work in law firms when first starting out, to get the specialized experience necessary before going into other fields later on.

How many times a year is the LSAT?

Because the LSAT is only offered four times a year, plan to take the exam early enough that retake it, if needed.

What is pro bono law?

Many lawyers in the private sector also undertake this work for free (pro bono) by working with these organizations on a volunteer basis in their free time.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers play a role in many aspects of our everyday lives, including mortgages and leases, patented items , and the court cases we most often associate with the law. These different aspects, among others, are part of the many different specialties a lawyer can pursue.

Is pre law a major?

Again: pre-law is not a major. You can apply to law school with any major, so study what you want while developing skills that will benefit you in law school and beyond. These include critical thinking, strong writing ability, research, analytical skills, and more.

Can a lawyer become a judge?

Clerking for a judge is also a government position available to lawyers; becoming a judge is also a possibility, but only a small percentage of lawyers go on to become judges, as it requires gaining much experience and being appointed or elected to the position.