what should high schoolers do if they want to be a lawyer

by Iva Parisian 5 min read

  • Course Selection. Focus on a well-rounded high school education that hones writing skills.Take high school classes that emphasize organized research and persuasive writing, as well as critical study of others’ ...
  • Extracurricular Activities. Law students and lawyers must learn to make persuasive oral arguments. Join your high school’s debate or forensics clubs to get a jump-start on verbal sparring.
  • High School Jobs. You don’t need to be a law school grad to work at a law firm. ...
  • A Few Tips. To learn more about requirements to get into law school, ask your high school career adviser or guidance counselor to help you collect applications literature from specific ...

Take high school classes that emphasize organized research and persuasive writing, as well as critical study of others' writings. Because much of a lawyer's practice involves communicating, courses that build vocabulary help. Students also should take classes that look at how human behavior interacts with institutions.

Full Answer

How to become a lawyer in high school?

Sep 19, 2014 · 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. Sign up for your school's speech and debate team or try out for a play to start practicing your public speaking.

What skills do you need to be a lawyer?

Jun 29, 2018 · Course Selection. Focus on a well-rounded high school education that hones writing skills.Take high school classes that emphasize organized research and persuasive writing, as well as critical...

How can I prepare for Law School?

Take AP classes requiring heavy reading, writing and research. Being a lawyer isn't all arguing and yelling "objection!" in court. The job requires familiarity with long, sometimes hard to...

Do I need high school extracurriculars for Law School?

Jul 11, 2016 · Here’s how. From Above The Law and Axiom. #6 — Get them a Ritalin prescription. Maybe they don’t need it now, but if they truly want to …

How do I prepare my child to be a lawyer?

How to Prepare to Be a Lawyer in High SchoolLook for hands-on experience. ... Be active in the world. ... Take advanced classes. ... Improve your standardized test skills. ... Practice public speaking and writing. ... Explore other possible career paths.Jan 26, 2020

What is the youngest age to be a lawyer?

Baccus, graduated from the University of Miami law school in 1986 at the age of 16 and is believed to be America's youngest lawyer.Aug 20, 1988

Can 12 year olds get a lawyer?

Situations in Which a Child Can Have a Lawyer A representative is needed to protect the child's interests. The child is old enough and mature enough, and wants to give an opinion to the judge. It is in in the child's best interests to be involved and to have a lawyer.

At what age do lawyers retire?

In firms with mandatory retirement, 38% mandate retirement at 65; 36% at age 70. 27% of lawyers plan to retire early; 29% plan to retire at retirement age; 29% plan to retire later; 4% do not plan to retire at all; 11% are unsure.

How to become a lawyer in high school?

Because much of a lawyer’s practice involves communicating, courses that build vocabulary help. Students also should take classes that look at how human behavior interacts with institutions. That includes sociology, political science, psychology and history. Science and math classes sharpen analytical thinking. Coursework that trains students to read large amounts of information is vital. Stick with honors or advanced placement courses and read as much as possible to prepare for the rigors of law school. It's also important to keep your grade-point average high so that you have your choice of colleges and eventually law school.

Why do law firms hire high schoolers?

Many local and state bars encourage law firms to hire high schoolers for summer internships, where they help with clerical tasks. Working at a law firm provides industry contacts, a boost on your law school application and a feel for whether a legal career is a good fit.

Is it too early to get into law school?

However, it's never too early to begin preparing for a legal career. High school students can act now to improve their odds of getting into law school. From the classroom to the community center, you can boost your career dreams.

Does the Department of Justice offer internships?

The U.S. Department of Justice offers high school students both paid and unpaid internships, through which students can learn about legal careers with the federal government.

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.

What does a general counsel do?

Some businesses contract outside law firms to work on their behalf, but others will retain general counsel on their staff to advise on various legal matters. This work could include negotiating contracts, managing risk, advising on business deals, and anything else that comes up in day-to-day business.

Why is summer associate important?

These internships are important because summer associates are usually asked to return to their firm, after they graduate and pass the Bar. Securing a good summer associate position and excelling in it can mean that the first years of your career are set early on.

A Challenging Course Load & Standardized Testing

Admissions officers are uniformly looking for students who challenge themselves in their high school curriculum. As high school students interested in law, should select the highest-level courses available in each grade. For example, you should plan to take 2-3 AP courses per year when possible.

Excellent Grades

While a challenging course load is an important part of demonstrating academic rigor as high school students interested in law, the grades you get in those courses are especially important. Although you don’t have to receive all As and have a flawless record, your transcript should be made up of mostly As.

Best Majors for Future Law Students

There is no ideal major that you should have your eyes on as high school students interested in law. Fortunately, law school admissions offices welcome students with a variety of college majors. Common majors include political science, history, economics, and psychology.

Real Life Experience and Career Exploration

High school students interested in law should find opportunities to pursue internships, mentorships, and volunteer work in organizations that will expose you to real world business, legal practice, or challenging social issues.

Extracurricular Activities

The extracurriculars that you choose to get involved in during your high school years will provide insight into your interests. Don’t be afraid to dive deep into extracurriculars that excite you. There are some “classic” extracurricular activities typical of high school students interested in law.

Strong Essays

This tip will be more relevant when you actually begin your college applications, but it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want to communicate in your application essays, especially your Common App personal statement. This is the main essay that will be included in all of your college applications.

Looking Ahead

Later on, probably during the summer before your senior year of college, you will start the process of preparing applications to law schools.

The REAL way to prepare your kid for a career in the law

Over at the Huffington Post, they have an article, originally posted on Quora, that purports to give advice for parents whose high-school-aged children are determined to become lawyers.

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Why is it important to go to law school?

Because law practice is highly competitive, entering a well-regarded law school and doing well in law school are important, as a practical matter, in competing for good legal work after graduation. Above all, take time to enjoy your life as a youth, and then as a young adult. Life is not a race to the finish line.

Is law a good profession?

Law is a fine profession, often very challenging and stimulating, and it serves a valuable civic and economic function. To learn more about law practice, I would encourage you to talk at length with your aunt and anyone else you know who is a practicing attorney.

What are the grades in law school based on?

In the majority of law school courses, especially during your first year, grades are based largely on a single essay exam given at the end of each semester.

How to build the strength of your college application?

Generally speaking, you can build the strength of your college application by pursuing activities that support your existing academic profile. Your summer pursuits should confirm dedication in areas in which you’ve already built strength over time, or they should fill in some blanks.

What is a service project?

Service projects are always a great choice of summer activity, regardless of your intended career path. These types of community-oriented activities demonstrate your commitment to selfless causes and, when chosen mindfully, can fit seamlessly into your academic profile.

Why do we do summer activities?

Purpose of Summer Activities. Because there is no prescribed path to law school acceptance, you have a little more liberty in your choices for summer activities. Essentially, anything that builds relevant skills, creates a stronger college application, or allows you to explore your possible career path is a great fit.

Is there a requirement for law school?

There is no pre-determined path or prescribed prerequisite undergrad work for law school acceptance, which means there is certainly no requirement for high school extracurriculars, which will be so distant by the time you submit your law school applications that they are unlikely to figure much in your admissions decision.

Is the SAT important after high school?

In fact, if you end up applying to law school, the SAT won’t even be the most important standardized test of your academic career. Instead, the LSAT will take that honor.

Is it too early to take the LSAT?

High school is admittedly way too early to begin preparing for the LSAT explicitly, but it’s not too early to begin becoming a standardized test master.

A Challenging Course Load & Standardized Testing

  • In high school, you should start to think about what type of law you want to practice. Start by inquiring about informational interviews or job shadowing with local law firms that specialize in different areas. You don’t need to decidenow, but getting this early exposure can make that decision easier later on. These experiences are also a great ass...
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Excellent Grades

Best Majors For Future Law Students

Real Life Experience and Career Exploration

Extracurricular Activities

  • While a challenging course load is an important part of demonstrating academic rigor as high school students interested in law, the grades you get in those courses are especially important. Although you don’t have to receive all As and have a flawless record, your transcript should be made up of mostly As. Taking a challenging class isn’t going to benefit your profile if you’re goin…
See more on ingeniusprep.com

Strong Essays

  • There is no ideal major that you should have your eyes on as high school students interested in law. Fortunately, law school admissions offices welcome students with a variety of college majors. Common majors include political science, history, economics, and psychology. Nonetheless, science majors and even students in the arts are also encouraged to apply to law s…
See more on ingeniusprep.com

Looking Ahead

  • High school students interested in lawshould find opportunities to pursue internships, mentorships, and volunteer work in organizations that will expose you to real world business, legal practice, or challenging social issues. Perhaps you can find a small role in a legal office helping with transcription, translation, office administration, and bas...
See more on ingeniusprep.com