what subjects must i take to become a lawyer

Subjects Required to Become a Lawyer

• Bachelor's Degree. Before they can start putting away the bad guys, aspiring prosecutors have to earn a bachelor’s...
• Law School. Future prosecutors must attend a law school accredited by the ABA, or American Bar Association, which takes...
• Professional Responsibility Exam. In all states except Puerto Rico, Wisconsin and Maryland, law...

Full Answer

What are the professional requirements for becoming a lawyer?

Oct 20, 2021 · Most students in a law school program take basic law college courses in their first year that cover the principles of criminal law, basic constitutional law, environmental law, as well as civil litigation. Other topics studied early in a J.D. program include torts, contracts, property law, legal writing, and research.

What education do I need to become a lawyer?

Sep 22, 2020 · The short answer to this question is that, in order to be a Lawyer, you will be required to have a minimum of 5 GCSEs, including passes in English, Maths and Science. These GCSEs are required for most Law-related A-Levels, as well as being basic requirements for most Law University courses.

What to know before becoming a lawyer?

Subjects Required to Become a Lawyer Bachelor's Degree. Before they can start putting away the bad guys, aspiring prosecutors have to earn a bachelor’s... Law School. Future prosecutors must attend a law school accredited by the ABA, or American Bar …

What degree do you need to be a lawyer?

Aug 21, 2019 · You can become a lawyer defending clients in court or pursue a career in academia. Law schools often require that applicants hold a college degree and pass the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT. Candidates must also take specific courses, including contracts and the common law. Introduction to Law

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 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 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.

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 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.

How long does it take to get a Juris Doctor degree?

You can earn a Juris Doctor degree by graduating from a law school that's accredited by the American Bar Association, which takes three years. During law school, you can choose to focus on one particular area of the law, such as criminal, environmental, tax, property, real estate or family. Pass the bar exam.

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.

Required High School Subjects

All the South African universities have similar requirements in terms of what high school subject you need to take in order to apply to study law. They all require you to take Maths/ Maths Literacy and English. Luckily these are compulsory subjects at high schools in South African.

Suggested High School Subjects

When it comes to picking electives, you have the freedom to choose the subject you want to take, subject to (pun intended) what you High School offers. There are no specific subjects that will prepare you for a Law degree. However, here is a list of the most common subjects that people take.

My Biggest Advice to you?

With that in mind, take subjects that you are good in because the most important thing is to have a high grade average, and high Admission Point Scores (APS). Universities are looking for well-rounded learners. Law school is not easy, so they look for hardworking learners.

What is criminal law?

Criminal law deals with the types of behavior that society punishes with fines and incarceration. Criminal law is mainly derived from statutes; however, most law students who are taking a criminal law course are required to read cases regarding judicial opinions on each specific type of crime.

What is torts subject?

The subject of torts encompasses noncriminal damages that one party inflicts upon another. The most popular topics within this subject include negligence, products liability, defamation and the seven intentional torts (assault, battery, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, trespass to land, trespass to chattel and conversion).

What is the subject of a contract?

The subject of contracts deals with the legalities and formalities for forming a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. Common topics in a contracts class consist of the elements of a contract, the statute of fFrauds, parole evidence, the mail box rule and other provisions set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code.

What is property law?

Property law deals with an individual's ownership rights in his own personal or real property, although the vast majority of property law revolves around issues dealing with land and real estate. Some of the more popular topics in property law include easements, the rule against perpetuities, landlord and tenant rights, gifts and mineral and water rights.

What is constitutional law?

Constitutional law encompasses the specific rights in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights as well as the large body of Supreme Court decisions. Some of the more popular constitutional law topics include civil rights, abortion, commerce, states' rights and the specific roles and power limitations of the three branches of the federal government.

Who is Krystal Wascher?

Krystal Wascher has been writing online content since 2008. She received her Bachelor of Arts in political science and philosophy from Thiel College and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2009.

What GCSEs Do You Need to Study Law Related A-Levels at Sixth Form?

There are a number of A-Level subjects which will be useful to students who would like to study Law at University. If you would like to find out more about which subjects these are, take a look at this useful article about which A-Levels you need to become a Lawyer.

Which GCSEs Will Help You Develop The Skills You Need To Become a Lawyer?

There are a number of different skills which are ideal for Lawyers to have. If you want to find out more about the types of skills that are included in this, take a look at this useful article which lists the qualities every good lawyer should have.

What GCSEs Do You Need to Study Law at University?

Generally speaking, when you are applying to University, GCSEs are not the most relevant qualifications which you will have on your application. However, this does not mean that they are something which should not be taken incredibly seriously, as they will certainly be considered by Universities when you are applying to do your Law degree.

What GCSEs Do You Need to Train to Become a Lawyer After University?

After you have completed your degree at University, GCSEs become slightly less important than they were at your time of application. Because you have a number of more recent qualifications which are more related to Law, GCSEs have much less impact on your ability to move forward in your career.

What GCSE Grades Do You Need to Achieve to Become a Lawyer?

As I said before, the GCSE grades that are required in order for you to become a Lawyer are the same grades that are needed for you to get into University. So, the GCSEs that you need to achieve to become a lawyer are 5 GCSE passes, including passes in English Language, Maths, and Science.

Can You Become a Lawyer Without Particular GCSEs?

If you want to become a Lawyer, you need to keep in mind that it is a very competitive field, and will require a lot of hard work. Your academic grades are the easiest way to demonstrate your dedication to the subject, as well as your personal attributes, such as your motivation, and how hardworking you are.

What Other Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

There are a number of different types of Lawyer, so to find out what other qualifications you need to become one, you have to first decide which route it is that you would like to go down.

How often do lawyers take continuing education?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 45 states -- as of 2011 -- required lawyers to take continuing education courses on an annual basis or every three years. These courses are offered by bar associations and law schools, and cover areas such as legal ethics ...

What classes are required for a bachelor's degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, classes in English, public speaking, government, history, economics and mathematics are useful.

Why do paralegals work with lawyers?

Because of the increased career opportunities and earning potential associated with a career as a lawyer, many paralegals decide to become lawyers.

How long does it take to go to law school?

Law school, which typically takes three years to complete, covers subjects to prepare you for a variety of legal situations. You can expect to take courses in constitutional law, which teaches about the legislative powers of the government, and contract law, which involves studying the nature of enforceable promises.

How to become a prosecutor?

Before they can start putting away the bad guys, aspiring prosecutors have to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students are free to major in whatever subject they like, but should complete coursework in history, public speaking, English, economics, mathematics and government in order to to get admitted to a law school. Other law school requirements include good grades, a high score on the LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, letters of recommendation and involvement in extracurricular activities. Students should diversify as much as possible, since law schools prefer students with a variety of talents and interests.

How long does it take to get a juris doctorate?

Earn a juris doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school. This degree will usually take three years to earn. While a law student, consider working as a legal clerk at a law firm or government agency and participating in internship and law school clinic programs.

What is the LSAT test?

The LSAT measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning, all skills needed to succeed in law school and as a lawyer.

What do you learn in a legal course?

If you take a legal course about business organizations, you learn how companies operate in modern-day economies, as well as laws and regulations to which they must conform. This course also teaches you how to form and dissolve a company.

What is criminal law?

Criminal Law. As a law student, you study criminal law and procedures necessary to collect and present criminal evidence in court. Also called penal law, this legal discipline deals with crimes and their punishment.

What is tort law?

A tort is any wrongdoing for which a person may bring an action for damages. If you take this type of course, you learn about legal remedies the U.S. Congress put into place to ease the moral or financial pain of people who suffer damages.

What is securities law?

Securities Law. Securities law deals with the rights and duties of investment-product issuers. A security is a financial product sold on a physical or electronic exchange. Examples include stocks and bonds.

What is the UCC?

Uniform Commercial Code. Also called UCC, the Uniform Commercial Code is legislation that all states adopted to simplify and modernize consumer credit laws. The code also protects consumers against unfair practices and oversees commercial transactions in the United States.