The Basic Law School Requirements in the United States

Are you aspiring to become a lawyer but are unsure of the law school requirements? If so, by now you may have already started preparing yourself to get into a law school. The legal profession these days is more and more in demand. Lawyers often play a very vital in many aspects of life. Banking, insurance, education, business and health care couldn’t operate without the help of attorneys. For you to enter the legal profession, you must plan ahead. To be accepted to a law school, you need to comply with all the law school requirements.

Earning a law degree normally takes three or four years of hard work and dedication in law school. In most cases you must first have an undergraduate degree—although many distance-learning law schools require only 60 college credits.  Once admitted, in completing the coursework to become a lawyer, you will need to work extremely in order to graduate.

The first thing in law school requirements are the prerequisites:

If you’re looking to attend an ABA approved law school, you must be a graduate with a four-year degree from a accredited college or university. Candidates should have an excellent undergraduate GPA.

You also have to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). And you must score high in order to be seriously considered for admission. The LSAT is said, among other things, to test your ability in reading, comprehension, information management and critical thinking. When you are applying for a law school, go for a law school you really want, but be realistic too. Some ABA schools are very competitive. It takes years of full time study to complete a law degree. Some schools offer dual classes like evening, weekend and part time programs.

You can also consider looking into an online law school or correspondence law school, but make sure their graduates are eligible to sit for a bar exam if you plan to become a licensed attorney.

Selection requirements for applicants vary from one law school to another and even from one state to another. For example, California law schools offer a diverse range of legal education programs including Internet law school programs. The aforementioned law school requirements are just a few of the basic things you should be aware of—good luck.

Law School Admissions Overview

Getting into any law school is no easy task. And getting into a top ranked law school is an even more difficult one. It is important that you plan ahead and organize your approach to the law school admissions process before you ever file your application(s).

In considering the law school admissions process you have to bear in mind the old saying, “timing is everything”. You should not waste valuable time. Early planning will, at the very least, place you at a distinct advantage over your more procrastinating competitors. Many law school admissions’ committees favor those candidates who timely file their applications.

Preparing For Law School Admissions

You must prepare for the LSAT or Law School Admission Test. Ideally you should enroll in an LSAT prep course or at least purchase workbooks or a good home study course. Take a multiple practice exams before you actually take the real test. A related matter of concern is the LSDAS or the Law School Data Assembly Service. This one is provided by the LSAC and, as with the LSAT, is required if you plan on attending an ABA approved law school. (This is generally not required if you will be enrolling in an online law school or correspondence law school). This service contains your LSAC result scores and letters of recommendation. Once you receive your LSAT scores you will have a better sense of the laws schools to which you have a realistic chance of being admitted.

Law School Admissions Process

Also as part of the law school admissions process; you will also need to consider writing your personal statement. Start working on this as early as you can. There are a variety of services online that can assist you with this important part of the application process. A well written personal statement provides a better chance to stand out from the crowd and will most definitely benefit from careful contemplation—and multiple revisions.

Bottom line: You cannot completely overcome low GPAs and LSAT scores, but assuming your academic background is generally sound and you have acceptable LSAT scores, advanced planning can give you an edge in law school admissions. If you’re successful, you’ll have an opportunity to prove in law school that you have all the requirements to become a lawyer.

Online Law School

There is a wide variety of online law school degree programs available today. This is due to the rapid growth and revolutionary advances in the Internet. Notwithstanding, legal education is as slow to change as the law itself in an inherently a conservative system in which decisions determined by examining past precedent. Because of this deference to the past, online law schools are still being unfairly criticized and are not yet fully accepted or integrated into traditional ranking systems. While the quality of an online law school education is certainly open to one’s opinion, it is my opinion that graduates of many non traditional law schools undergo the same grueling curriculum as their counterparts in brick and mortar law schools.

Online Law School is the Future

Nowadays, a number of distance-learning law schools such as Concord Law School are becoming as prestigious as ABA approved law schools. There are several states that do not require you to attend an ABA approved law school to take the bar exam. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have been accepted by an ABA approved law school and you have a choice to go to an online law school instead, I would generally favor attending the traditional law program. But for some the choice may not be that easy. When you factor in the low cost and sheer convenience, the Internet law school model is quite attractive. Another outstanding benefit is that there is no need for you to resign from your present job just to fulfill your dream to become a lawyer. And, as an added bonus, the LSAT exam is generally not required.

Online Law School v. Traditional Programs

As compared to a traditional ABA approved schools, an online law school is generally less expensive. This is because the Internet law school does not need to spend on a campus and infrastructure. But rest assured, if you choose a good online law school, you will be in a real law school and you will need to work extremely hard to make it through to graduation. Many online law schools have outstanding professors as members of the faculty. And since your lessons will be delivered online via video, audio and chat rooms, you can study anywhere you want and anywhere your situation requires you to. You may also be happy to learn that many online law school degree programs have flexible school hours which means less disruption to your way of life.

If you’re thinking about becoming a lawyer you should look to all available options—consider an online law school.

How to Become a Lawyer?

This might be the question that’s been on your mind if you’ve ever dreamed of practicing law as a licensed practitioner. When asked, most people would immediately say that to become a lawyer, one needs hard work, planning, research, and perseverance. Although these factors are certainly essential, there are a number of steps and a few alternative strategies that should also be considered.

The first this is to acknowledge that completing a law degree, passing a bar exam and really learning how to become a lawyer is a difficult undertaking. This is so whether following the traditional path or an alternative such as an online law school or correspondence law school. Becoming an attorney will require a great deal of time and effort. And, if you are not prepared to invest the necessary time, effort, and money into the process, then you should really consider a different path. If you are not ready willing and able to completely dedicate yourself then you should not plan on becoming a lawyer—becoming an attorney is not for everyone. But if you know how to become a lawyer, that is, if you are willing to do whatever it takes and persevere to the end, the rewards of a legal career can be enormously gratifying.

How to Become a lawyer -Strong Academic Foundation

While your high school performance is not much of a consideration to prospective law schools, high school is actually a basic part of the whole process. Your academic performance there will decide the college you attend and, to a large extent, how well you do in college. Your high school grades and SAT scores, etc. will dictate the college you attend. All of this will have an indirect impact on your law school options and opportunities. However, one of the most important steps in how to become a lawyer will be your accomplishments in college and, of course, your grade point average or GPA.

A frequent issue with some adults wanting to learn how to become a lawyer is that they have low GPAs because they failed to properly apply themselves in their college years. While law school admission committees do place a high value on a candidate’s college GPA, it is not the only factor and it may be possible to offset this glaring weakness. In addition, some
corresponsence law school programs and Internet law schools may be willing to give you an opportunity to prove yourself despite your poor academic record.

How to Become a Lawyer – Summary:

You generally must complete a Bachelor’s Degree—but there are exceptions. Next, you’ll need to research and apply to the law schools of your choice and, (I almost forgot the most important part), take the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test).

Scoring high on the LSAT is particularly important if you plan on attending a traditional ABA law school, however, many online law school programs do not require the LSAT. Once you successfully made it through the law school admissions process, you can then buckle down and begin your legal studies. If you work hard and graduate, in most states you must then pass the bar exam and demonstrate your good moral character before being admitted to the bar.

Know you know the basic steps of how to become a lawyer.

Correspondence Law School Degrees

It may seem like something new, but the correspondence law school model has been around for nearly 200 years. Earning a law degree from a correspondence law school basically means acquiring legal education through distance learning. Before the days of the Internet and online law degree programs, lessons were mailed back and forth from student to professor (and in some cases still are). However, because most lessons are now completed by email, online lectures, videos, audios and chat rooms, etc., correspondence law schools and Internet law schools are somewhat synonymous. More and more people are choosing to this kind of law degree because of the convenience that comes with it.

Prospective law students are now paying closer attention and include correspondence law school on their short list of schools. Those most attracted to this learning model are students who do not have a lot of leisure of time because of the kind of life they are living. They cannot make it to attend full-time classes in traditional brick and mortar law degree programs due to work and family commitments. Yet, they still want to earn a law degree to become a practicing attorney or to enhance their career opportunities. A law degree is highly desirable and held in high regard by employers in all fields.

Correspondence law school may be the perfect solution

Correspondence and distance-learning law schools never shut down their doors for any qualified student who is interested in studying law. The online law degree is available before the break of dawn, during your lunch hour, or after work. This means you can learn on your own time table. You might be thinking since it is basically online, you will be all alone. As a matter of fact, you would generally not be studying alone. This type of learning model has excellent study environment that promotes faculty and student dialogue. It even encourages student to student communication and provides valuable feedback through the sophisticated use of live chat rooms and directed study.

Correspondence Law School is

• On the top edge of redesigning the online law degree experience. It is an innovative, part time-legal education system with the quality standards that is equal or can compete to the most demanding traditional law schools. Most correspondence law degree programs are offered by California law schools but they are available from prestigious schools from around the world as well. If you feel like you are a qualified applicant, you generally must have a 60 credits form an accredited college or university. Some law programs will require a bachelor’s degree.

• If you cannot afford to go to a traditional law program, then a correspondence law school is generally quite affordable and really worth considering. If your finances are holding you back from earning a law degree, then this maybe the option you’ve been looking for.

• Be aware that if you choose to go for a correspondence law school degree, you have to be committed. Just like any other academic achievement, your commitment to put in the time, effort and hard work is very important. Because correspondence programs are usually done on your own schedule some students mistakenly think it will be easy. It will not be. Earning a law degree will be an arduous undertaking to be sure. But if you are not afraid to commit your self and persevere, correspondence law school can get you where you want to go.

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DC Bar 26 Credit Option

By: Jose M. Gomez, MS, MBA, JD

Because many law students have been unable to complete their studies at law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, the author has found it necessary to research other available options.   After researching the rules governing admission to several state and federal jurisdictions, he has found one alternative may just do the trick the D.C. Bar Option.  
D.C. Bar Rule 46(b)(8)(iii) states that an applicant may take the D.C. Bar exam if the applicant has successfully completed 26 credits from an ABA approved law school in subjects tested on the Multistate Ba r Exam (MBE) and has earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from a non-ABA law school.  This degree can be a non-bar J.D. degree, such as an Executive Juris Doctorate, or a bar J.D. degree from a California correspondence law school.  In order to have successfully completed a subject taken on the M.B.E., a student should have achieved a grade of at least a C-.

Law students may ask if their practice would be limited to the District of Columbia.   The answer to that question depends on the rules of their jurisdictions highest court and the court rules of the federal courts in their jurisdiction.   The answer to this question also depends on federal agency practice rules.
For example, federal practice before most federal agencies is permitted, so long as the attorney is admitted to practice before the highest court of any jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia.   See Sperry v. Florida, 373 U.S. 379. (1963).

However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allows only those who have passed its registration examination to practice patent law in the agency, even admitted attorneys.  As a side note, the USPTO allows attorney and non-attorney examinees to take its registration examination, as long as they possess a bachelors degree in engineering or a science, such as biology, chemistry, or physics.  It should be noted that the USPTO allows an attorney who is admitted to practice before the highest court of any jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia, to practice trademark and copyright law in the agency without a formal examination.

An attorney admitted to practice law in any state or the District of Columbia could also practice immigration law before The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), an office within the Department of Justice charged with hearing immigration appeals.

One should also examine the rules of the federal courts in a particular jurisdiction to determine whether they require State Bar admission.  For example, the Local Court Rules for the Southern District of Texas allow an attorney admitted before the highest court of any jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia, who is also admitted to practice before another federal district, to practice in the District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  In other jurisdictions, such as the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, an attorney is allowed to practice in federal court if that attorney is admitted before the highest court of any jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia.  Thus, one could practice federally in a jurisdiction where federal court local rules allow such practice, notwithstanding the fact that one may not actually be admitted in the state where that federal court sits.  See In Re Desliets, 291 F. 3d 925 (6th Cir. 2002).

However, other federal district courts, such as the District Court for the District of Massachusetts, require admission to the Massachusetts State Bar.   In such states, however, ones practice would be limited to federal agency practice.

Once admitted to the D.C. Bar, one could also examine the rules governing state bar admission to determine whether or not they would be eligible for admission to practice state law in that state via a general bar examination, attorney examination, or admission without examination.

Yet another option to explore is federal appellate practice before in the Circuit Courts.   Admission to the bar of these courts is open to attorneys admitted to practice before the highest court of any jurisdiction, including the District of Columbia.   Circuit Courts hear appeals from the district courts located with their respective circuits, as well as appeals from federal agencies.   Currently, there are thirteen regions, called circuits, in the United States.   These courts are located in major cities throughout the United States.

Therefore, there are a number of options available to those students who are unable to complete their studies at an ABA law school.   Those with further questions should contact the author at jg20@juno.com.   It should be noted that any student interested in becoming an attorney through the methods discussed in this article should verify all information with the D.C. Bar and the courts in the students prospective jurisdiction before making a decision on which path to take.

About The Author: Jose M. Gomez is an attorney with The Gomez Law Firm, PLC, an immigration law firm.  In addition to a Juris Doctor from West Coast School of Law, he holds a Masters degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Information Technology Management.   Jose M. Gomez is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

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Before the advent of the Internet law school, earning a traditional law degree was the only way to break into the legal profession. For years, getting a law degree meant full time study at a traditional law school. This made it extremely hard for those with family commitments or existing jobs to start a new career in the legal profession. Fortunately, ever-expanding technology has given birth to the Internet law school and has made it easier for prospective law students—and lawyers to keep their personal commitments and still achieve their dream of earning a law degree and becoming a lawyer.

Internet law school has made it more accessible and much easier for people wanting to begin a professional career after completing a law degree. There are a growing number of reputable Internet law schools available today. Internet law school degree programs such as those offered by Concord Law School, Taft Law School and many others have come a long way in helping those wishing to advance their overall career prospects and/or to become a practicing lawyer. This online alternative to traditional programs gives those busy individuals an opportunity to earn a law degree in their homes or in their office without completely disrupting their lives.

There are a number of different career paths in which a law degree from an Internet law school can be helpful. These online law schools not only prepare students for a career in the legal profession, but also guides them to understand and develop a wide range of skills in demand in most any career path. There are a wide variety of law schools available, both online and traditional, so it is important to determine which law degree program will best suit your needs. When applying to any law school, take time to learn more about whether or not its graduates are permitted to sit for a bar exam—this is particularly important if your goal is to become a licensed attorney. However, even if your goal is not necessarily to practice law, you will still want to learn more about the school’s reputation, faculty, courses offered, and the academic delivery platform to be sure it’s a good fit for you.

The advantages of going in to an Internet law school include being able to train for a successful professional career in a fast paced environment without interfering your current family commitments and without having to quit your job altogether. And for those on a limited budget or mindful of limiting their financial commitments, online law degrees are generally quite affordable. Being able to continue to earn a salary and develop business and career skills while earning your degree is a huge benefit.

If you’re considering law school, Internet law school is just another option to take into account to help reach your career dreams.

Getting A Juris Doctor Degree — Why?

Why do I want to earn a juris doctor degree? That’s the first thing you need to ask yourself . You see, not only will you face a long and difficult course of study, but getting a  degree can be quite expensive as well. For these reasons you’ll really want to be certain of your career goals before embarking on a path that may not be right for you.

Once, however, you have asked yourself the difficult questions and you’re truly convinced you want to get a law degree, you have two possible methods to choose from. Each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.

1) Traditional Method to Get a Juris Doctor Degree

In the United States this means first earning a college degree with a good Grade Point Average and then taking and passing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Assuming you score well on this very difficult examination, you’ll need to make it past the admissions’ committee of the particular law school from which you wish to get a juris doctor degree. If you are admitted you must then complete a comprehensive program for three years full time or four years part time in most cases before you finally get a law degree.

But, you’re not ready to practice law just yet, first you must pass the state bar examination—congratulations, you’re now a lawyer!! (Better get a job quick to pay off those student loans)

2) Alternative Method to Get a Juris Doctor Degree

Here you can enroll in a law school with 60 college credits, avoid taking the LSAT (in most cases) and get a law degree from a non ABA law school.

So what’s the difference? Well, ABA law schools have a well established standard of excellence. If you have the opportunity to attend an ABA law school to get a law degree (and if you can afford it), by all means take it. But, there are opportunities to get a law degree through non ABA law schools such as the California law schools and earn a high quality if not equally great legal education. It has been reported that some non ABA law schools and graduates have equal or higher pass rates than some traditional law schools.

The point here is that these law schools offer a viable alternative for those who are not able, for one reason or another, to get a law degree by more traditional means. Both paths lead to the same place and for some the alternative approach is a good fit. Still, irrespective of the method you choose, you must be prepared to make sacrifices and work hard. The study of law is one of the arduous courses of study you’ll undertake—perseverance and hard work are the only way to reach your goal.

Perhaps you need to consider the alternatives when deciding to get a juris doctor degree. Don’t abandon your dreams — put The Law School Bible to Work today!

Permission to reprint this article is granted so long as the entire contents of the “About the Author”  box and links are included in the republication.

As The Law School Bible shows, none of these barriers should end your dreams of entering the legal profession. The Law School Bible is a comprehensive resource for those seeking non-traditional avenues into the legal profession. It’s based on first-hand experience and painstaking research. Author Peter Loughlin spent seven years unraveling the maze of Bar admission rules and mastering how alternative legal education can help anyone willing to work hard to become a lawyer. And he discloses proven strategies for overcoming the most common barriers to becoming a practicing attorney.

Contents
The Law School Bible includes the essential information you’ll need to embark on a non-traditional path to law school. Think of it as a step-by-step road map to becoming an attorney. In The Law School Bible you’ll learn:

The Validity and Acceptance of Non-Traditional Legal Education. The Law School Bible demystifies the idea that the only way to become a lawyer is to attend conventional law school classes. You’ll learn why non-traditional paths will also get you to the Bar exam-and in ways that match your life circumstances.

The Power of Distance law school. The Law School Bible is the definitive resource on distance-learning law schools. It not only lists the most important programs, but provides practical advice and techniques for making the most of your distance-learning studies.

How to save thousands of dollars over the cost of a traditional legal education. Traditional law schools can cost as much as $30,000 or more. Many non-ABA law schools cost a fraction of that amount.

How to attend state accredited law schools. These are not distance-learning online law degree programs but rather law schools that, while not ABA approved, will meet the requirements to sit for the Bar that state (and other states too).

How to become a lawyer by working as a lawyer’s apprentice. You may have heard that many of our country’s finest Supreme Court Justices, legislators and executives were once trained as lawyers by apprenticeship…but did you know that this is still a viable path to becoming a lawyer in a number of states today. The Law School Bible devotes an entire chapter to this strategy of becoming a lawyer.

How to attend fully-accredited foreign law schools and still become an attorney and practice in the United States. Many American medical students attend foreign medical schools to obtain their M.D. and then practice medicine in the United States after additional training and testing. Foreign law schools can offer you similar opportunities for becoming a licensed member of the Bar. Learn about this strategy in Chapter Three.How to get admitted to fully accredited foreign distance-learning law schools. This works like attending a foreign law school — except you never need to leave your home or office to earn your Juris Doctor Degree.

How to finance your alternative legal education-including valuable information on grants and scholarships. An entire chapter of The Law School Bible covers grants, scholarships, and the financing of your non-traditional legal education.

You’ll also find a complete listing of every alternative law school in the world, complete with all the information you need to make an informed application decision.

Who Should… and Shouldn’t …Read The Law School Bible
The Law School Bible opens the doors of opportunity for anyone who wants to become a lawyer but hasn’t been able to take advantage of traditional law school programs. Be aware that it’s NOT a quick fix or easy path into the legal profession. No one passes the Bar exam without hard work and intensive study. The Law School Bible levels the playing field so you, too, can have a chance to become a lawyer. If you’re serious about becoming a lawyer and haven’t been able to go the conventional route, The Law School Bible will be an invaluable aid for exploring the landscape of non-traditional legal education. Don’t abandon your dreams —
put The Law School Bible to work today.

Start Living Your DreamToday?
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Non ABA Law Schools

The best law schools in the United States are those approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). So why are there non ABA law schools? Well, because each state establishes its own bar admission rules and some states have their own law school accreditation system. Non ABA law schools are most prevalent in California where the system provides for a variety of classes of non ABA law schools, such as state approved and even unaccredited schools whose graduates are eligible to take the bar exam.

Some other states with non ABA law schools are Massachusetts, Georgia Tennessee and Alabama. Actually any state can have non ABA schools, but the real reason there are not more is that not every state will permit graduates of such schools to take their bar examination. And, reason for this is most states recognize the standard of excellence associated with law schools operating under the “ABA Approved” banner.

The ABA has done such an outstanding job of establishing the quality standard that many states feel no need to tinker with the “traditional” system. The ABA approval system works well so why take a chance with schools that do not meet this exacting standard? But some non ABA law schools have been quietly establishing their own high standards, proving that they can meet the challenge of churning out well trained, capable bar candidates—and attorneys. One such online law school is Concord School of Law, a real-life example of the fact that excellence is possible even where the school is a non ABA law school. And Concord is not alone; similar programs are taking on the challenge of bringing online law study into the realm of traditionally accepted legal education.

But the nontraditional model is not a perfect system by far. While all ABA programs must meet at least the minimum standard of quality to maintain their coveted status, non ABA law schools can range from excellent to downright substandard. Yes, that’s right, some schools are absolutely horrible.

So how do you choose the right Non ABA Law School ?

As with any other worthwhile academic undertaking you need to do your homework. You’ll need to visit the various schools or their websites, email your questions, make telephone inquires and check the state education agencies and bar associations for any complaints. In the United States , I happen to think Concord Law Schools is the best in the distance learning class—but, there are a host of others. Take your time and choose wisely.

Take a look at the Law School Bible for a list of nearly every non traditional (and non ABA ) law school in the world.   And don’t forget that there are many foreign law schools as well such as the University of London External Programme and other truly prestigious law programs that have been offering distance learning law degrees for over 150 years. And it is possible to graduate from a foreign law school and take a bar exam in the United States .

Again, for most prospective lawyers in the U.S. , I generally recommend trying to go the traditional course—that is, taking the LSAT exam and getting accepted to a traditional law school. But for those of you who just cannot give up your job and family responsibilities, move to another city or simply cannot afford it, there are alternative pathways you should consider before abandoning your dream of becoming a lawyer.

Permission to reprint this article is granted so long as the entire contents of the “About the Author” box and links are included in the republication.