In order to become an attorney-at-law, you will have to go through an extended educational process. In addition to going through the proper educational curriculum, you may also have to pass a bar examination. Some lawyers also have to go through an apprenticeship program, depending on where they live. At that point, you can start to look for a job with a law firm or open your own practice.
The first thing you will need to do to become an attorney-at-law is attend college. You will need to get a bachelor's degree and it should most likely be in a field that is related to the law. Some examples are pre-law, criminal science, and political science.
After graduating from college, you will need to get into law school. In order to get into law school and become an attorney-at-law, you will need to get a good score on the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. Once you have taken this exam, you can begin applying to law schools.
Attending law school is going to take approximately three years. The first part of your education is going to involve general law study. After that, you can specialize in a particular area of law if you choose. You will need to graduate from law school with a degree of Juris Doctor, or J.D.
If you live in the United States, you will now have to complete a bar exam in the state in which you plan on practicing. Many other countries do not require lawyers to pass a bar exam. Instead, some countries will require you to go through an apprentice program with an established lawyer before you can start practicing. The bar exam is administered on a state level and is necessary to allow you to start practicing law in the United States.
If you pass the bar exam, you should be able to become an attorney-at-law at this point. You could choose to start looking for a job with a law firm in your area of expertise. Many law firms will hire new law school graduates to help give them experience in the field. Depending on which field you specialize in, you could also choose to find employment with a government agency. If you do not want to work for someone else, you can start your own law practice in the state in which you choose to work.