To become a medical negligence lawyer, you will have to commit to about seven years of education after high school. The first four years are spent in college and the final three in law school. While law school should prepare you well for this career, you may find it beneficial to secure an internship with a medical malpractice firm while you work toward a law degree. Such an internship may provide valuable experience you can use later in your career. Finally, you will have to take the last steps toward becoming a lawyer, which is passing the bar exam and becoming licensed.
As with many professional careers, you will typically begin the pursuit of a career as a medical negligence lawyer with earning a high school diploma or an equivalent credential that is approved in your jurisdiction. You will then have to gain admission to college. For this reason, it is critical that you maintain a high grade point average throughout your high school years. If you do so, your chances of gaining admission to the college of your choice will be dramatically improved.
Once you are in college, you might conclude that you have to choose a pre-law or related major to become a medical negligence lawyer. Fortunately, however, this is usually not the case. Most law schools will accept promising students from a wide range of majors, including those that are completely unrelated to law. You may do well, however, to learn what the law schools you are considering require before you begin college. This way, you can make sure you take the right steps toward your goal.
To gain admission to law school and continue on your journey to become a medical negligence lawyer, you will typically have to earn high grades in college. Demonstrating that you are well-rounded through participation in extracurricular groups and activities may help as well. Additionally, you will likely have to take standardized tests as part of the admissions process. These tests will help law school admissions officers determine how well you are likely to perform as a medical student.
Studying hard in law school will help you in your pursuit of this career. While you are in law school, however, there are other things you can do to prepare. For example, you may do well to participate in an internship with a medical malpractice law firm. You'll not only learn a good deal, but also gain references you can use for landing your first job. In fact, the law firm may even choose to hire you after you complete your education.
The last steps you'll have to take to become a medical negligence lawyer happen after law school. At this point, you will have to pass the bar exam and secure a license to practice law in your jurisdiction. After securing this license, you can apply for your first job as an attorney.
