To start a career as a negligence attorney, you will usually have to spend several years studying and learning. The requirements for this career may depend on your jurisdiction, but in most places, four years of college and three years of law school are required. After you have graduated from law school, however, you will likely have to complete an additional step to become a negligence attorney: Usually, you will have to pass a legal exam in order to secure the licensing required to practice law in your jurisdiction.
The beginning of your preparation to become a negligence attorney may even start with high school. Most colleges require a high school diploma or its equivalent as a condition of admission. Taking a challenging selection of high school academic courses may help you prepare for college and becoming a lawyer. In particular, courses in composition and public speaking may help you build skills you’ll need throughout your education and legal career.
To gain admission to law school and continue working to become a negligence attorney, you will usually need to earn a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Most law schools require this as a condition of admission. It is typically important to earn good grades while you are in college, as law schools will review your transcript when deciding whether or not to admit you. You may also have to take pre-admissions tests and write an essay as part of the law school application process. Depending on the law schools to which you plan to apply, you may have to attend interviews and submit letters of recommendation as well.
During law school, you will likely take a range of law courses that are required for earning a law degree. This core of classes is intended to provide a well-rounded education in law. When you have an opportunity to choose courses in law school, you may focus on those that tackle such subjects as negligence, malpractice, and personal injury. While in law school you may also prepare to become a negligence attorney by participating in internships that give you exposure to negligence cases.
The final step you’ll have to take to become a negligence lawyer is passing your jurisdiction’s law exam. A passing score on this exam, which is typically referred to as the bar exam, is required to practice law in most jurisdictions. Once you have successfully passed it, you can seek a job in this field of law.
