Individuals who want to practice law can go in one of many different directions. These professionals may join highly specialized firms or broader practices where different types of law are practiced. Despite the differences, one thing that all lawyers have in common is a need for sufficient education, including a law degree. The road to become a transaction attorney is no different, even if the scope of the work involved is devoted to business situations and may require less confrontation in comparison with other types of law.
A student who knows early that his or her chosen career path will be to become a transaction attorney should, of course, produce the highest grades possible to enter this highly competitive field. Also, students should select majors in college as undergraduates that, if not prelaw studies, should be something related or that will benefit these individuals as attorneys, such as English or whatever the dominant language may be in a region. Upon completing a bachelor's degree, the next step in education is to complete law school and successfully pass the necessary regional exams to practice as an attorney, such as the appropriate bar examination administered throughout many countries, including the U.S. and Brazil.
The classes that are selected once a student enters law school should be appropriate to prepare an individual to become a transaction attorney. Some of the common courses of study include business organization, property sales, and leases, in addition to financial classes, such as accounting. A student who wants to become a transaction attorney should also learn about taxes in a region as they apply to the law.
Much of the work as a transactional lawyer is to draw up business contracts that are agreeable to both business parties involved. This can be done at the start of a business relationship or when that partnership comes to an end. It is possible that discussions surrounding the drawing up of a contract can become contentious, but even if not, an attorney should seek out the best possible terms for a client.
As a result, it may be beneficial for a student who wants to become a transaction attorney to incorporate courses on negotiation into a schedule. Negotiation courses may not be part of the routine curriculum for students who want to become transaction attorneys, but these skills may still be beneficial. When the terms of a contract are being agreed upon, the stronger that an attorney's negotiation skills are, the more favorable the outcome of the deal is likely to be for a client.
