To become a wrongful death lawyer, a person must graduate from law school. In many areas, law school graduates must also pass a bar examination to become a licensed lawyer. In the job market, some lawyers find jobs in firms that represent people filing wrongful death cases. In other instances, a lawyer may start her own law firm, find her own clients, and represent them in a court of law.
Graduating from high school and college is the first step to become a wrongful death lawyer. As long as the interested person has good grades, exceptional recommendations, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, she should be able to apply and gain admission to a law school. Although a person can major in nearly any subject as an undergraduate, a person who wants to become a wrongful death lawyer may find it helpful to have a few background courses in science, specifically anatomy, physics, and chemistry. Wrongful death cases typically involve the death of a person due to the fault or negligence of another person or piece of equipment. A background in the sciences may make the details of the death easier to understand.
Many law schools require applicants to take a law school admissions test. The test enables the candidate to show that she is able to use such concepts as logical reasoning and that she can write coherently. Although many schools in many countries, such as the United States, Canada, Serbia, and England have admissions tests, other places, such as France, do not.
After graduating from law school, many areas require graduates to pass some form of bar examination. This is true for the United States, Japan, Korea, and many other countries. Upon passing the examination, the person is licensed to practice law in that area.
There are many different ways to work as a wrongful death lawyer as well. For example, it is possible to interview with a law firm that specializes in wrongful death cases. If the interviewing partner is impressed by the candidate, she may be offered a job. In the alternative, it is possible to find a job defending people or products from wrongful death suits. As a defense attorney, a person may gain valuable insight into legal arguments that are used in the courtroom that may not otherwise be clear.
If a person has some experience or a good mentor, it is possible for her to set up her own wrongful death firm. As a result, she would be responsible for finding clients, managing her case work, and representing those clients in court. Although it may be more stressful than working in a firm-type setting, it can also be more lucrative.
