The requirements you’ll have to meet in order to become an assault lawyer may depend on the jurisdiction in which you want to practice law. In many places, however, an aspiring assault lawyer will need to attend undergraduate college, earn a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, and then complete law school. Focusing on classes that pertain to criminal law may prove helpful, and seeking internships with criminal law firms and organizations that deal with victims of assault may also provide excellent preparation as you work to become an assault lawyer. After law school, however, you will probably not begin working as a lawyer right away. In most places, you have to pass an exam to gain a license to practice law.
The road to becoming an assault lawyer usually begins with a high school education. In many places, you need a high school or equivalent diploma to be accepted into college. While in high school, courses that prepare you for communicating well verbally and in writing may provide early preparation for a legal career. All of your academic courses may prove important preparation for college, however.
There are no specific college degrees required to apply to law school. Many potential law students major in liberal arts areas to help develop communication and problem solving skills. Some degree areas include criminology, political science and any number of law enforcement-related areas.
In many places, acceptance to law school isn’t automatic once you graduate from college. During your final year of college, you may have to take a standardized exam to demonstrate you have the skills necessary to do well in law school. You may also have to submit college transcripts to the law school of your choice, write essays, and submit to interviews.
While in law school, you will likely take a range of courses that prepare you for a career in law. Choosing courses that focus on criminal law will likely prepare you well for this career. Participating in criminal law internships may also help prepare you to become an assault lawyer. This may involve working for a criminal law firm and seeking out chances to help with assault cases or working for organizations that provide criminal law resources. Additionally, you may find internship opportunities that involve working with the victims of assault rather than the accused parties.
After graduating from law school, you will typically have to pass a legal exam in order to become an assault lawyer. In many jurisdictions, this exam is called the bar exam, but it may have a different name in other jurisdictions. Once you pass this licensing exam, you can typically seek a job as an assault lawyer.
