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What It Takes to Become a Lawyer in 2019

• Deleted User
  Jul 18 2019, 05:52 AM
  The legal field offers a wide variety of opportunities from helping families as a solicitor to practicing in court as a barrister. Before you begin your legal education, you should consider any specialized areas that interest you. For example, technology has contributed to new specializations and career possibilities in the legal field. Although a law degree is required for any lawyer, each career path has different requirements.
  
  

  Bachelors or Doctoral Degree

  
  If you do not already have an undergraduate degree, you can earn an LLB or Bachelor of Laws degree. If you have already graduated with a bachelors degree, you will need to earn a JD to practice law. You must pass required law courses known as the Priestly 11. These courses cover subjects that lawyers need to know in order to complete their PLT:
  
  •Administrative Law
  •Civil Procedure
  •Company Law
  •Constitutional Law
  •Contracts
  •Criminal Law and Procedures
  •Equity 
  •Evidence
  •Professional Conduct 
  •Property
  •Torts
  
  Besides the Priestly 11, law schools offer a variety of elective courses that may cover more specialized practice areas. Some schools may require additional courses other than the Priestly 11. It’s a good idea to thoroughly compare school requirements so you can find a program that suits your career goals.
  
  Lawyers increasingly need to be well-versed in eDiscovery tools. Gone are the days when a lawyer would read through a trail of paper documents to build a case. Evidence is now available electronically thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. Take advantage of workshops or courses in these subjects when they are available at your school. Online courses in legal subjects are also available.
  
  

  Practical Legal Training

  
  During Practical Legal Training (PLT), a law school graduate learns the real-world skills of “lawyering.” After you graduate from law school, you will have to complete a PLT and obtain a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. The program includes courses in the basics of law practice as well as a supervised Legal Practice Experience. You can complete the entire PLT in as little as six months.
  
  

  Fit and Proper Person Assessment

  
  Once you have completed your PLT and earned your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, you must undergo a “fit and proper person” assessment. You will have to disclose any criminal, academic or professional misconduct to the admitting authority of your jurisdiction. It is worth the effort to check the requirements of the jurisdiction in which you want to practice law.
  
  

  Admission and Practicing Certificate

  
  You must apply to the admitting authority in your state within five years of graduating from law school. Law is a constantly changing and evolving subject, so your degree will not be recognized by the admitting authority after five years. Some jurisdictions require legal counsel to represent you at the admitting ceremony. Other states will allow you to “move” your own admission yourself.
  
  Once you have practiced law under supervision for 18 to 24 months, you can apply for a Practicing Certificate. The local Law Society is the authority which grants this certificate.
  
  

  After Admission

  
  You can choose from a variety of career paths after you have been admitted to practice law. You can work as a solicitor and provide general legal services such as wills and trusts. If you want to specialize in an area of law, you can enroll in an LLM program.
  
  If you want to become a barrister and represent clients in court, you must be admitted to your state’s bar. First, you must pass an entrance exam, in which you will be tested on various statute applications. Then you must complete and pass the bar reader’s course under a mentor’s supervision. When you become a barrister, you can also provide services such as dispute resolution and mediation and practice in specialty areas of law.
  
  

  Conclusion

  
  True, it takes hard work and determination to become a lawyer in 2019. Technological developments such as e-discovery add challenges along the way. Keep your eyes on that goal and the hours of study will be worth it.

  [Edited Jul 29 2019]

  
  

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