Regardless of the specialty, to become a lawyer, you must attend law school. In order to attend law school, you must hold a bachelor's degree. There is no designated prelaw degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prospective law students are encouraged to pursue bachelor's degrees that enhance writing and research skills. With an interest in Social Security, you might consider a bachelor's degree in political science, social services or sociology. The second requirement for getting into law school is the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. Law schools consider the LSAT score, undergraduate performance and any other criteria they deem fit to determine if the candidate is right for law school.
If attending full time, law school can be completed in three years. Core courses in law school include legal research, property law, constitutional law, legal writing, contracts and many other courses. The core courses are taken during the first half of the program. During the second half of law school, you may choose to take specialized electives, such as Social Security law. The second half of law school also entails participation in legal clinics, mock trials and even internships with lawyers. It is advisable that you volunteer at legal clinics that specialize in Social Security cases to gain experience.
In order to practice law in any state, you must obtain a license after graduation from law school. The means to a license is passing the bar exam. The bar is specific to each state, so if you pass the bar in one state and move, you may have to take the bar in the new state. A few states will allow the license to transfer if specific requirements are met.
Although there is no specific Social Security law degree, armed with the knowledge of the law courses taken in law school, you can obtain a job in a firm that works in Social Security law. You might consider joining a professional organization for Social Security lawyers, such as The Social Security/Disability Trial Lawyers Association, which offers continuing education courses specific to the field.