In order to become a lawyer, of any specialty, you must attend law school. In order to attend law school, you must hold a bachelor's degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is no designated prelaw degree; prospective law students are encouraged to pursue bachelor's degrees that enhance writing and research skills. With an interest in immigration law, you might consider a bachelor's degree in political science or international law, as immigration law is intertwined with both subjects. A second requirement for entry into law school is the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. Law schools will weigh this score, undergraduate performance and any other criteria they deem fit to determine if the candidate has a propensity for law.
Law school takes three years to complete if you attend full time. During those three years you take core courses such as constitutional law, legal research, legal writing, property law, contracts and many other courses. These core courses are taken during the first half of the program. In the latter half you may choose to take specialized electives, such as immigration law. During the second half of the program, you also participate in legal clinics, mock trials and even intern with lawyers. It is advisable that you volunteer at legal clinics in areas where immigration is an issue so that you can gain experience.
In order to practice law, you must obtain licensure after graduation from law school. This is referred to as 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. Some states will allow the licensure to transfer if specific requirements are met.
While there is no specific immigration law degree, armed with the knowledge of the immigration law courses taken in law school, you can obtain a job in a firm that works in immigration law. To further your credentials and knowledge, you might consider joining an immigration law group, such as American Immigration Lawyers Association, which offers licensure and training.