Complete your Bachelor of Arts degree in a discipline related to your career goals. Study film and television if you plan to practice as an entertainment lawyer. Choose social work if you prefer to work as a child advocate. Select a major that complements your end-goals.
Earn your Bachelor of Arts degree with honors or at least a 3.5 grade point average. Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and pass with an above-average score of at least 160. You can still apply to law schools with slightly lower scores.
Develop a flawless personal statement and curriculum vitae. Add personal details to your personal statement in a professional manner. Enhance your curriculum vitae with volunteer service, even single- day activities. Volunteer for the courts over the summer.
Select a few top-tier, second-tier and third-tier law schools. Complete lengthy school admissions applications starting in May to send in November. Include an application fee or fee waiver with each application. Plan to submit at least three letters of recommendation.
Contact the Dean of Career Services at your top choices and let her know that you have submitted an application. Be sure to mention your grade point average and your LSAT scores if they are highly competitive,
Compare financial aid awards packages. Negotiate better offers by contacting the Dean of Admissions.
Maintain a 3.5 grade point average throughout law school. Write for the Law Journal. Apply for a summer clerkship with a major law firm or judicial officer. Produce high-quality work and display a strong work ethic.
Continue with the same law firm each summer if an employment offer appears imminent. Send out back-up applications in case an offer is not forthcoming.
Graduate at the top of your class. Enroll in a multi-state bar preparation course. Take and pass the state bar, the multi-state professional responsibility exam and the moral character and fitness exam.
Gain admission to the state bar and be sworn in as an attorney. Specialize in a particular area of law, build your clientele by word-of-mouth and advertisements.
Organize community workshops and free consultations to gain more exposure in your area. Attend legal bar association mixers and activities to increase referrals. Bid on court contracts to generate steady work and a stable monthly income.