Many say that no profession is ever simple – law practice is one. People mostly just see the outcome and the prestige of the title, but only a few get to witness and understand the process. A profession that largely involves administering justice and mainly upholds the life, liberty, and property of the people only means one thing – it is not for everyone. Thus, not everyone can go through the hundredfold demands of learning and eventually practicing law.
The legal profession is already tough as it is, but the entire process to become one can also be a more daunting journey for some. Needless to say, the long process need not be complicated. Simplified information, a systematic approach, and a series of steps are sufficient for one's preparation to embark on the path to becoming a lawyer. Here are the steps:
In this article
Step 1: Complete a Pre-law or Bachelor's Degree
Law school, being a postgraduate degree, clearly requires a college degree. Following the hierarchy of formal basic education, which is from high school to college to post-college, one must attain a bachelor's degree first. Therefore, a single high school diploma cannot permit one to enter law school.
Although no specific course is required, some are deemed suitable and advantageous, such as
- Political Science,
- Legal Management,
- or Economics.
Nonetheless, any course, regardless of its relation to law, can be accomplished, such as Engineering, Nursing, or Biology.
Step 2: Take the National Law School Admission Test
Before entering law school, every qualified aspirant must take a general national examination. This type of exam is conducted nationwide and is open to all who have earned a bachelor's degree. The exam differs from the entrance exams required by specific schools; instead, it serves as a qualifier that determines whether one is prepared to enter and study law.
The said uniform and objective nationwide admission test shall serve as an equalizer to evaluate aspirants on basic analytical skills and critical thinking. The test does not rely heavily on specific topics or courses but is a general aptitude exam that assesses overall eligibility. Although this is not a determining factor in how one will perform in law school, it is a basic step for admission and for one's entitlement to attend law school.
Step 3: Enroll in Preferred Law School
How to Choose a Law School?
Upon passing the Admission Test, the aspirant shall choose a law school of their preference. It may seem simple, but selecting a school or university entails thorough decision-making. Realistically speaking, it is not just about the privilege of choosing the best law school. Moreover, not everyone has the privilege or the means to attend one of the top law schools in the country.
What are the Factors to Consider in Choosing Law School?
The following are some of the most common and general considerations made by aspiring law students:
- Financial status
- Location of the School
- Working Conditions
- Schedule of work in relation to the schedule of classes
- Type of program availed in law school,
- Other personal circumstances
For example, some law schools offer programs tailored to different kinds of students. There can be a four-year program for full-time students, a five-year program for part-time students, and a full-time working program for employees. However, not all law schools offer this.
Step 4: Accomplish a Juris Doctor Program
Depending on the law school chosen, generally, the student must complete a minimum of four (4) years to earn a Juris Doctorate, regardless of how long it will take. It is in these years that one undertakes rigorous training and schooling, consisting of almost daily recitations and challenging examinations.
Law school as a whole is where the bulk of the path to becoming a lawyer lies. To earn this degree, one must go through the daily grind of studying, memorizing, reading endless thick books, digesting long cases, attending classes, submitting paperwork, performing moot courts, and completing on-the-job training.
Master Legal Studies with the Power of Mind Mapping
Equipped with proper tools and planners, a law student can accomplish hundreds of tasks one step, one semester, and one subject at a time. Glancing at everything from a bird's-eye view can be intimidating, so it is crucial to dissect everything in detail. Mind mapping can be very helpful for seeing things through the lens of practical steps rather than the burden of trying to achieve everything perfectly.
A tool or application such as Edrawmind helps law students navigate mind mapping and planning in the easiest way possible. Imagining a four-year journey can be complex, but it can be simplified through visual aids. For example, Edrawmind offers a variety of templates to help one start a diagram. It is easy to customize and edit changes as well. Below are some examples that provide an overview of one's law school program.
Lying down visually all the subjects to be taken makes it less challenging for law students. There is no need to look into the entire curriculum with long tables, unfamiliar unit figures, administrative details, codes, and other unnecessary details. With law school as a multi-journey, a visual roadmap makes a long and rigorous path more manageable and doable.
One can also create a visual board of overall strategies in approaching law school. The above photo serves as a guide for the student to break down the semester's workload. Through a chart or diagram, the intense and cumulative deadlines cannot appear as demanding and frightening as they are. Practical micro-steps provide much greater efficiency and less stress than overwhelming lumped tasks in a single block.
For example, the weekly system enables students to break large tasks into smaller ones and ensure consistency. Looking at a long month through a series of small weeks even helps the law student track their progress and focus more on it rather than perfection.
The exam preparation tab can also be included in a separate tab to really reinforce the specific steps for preparation. Without the said chart, one would probably just study and do passive reading. It would be too monotonous, and there is little to no absorption at all. When the student is well reminded of active recall and mock bars, all the input knowledge will not be wasted.
The chart gently encourages the student, without pressure, to add a combination of procedures in preparing for the exams. With the chart or diagrams looking direct and simple, they do not seem too demanding or overwhelming, but instead highlight only what needs to be done.
The long-term goals tab is also meant to prompt students not just about the daily grind but about the common end goal: passing the bar exam in the future. The map above comprehensively shows the present moment and also the preparation for the future, or what lies ahead. In a way, this keeps the student grounded while also being futuristic and hopeful about what lies ahead. This is the beauty of incorporating visual systems into one's journey: they integrate all aspects and help one approach them holistically.
Step 5: Take and Pass the Bar Examination
The Bar exam is the most important step one shall take to become a lawyer. Usually, the bar exams last more than a day and consist of multiple subjects taken throughout the day. The coverage is based on a released syllabus. This exam is the culmination of everything learned since day one; hence, it covers all the subjects learned since the first year of law school.
The voluminous readings can be overwhelming, and taking the first step can be the hardest. A lot ended up reviewing and jumping from one subject to another. It could sometimes lead to anxiety if there is a probability of not covering the entire syllabus.
Indeed, the actual studying and bar review process can be chaotic and complex, but one can manage them intelligibly with the right process and tools. Ticking off bucket lists may not work well for some, as it adds pressure to trying to finish them immediately. It is therefore important to visually reflect first on the entire process and assess it one by one.
Tools such as Edrawmind will become significant given the varied percentages provided in each bar subject. The photo above, assuming a 4-month preparation period, shows the percentages for each bar subject. In line with this, a different approach to studying is adopted, which means more time shall be allotted to the larger percent and less to the smaller ones. This gives the student an overview of how to prepare not just harder, but most especially smarter.
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In this diagram, it may seem straightforward and plain, but it already captures the entire study schedule. The allotted weeks are in proportion to the weight of the subjects. It guides the bartender to exert effort and spend time wisely.
Simply put, the map above, with the help of Edrawmind, transformed the theoretical planning into a structured execution plan. This tool focuses on simply manifesting the hierarchy of the subjects and showing it in proper implementation.
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Step 6: Sign the Roll of Attorneys and Take the Oath
Passing the bar alone does not vest the authority to practice. It is not enough without the official admission and membership. Every bar passer must undergo the final and mandatory signing of the roll and taking of the oath to formally enter the profession and the legal practice proper.
Roll signing signifies the entry of the name of the bar passer in the list of admitted lawyers. Oath-taking, on the other hand, has always been a traditional ceremony not just for celebration but also for the imposition of the new lawyers' promise to fulfill their duties.
Step 7: Practice Law
To become a truly full-fledged lawyer, one must put the law into practice. Acquiring the title of lawyer does not end there; without real application, it is but a mere position. The legal profession is a wide and diverse field, which can be challenging for a lawyer to focus on a niche. Should one focus on corporate law, government, free services for indigent clients, own law firm, or partnership with co-lawyers? –the list goes on.
Despite the specialized field one chooses, it all boils down to one universal duty: upholding integrity and administering justice. The years of planning, strategizing, and studying will all go to waste without putting into practice the spirit of the law with conscience and moral virtues.
Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a lawyer
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1. How long does it take to become a lawyer?
It will take about twelve (12) years for one to become a lawyer—four years in high school, college, and law school. The years spent in law school vary by program and whether a student is full-time or part-time. But as a rule, a minimum of four (4) years must be completed. This is regardless of how long it will take to complete it. Some have finished it in five, six, or even more years. -
2. How do I use Edrawmind in law school and the bar exam?
Edrawmind can be used to structure several tasks. It can be used in law school by consolidating notes into mind maps, timelines, or diagrams. Court cases and rulings can also be organized visually with Edrawmind's easy navigation. Specifically, Edrawmind can be utilized to create charts and designate laws that require general rules, exceptions, and even exceptions to the exception. Complex doctrines and legal principles in law school and the bar can be easily simplified. -
3. How do I choose the specialized legal field?
There are several considerations in selecting a niche in law practice. You can investigate your personality, interests, strengths, and even weaknesses. Are you more into court litigation and arguing against counsel before a judge? Or do you prefer heavy research and petitioning big companies better? Are you comfortable with settling disputes or negotiations between businesses or families? These are just some starting points to help one in a thorough self-assessment.
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