How to Be a Prosecutor or Defense Lawyer
Becoming a prosecutor or defense lawyer is a great career field that allows you to help people. However, the road to becoming a lawyer is not simple. It requires dedication and time to achieve the dream of becoming a prosecutor or defense lawyer.
- Attend an accredited college or university to obtain your bachelor's degree. Choose an undergraduate field related to the law field such as criminal justice or political science.
- Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) near the end of your junior year of undergraduate study. You want be sure to get a high score on the test along with a good GPA. Law schools take the LSAT scores and GPA very serious when considering admittance.
- Apply to law schools once you have obtained your bachelor's degree. Apply to a few different law schools just in case you do not get accepted to your first choice. Most students finish school within three years if attending fulltime.
- Get a job or intern at a law firm to gain experience. Try to work at a firm that closely relates to the type of work you want to get into. This way you can determine if you would rather be a prosecutor or defense lawyer.
- Pass the bar exam once you graduate from law school. The bar exam is a requirement to begin practicing. Once you pass the exam you will be able to begin working as a lawyer.
- Apply for positions in law firms and with the state. It may be easier to start out as defense lawyer and then move onto being a prosecutor.