The law brings order and peace to the world, so the burden on lawyers’ shoulders to decide who to prosecute is heavy. If they don’t build their cases well and an innocent man is prosecuted, the balance of justice tips toward injustice, and evil roams the streets.
For this reason, lawyers need up to 7 years of education in most countries before they can practice.
But does this number of years apply in all types of legal professions? We answer this question in this post
Here, you will see how many years it takes to become various types of lawyers.
How long does it take to become a criminal lawyer?
Again, criminal defense attorneys are attorneys representing individuals and organizations that have been charged with a criminal offense. When the government employs you as a criminal defense attorney, you become a public defender.
So the educational requirement to become a criminal defense attorney is a bachelor’s degree, a law school (with a specialization in criminal defense), then the state bar exam.
How this works is that you get a bachelor’s degree in any degree with good grades. You must also have good research, investigation, analysis, and communication skills. The bachelor’s degree generally takes four (4) years to complete and with your bachelor’s degree, you can apply to law schools by completing the law school entrance exam.
Law school has been in school for three (3) years, of which, while you are in it, you will specialize in criminal defense law education. Graduation from law school earns you a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Combining all of these, you have seven (7) years to become a criminal defense attorney. But to practice in any state in the US, however, you need to acquire a license.
It is very important that you understand LLM vs. JD | Surprising differences between the Master of Law and Juris Doctor.
How to become a banking lawyer?
Becoming a banking lawyer requires obtaining a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree from law school. Although law schools do not require applicants to have a particular type of bachelor’s degree, you could lay the foundation for your future career by earning a degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or international business. Other beneficial courses include public speaking, economics, government, and mathematics. Most undergraduate programs take about four years to complete. Some aspiring lawyers earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees before applying to law school.
Law school programs generally take three years to complete. Getting into law school is not an easy task, due to the strict admission standards and competition with other applicants. You must first pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and then undergo an interview before the school’s admissions board. Law schools look for students who believe they will make good lawyers. They typically look at an applicant’s overall suitability, examine their academic records, LSAT scores, work history, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.
Law school courses include practical studies such as legal writing and contracts, along with civil procedures, constitutional law, and property law. Many schools allow you to choose a specialty, such as corporate or financial law.
Most employers look for financial attorneys with some form of financial experience. Previous work experience in banking, finance, or accounting can improve your chances of landing your first finance attorney job. To gain experience, you can also seek internship or paralegal opportunities at a finance law firm.
How long does it take to become a corporate lawyer?
Corporate attorneys are those attorneys who use their knowledge of business and financial law to understand, defend, and defend commercial matters related to business and corporate affairs. Therefore, a corporate attorney works on behalf of a business entity or government to provide legal advice and services.
To meet the educational requirements to become a corporate attorney, you need at least seven years of education as a criminal defense attorney. First, you will complete a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject from accredited colleges or universities. Such a relevant college degree includes degrees in business, economics, and finance.
After undergraduate education, you will submit your transcript and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to gain admission to law school for a Juris Doctor degree. The JD for Corporate Lawyers is the Basic JD or Dual Degree Program in Law and Business that will earn you a JD and an MBA.
Corporate lawyers who would love to practice globally may be required to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.). Of course, you know that acquiring this degree will take you two more years. Meanwhile, an LL.M. It is essential since it offers specialization in Corporate Law.
So generally a 4-year bachelor’s degree, a 3-year law school, and a 2-year master’s degree if you choose to go global). Therefore, it will take 7-9 years to become a corporate lawyer.
Conclusion
Finally, based on the specialization in law, some types of law will require you to obtain a master of law, LL.M. as most law schools will not offer you special education to become that type of lawyer.
