Things to know if you want to become a lawyer

How to become a lawyer?

Lawyers must possess a degree from a law school and then pass a difficult test known as the bar exam to receive authorization to practice law in the state in which they pass the exam. Most law schools are either three or four year programs. Virtually everyone entering law school must have a college diploma and take a pre-entrance test called the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT).

After graduating from law school, applicants must then take the bar exam, which is a two-day test in most states (in some states it is three days). Most aspiring applicants take a preparation course, as the bar exam tests person's knowledge in at least 20 different areas of the law. The test features a difficult 200-question multiple choice exam known as the Multistate exam.

This exam - national in scope - tests knowledge of six core areas: (1) contracts; (2) torts; (3) property; (4) constitutional law; (5) criminal law; and (6) evidence. Most states also feature an essay portion of the exam, which focuses more on state law.

What is the American Bar Association?

The American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional association of lawyers (or any group of professionals) in the world with more than 400,000 members. It provides law school accreditation (approval), provides continuing legal education services, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work and a variety of other legal services.

The ABA's stated mission is "to serve equally our members, our profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession."

Can all law school graduates take the bar exam?

Most law school graduates take the bar exam, but there are exceptions. Every bar school applicant must fill out a detailed form. Most state supreme courts have rules that require bar applicants to show that they have the character, fitness, and moral qualifications to practice law. The vast majority of graduates are able to successfully apply to sit for the bar (take the bar exam).

However, some graduates - because of past criminal histories, serious credit issues, or character problems - do not receive approval to take the bar exam. For example, if a student commits plagiarism in law school, that may raise a red flag to those who interview the applicant for bar admission - even if the student received punishment in law school and went on to graduate.

If a person passes the bar exam, is he or she automatically entitled to practice law?

No, in many states a person can pass the bar exam but still not pass a character and fitness examination, which may occur after the bar test. Passing the bar exam is simply one part of the applicant's responsibility. He or she must also demonstrate to an interviewer - usually a practicing attorney in his or her locale - that he or she is fit to practice law.

1. Start a debt recovery trial if you want your money back
Does the customer have the money? Legal action is pointless if the customer does not have the means to pay the amount of the judgment awarded. In fact it is wor...

2. Sellers can sue customers and go to trial if these do not respect the contract
Are you sure what terms govern the contract? Sellers (and buyers too) often get it wrong and misunderstand the legal position. This does matter. Sellers frequen...

3. Negotiating a settlement in a debt recovery process can bring great satisfactions
Negotiation The parties may at any time try to negotiate a settlement and they may do this in any manner that they choose. Negotiations can take place after a ...

4. A customer that cannot pay your invoices might also not pay other suppliers
The importance of acting decisively A customer that is having problems paying your invoices is probably also having problems paying other suppliers too. Your le...

5. A debt recovery case allows you to claim the maximum amount owed to you
Choice of legal route Right at the beginning you must choose between issuing a claim in the High Court or a county court, or presenting a winding up or bankrupt...

6. Interest rates debt recovery costs and time limit for issuing a claim
The rate of interest This may be fixed by a contract or by established custom and practice, so long as a substantial remedy is provided. In the absence of eithe...

7. What to keep in mind when issuing a debt recovery claim
The correct wording for most of the various categories of defendant is as follows: An individual You should put the surname and if possible all forenames,...

8. The debt recovery defendant has various legal options
Pay the amount claimed From the claimant's point of view this is the ideal outcome and it does quite often happen. The defendant's bluff is called or he is forc...

9. Options of a defendant who chooses to defend a debt recovery claim
Defend the claim If the defendant decides to defend the claim, he must complete the 'Defence and Counterclaim (specified amount)' form and return it to the co...