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Law Degree

Lawyers are people who have completed the necessary training and received the appropriate licensing to allow them to practice law.Typically those with a law degree practice law as a career. However, some people that hold a law degree do not practice law at all.The degree opens many doors in the legal field, as well as most other professional arenas.Law can be defined as the rules and regulations included in our constitution and legal codes.These �rules� serve as the parameters by which people, businesses and other entities lawfully interact.In most law programs, a baccalaureate degree of generally any subject is accepted in order to apply. However, some of the more common degrees pre-law students major in are Science Degree">political science, business, English, criminal justice, international relations, and accounting.Academic performance combined with Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores are usually the two determining factors for admission.However, life and professional experiences, extracurricular activities and writing skills also attribute to the admissions process.Most law programs take 3-4 years for completion of the juris doctor degree. Students will then be required to take a written bar exam for the state in which they wish to practice.

Courses in Law

Lawyers have extensive training to help gain knowledge and interpret the laws of countries, states, and municipalities. The main role of a lawyer is to provide guidance to, or consult others in regards to what is the current law, and what the consequences are for those who break the law. Lawyers spend much of their time conducting research as well as writing. After completing the 3-4 year program, students will be required to pass a written bar exam before they are allowed to practice.The first year of law school is generally standardized, with only minor variations depending on the school.Some of the first semester courses include Criminal Law, Property, Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law.Additionally, a semester-long class covering legal writing and research should be offered during the first year in the program.First year law students may not be able to choose their classes or schedule.In the second and third year, however, students will have more flexibility in the program, and may select from courses in their areas of focus or specialization.

Law Specializations and Careers

It is most common for lawyers to work in a private practice concentrating on criminal or civil law.In criminal law, lawyers represent people who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in court. Sometimes lawyers are employed full time by a single client.Civil law encompasses litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, and leases.There is also a good amount of lawyers who work for various levels of the government.These professionals generally work as state attorney generals, prosecutors, public defenders and in the courts.Other lawyers work for legal aid societies�private, nonprofit organizations established to serve disadvantaged people. Some of the more popular specializations are tax and probate law, entertainment law, intellectual property & technology law, corporate law, bankruptcy law, stock market and finance law, civil liberties law, environmental law, labor law, family law, health care and personal injury. The law affects almost every aspect of our lives, from work, to school, to owning or running a business. Students can usually find a specialization that interests them. Also, many consultants, politicians, investment bankers and professors have law degrees. Depending on the specialization, the skills learned in law school could be applicable to a number of professions.