Does defending the rights of those who’ve suffered a personal injury appeal to you? How about working with some of the best minds in the country, all while making a high salary?
A personal injury lawyer could be perfect if that work sounds appealing. Personal injury lawyers work with injured people in car accidents, medical malpractice, aviation accidents, and other cases. With the median salary being $82,830, they enjoy a comfortable life while seeking justice. But what if you don’t know how to become a personal injury lawyer? Keep reading to learn about the different steps you’ll have to take.
Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Before considering law school, you must attend a four-year university and get a bachelor’s degree. You won’t be able to become a lawyer without a degree. Many students plan to attend law school after graduation and study majors like political science, economics, and English. Some schools even offer a pre-law major. Don’t worry too much about your undergraduate field of study. Law schools accept people from all majors and backgrounds. They like getting people from diverse areas since it allows fresh ideas to be brought into the legal world. Your best bet is to study something that interests you.
Keep Your GPA High
While the major you choose to study as an undergrad isn’t important, your GPA is. Besides the LSAT, which we’ll cover briefly, your GPA is the second biggest factor. The top-tier law schools only take in candidates with high GPAs. Most of the time, this means having around a 3., or even higher. Mid-level schools might be interested in candidates with around a 3.5 or 3.6. If you don’t know which law school you want to attend, the best thing you can do is get as high of a GPA as possible. This will ensure that you have many doors open when the time comes.
Take the LSAT
At some point, you’ll need to take the LSAT. This is the SAT of law school—the test that admission boards look at to determine whether or not they’ll offer you a place at their school. The LSAT is incredibly challenging because it tests your brain in a way that most people aren’t used to.
All the questions pertain to logic, making it even more difficult; you only have a short time to complete the test. Luckily, there are many great LSAT prep courses that you can sign up for. These can train your brain and help you understand how to solve different questions.
Attend Law School
Assuming you do well on the LSAT and have a high GPA, you should be an ideal candidate for many law schools nationwide. But getting into law school is only part of the battle.
Once you’re there, you need to pass the classes. You’ll be busy for most of the three years you’re there, but you’ll also get to work with hundreds of other bright students and mentors.
Law school is also expensive, so you might have to take out student loans. However, the struggle will be worth it once you become a wrongful death attorney.
Make the Right Connections
While at law school and even at your four-year university, you want to ensure you earn as many connections as possible. Networking will help set you up for success later on. If you plan on having your name come up when people search for a personal injury lawyer near me, you need to make a point to network with everyone from insurance reps to doctors. Internships and part-time legal jobs are great ways to make connections that will help you in the future.
Pass the Bar
After you finish law school, you’re not a lawyer yet—you still need to pass the bar exam. In most cases, this is the final step on your journey to becoming a personal injury lawyer.
The bar exam certifies you to practice law in the state in which you reside. Each state has its bar exam, some notoriously more difficult than others. Some states require additional certifications, but the bar will be the biggest final hurdle you must jump through.
Join the Right Firm
If you have made connections for several years, you should have no problem getting a job with a firm. Most lawyers dream of working with big and well-known firms, but there are also many small and successful firms.
Your tasks early on might be simple, but as you gain more experience, you’ll find that your duties increase. At some point, you can think about starting your legal firm. However, when you’re fresh out of law school, that cannot be easy. Most lawyers get more legal experience first.
Understand What It Takes to Become a Personal Injury Lawyer
If your dream job involves helping those injured fight for justice, you might want to consider becoming a personal injury lawyer. This guide will help you understand the steps you must take to get to law school and the courtroom.
Do you now better understand how to become a personal injury lawyer? If you do, check out some of our other posts. You’ll find tons of other helpful guides and tips.
