Executive Law Degree Program Overviews

Executive law is a relatively narrow legal specialty focused on high-level businesspeople and their dealings. Degrees in executive law are rare, but related subjects such as business law and commercial law are covered in Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) program

Essential Information

J.D. programs prepare graduates to practice or teach the law. Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree programs are often designed for foreign students who already have legal experience, or U.S. students interested in international law.

• Executive Law Programs: Juris Doctor. Master of Laws.
• Prerequisites: A completed Law School Admissions Test, submission of undergraduate transcripts and a bachelor's degree for a Juris Doctor. For a Master of Law: Juris Doctor degree or equivalent law degree. Relevevant work experience sometimes required.
• Program Specializations: Business Law. Patent Law.

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Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Students learn state and federal laws about criminal activity, civil disputes, commerce, taxation and other topics. Many programs allow students to specialize in subjects like business law or patent law after they complete a standard curriculum in their first year. Students often have to opportunity to participate in internships with law firms during their studies.

The first year of most law schools' J.D. program covers a similar set of introductory legal topics. Students usually choose most of their classes during their second and third years. Those interested in executive law often learn about the following topics:

• Contract law
• Employment law
• Tax law
• Securities law
• Commercial law

Master of Laws

Students learn how U.S. laws compare with those from other regions of the world. Since LL.M. students typically already have a legal degree and employment experience practicing the law, these programs focus more on the theoretical and research-oriented aspects of legal practice.

LL.M. students usually choose most of their classes around an area of specialization. Students interested in executive law often specialize in comparative business law. The classes below are popular options:

• International business law
• Comparative employment law
• International trade law
• International tax law
• Comparative business litigation

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Popular Careers (Master of Law)

People who earn an LL.M. degree often choose careers in academia or consulting, but they are qualified to sit for their state's bar examination as well. Graduates often choose one of the careers noted below:

• Multinational business lawyer
• Corporate law professor
• International law consultant

Employment and Salary Outlook (Juris Doctor)

J.D. program graduates have a variety of career options. Graduates can work in law firms, private practices or for government agencies. Those interested in practicing law need to pass their state's bar exam. The careers noted below are popular options:

• Executive lawyer
• In-house corporate counsel
• Tax lawyer

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the number of working lawyers was expected to increase 10% from 2012-2022, which is the average. As of May 2014, the median annual wage for these professionals was $114,970.

Criminal Lawyer: Employment & Career Info

Discover what the job duties of a criminal lawyer are. Learn about education and licensing requirements as well as job outlook and salary to determine if this is the right career for you.

Career Definition

Criminal lawyers serve as both an advisor and an advocate for their clients in the process of navigating the criminal court system. Job duties of a criminal lawyer include meeting with clients, interviewing witnesses or complainants, interacting with the police and district attorney or prosecutor, researching case law and appearing in court.

How to Become a Criminal Lawyer

Necessary Education

Becoming a criminal lawyer can be a lengthy process. Criminal lawyers need to complete a 4-year undergraduate degree and then attend a 3-year law school program. Many potential criminal lawyers take courses in criminal justice, law enforcement and law before specializing in criminal law in law school. After completing your education, it is also necessary to pass a written bar exam in order to be licensed to practice law in a specific state; some states also require a written ethics examination.

Required Skills

To be successful as a criminal lawyer, you'll need to be hard-working, intuitive, willing to work long and irregular hours and capable of dealing with stressful and demanding situations. An ability to connect and communicate well with others, express yourself clearly when speaking and writing and create and analyze arguments will serve you well as a criminal lawyer.

Economic and Career Outlook

Employment for all lawyers was expected to grow at a rate of 10% from 2012-2022, about as fast as the average growth for all careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), the median annual earnings of wage and salaried lawyers were $113,530 as of May 2012; compensation varies by geographic area and years of experience.

Alternative Career

Paralegal

Those who desire a career in law but are intimidated by the extensive educational requirements should consider becoming a paralegal. Paralegals analyze all the facts in a case, research pertinent information such as laws and related cases, write reports, create and organize legal documents, assemble evidence, and file appropriate documents with the court. They also assist lawyers in trial preparations and support them during court appearances.

To work in this profession, earning an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree and a paralegal certificate is necessary. Obtaining optional professional certification is also beneficial when seeking employment. As predicted in BLS data, paralegals and legal assistants should see a 17% increase in job opportunities between 2012 and 2022. The median yearly salary for these legal workers is $46,990, as seen in BLS reports from 2012.

Criminal Investigator

For those with an interest in criminal law and bringing the bad guys to justice, a career in criminal investigation could be a good fit. Criminal investigators gather evidence at crime scenes, talk with suspects and witnesses, research records, participate in surveillance activities, arrest suspects and testify in court proceedings. To qualify for employment, a criminal investigator needs a high school diploma and is required to complete a police academy program. Some police departments may also require college courses or a degree in criminal justice or a related field. Most criminal investigators generally begin work as a police officer and are promoted into an investigator position after acquiring on-the-job experience.

In May of 2012, the BLS determined that criminal investigators received an annual median income of $74,300. It also predicted that 5% growth in jobs for police and detectives, including criminal investigators, should occur during the 2012-2022 decade.

Copyright Lawyer: Job & Career Info

Learn about the education and training required to work as a copyright lawyer. Find out the salary and employment outlook for this career, as well as some alternative career options.

Career Definition

Like other attorneys, copyright lawyers may work independently in a solo practice or as an associate or partner within a law firm. Copyright lawyers focus on specific areas of practice, such as applying for copyrights or litigating copyright disputes, or they may build sufficient expertise in copyright law to perform a range of functions. Daily tasks for copyright lawyers may vary depending on their experience and their clients' needs but can include filing paperwork with courts or government offices, meeting with prospective clients to assess their needs, researching specific aspects of the U.S. copyright code, or communicating with opposing counsel about technical aspects of a court case.

How to Become a Copyright Lawyer

Required Education

Prospective copyright lawyers must graduate from an accredited law school before they can qualify for admission into a state bar association, which is a requirement for lawyers in every state. In addition to being admitted to a state bar association, some practicing lawyers may choose to gain additional certification, such as admission to the American Bar Association. After graduating from law school, lawyers, including copyright lawyers, may wish to gain more specialized education in their practice field by earning a Master of Laws degree.

Skills Required

Practicing lawyers need to have a high degree of specialized knowledge in their practice field. For copyright lawyers, this means a thorough understanding of the policies and procedures involved with domestic and international copyright law. Copyright lawyers need to be able to interact effectively and respectfully with their clients by listening carefully, communicating clearly, maintaining confidentiality, and working on each client matter diligently. Other skills important to the practice of law include strict attention to detail, strong analytical abilities, excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

Career and Economic Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the high volume of graduates from American law schools each year creates stiff competition in the attorney job market, even though jobs for lawyers are projected by the BLS to increase 10% from 2012 to 2022. Income for lawyers, including copyright lawyers, can vary widely and is heavily dependent on factors such as experience and employer; however, the BLS figures indicate a median annual income of $113,530 for all attorneys in 2012.

Alternative Career Options

Paralegal

Like lawyers, paralegals may provide legal research and analyze cases, but paralegals assist lawyers and do not represent clients. Most paralegals earn an associate's degree in paralegal studies to prepare for their career. The BLS projects faster-than-average job growth for paralegals from 2012 to 2022. The median salary for paralegals was $46,990 as of May 2012.

Judge

While copyright lawyers help clients apply for copyrights and represent them in disputes over copyrighted material, judges apply the law and preside over these disputes in a courtroom. To become a judge, one must first be a lawyer in good standing with many years of experience. In most cases, judges are appointed or elected. The BLS reports that magistrate judges, who work in local, state, or federal courts, earned a median annual salary of $115,760 in May 2012. The BLS projects that this career field will grow very little or not at all from 2012 to 2022.

Guide to Earning an Online Law Degree

Currently, there are no online Juris Doctor programs that are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). However, students will find other types of law degrees online, as well as unaccredited J.D. programs. Keep reading to find out more about the types of law degrees that can be earned online.

Online Degree Options

Online degrees in law-related fields can be found at the bachelor's and master's degree level. These degree programs in legal studies, law and society, or related fields are appropriate for students who are interested in learning about legal theory and application. Lawyers who have already earned a Juris Doctor degree and have been admitted to the bar will find a few online Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree programs.

According to the American Bar Association, there are no fully online ABA-accredited Juris Doctor (J.D.) programs that prepare students to take a bar exam (www.americanbar.org); however, there are some schools that offer non-accredited J.D. programs. Students in these programs typically have a path to the bar exam in the same state in which the school operates. Other states, in some cases, allow lawyers from other states who are graduates of programs not ABA-accredited to sit for the bar exam, as long as they have a minimum of experience as a practicing attorney in their home state.

Online Law Program Characteristics

Most schools offer their online law degree programs with the full-time working adult student in mind. Admissions are considered on a case-by-case basis for non-traditional students or students with varying levels of academic or professional experience who demonstrate that they may be able to benefit from the program. Some schools don't require common standardized test scores as part of the application process.

How Online Learning Works

Oftentimes, an online law degree can be completed without any visits to campus. In cases where periodic short-term residencies are required, they typically last less than a week. Students may have a choice of start dates; however, classes often have firm start and end dates. Students might also have the flexibility to compress or extend their course length to fit into their schedules.

Schools that offer online law degrees use an electronic course delivery system, which usually means one-stop access for course materials, assignments, class message boards, instructor and student communications, and more. Some lectures take place in real-time, while others are recorded and made available for asynchronous student access. Some interaction between teachers and students may take place by chat, e-mail, or telephone.

Types of Online Law Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society

This online degree program covers the law, legal system and law principles in the United States. It also aims to provide a firm foundation in logic, legal writing and rhetoric. The degree can be applied to a wide variety of careers, including law enforcement or employment in a nonprofit organization, regulatory agency, government organization or public office. The 4-year program offers coursework in early American civilization, government, conflict resolution and criminal justice, among other areas.

Master of Arts in Legal Studies

This online, interdisciplinary degree program focuses on current social issues and public policy along with the study of law in American society. It's designed to help students prepare for further studies, or to provide them with a larger skillset in their law-related careers. Students learn about legal research, public advocacy and theories of justice. A large part of the degree consists of electives in topics like human rights, criminal justice and public policy. An internship is optional.

Master of Laws

The LL.M. is an advanced degree for lawyers, usually in a focused area of the law. Courses vary depending upon the area of focus; for example, an LL.M. in taxation will focus on taxation and business, while a degree in American law offers coursework in contracts, civil procedure and international business transactions. The program takes 1-2 years to complete. Students in an LL.M. program can complete an optional internship while taking courses.

Online Courses in Tort Law

Essential Information

California is the only state that permits candidates for the state bar examination to have obtained their law degree online, and none of the online schools are approved by the American Bar Association. Paralegal and legal studies programs, however, offer online courses including those in tort law. These programs can be taken towards a certificate or an associate or bachelor's degree. Some classes are available completely online, while others require periodic attendance on-campus. Graduates are qualified to work for law firms, business corporations, courts and government agencies.

Online Tort Law Courses

Below are some of the courses in tort law that are offered online by colleges and universities.

• Legal System Introduction: Students get an overview of the legal system and learn how tort law developed and its interaction with other areas of law. Such a course within a paralegal program may discuss the role of paralegals within the legal system. Some associate's degree program courses may focus on basic litigation ideas and legal terminology.
• Tort Law Fundamentals: This course discusses fundamental tort law principles, including both intentional and unintentional negligence. Students explore major torts; for example, battery and assault. Many courses examine torts in specialized contexts, such as products liability and malpractice, and teach common defenses and remedies.
• Torts and Personal Injury: With a litigation focus, students learn practical court proceedings and fundamental tort principles. Applying it to various hypothetical situations tests their knowledge of the subject.
• Business Law and Torts: Students learn about tort law's intersection with the business world through subjects such as products liability. Some courses may place an emphasis on intentional torts and insurance law, and many others cover other legal fields, including contracts and intellectual property.
• Civil Litigation: Tort law is litigated in civil court, and this course focuses on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as well as the state rules of civil procedure. Students learn how the rules are applied in civil litigation, including cases involving torts.

Online Justice of the Peace Course Information

No specific educational requirements exist for a prospective justice of the peace, but coursework or degree programs in political science, criminal justice or administration of justice may be helpful. Online courses are available from various colleges and universities at the undergraduate level.

Essential Information

Online courses in criminal justice, law, political science, administration of justice and sociology may be useful to someone aspiring to become a justice of the peace. Many U.S. states have eliminated the position, but where the role of Justice of the Peace does exist, duties include officiating weddings, administering oaths and presiding over minor criminal and civil matters. Given the changing and diverse nature of the role, students may wish to clarify their end goals and make sure they are aligned with specific courses, as well as state legal and educational requirements.

Online Courses for Prospective Justices of the Peace

Below are a few of the most common courses available that are in the areas of criminal justice, law and political science.

• American Politics Course: This course is found in many political science undergraduate programs and focuses on how the American political system, policymaking process and key political issues relate to law and its enforcement. Components of the government at the local, state and national levels are examined, along with role of policy in addressing public opinion, stakeholder needs and economic demands. Statistical analysis and research methods for evaluating policy issues are also discussed.
• Ethics of Justice Course: This course discusses ethical theories and their application to current issues for justice administration professionals. Requirements of ethical decision-making are discussed along with concepts like morality, justice and social control. Contemporary topics covered include capital punishment, affirmative action, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and torture. Legal ethics courses are often found in undergraduate administration of justice, political science and law enforcement programs.
• Marriage and the Law Course: Students learn about the legal characteristics, creation and dissolution of civil unions, same-sex, common law and traditional marriages in this sociology course. The affects of social change on traditional marriage are examined and views and laws of non-traditional marriages are covered. Additional topics include legal rights and responsibilities of spouses, the legal processes and obligations of divorce, benefits of marital status, the regulation of the ability to marry and spousal abuse.
• Justice Administration Course: This course is found within administration of justice and criminal justice programs and looks at the characteristics of effective justice administration. It also includes an overview of the criminal justice system and evaluation of law enforcement philosophies. Interrelationships of subsystems in the justice system and career opportunities in the field are also discussed, as well as responsibilities and expectations of the public.
• Victims and the Justice Process: This course provides a comprehensive look at victimization and the U.S. legal system's response to it. Students learn to see the world through the victim's eyes in hopes that prospective criminal justice students will be more sympathetic to a victim's plight and their rights. Victim participation in the criminal court case against their offender, such as in the case of a victim impact statement, is also explored.

Education Requirements for Becoming a Lawyer

Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a lawyer. Get a quick view of the requirements as well as details about schooling, job duties and the bar exam to find out if this is the career for you.

Essential Information

Lawyers advise clients in legal matters. Also called attorneys, lawyers may advocate for their clients and defend them in court. These roles require lawyers to have extensive training in legal procedure, writing and research. After earning an undergraduate degree, aspiring lawyers must complete law school and earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.). All lawyers must pass their state's bar exam to practice.

Required Education	J.D.
Other Requirements	State bar exam is the equivalent of licensure for lawyers
Job Growth (2012-2022)*	10%
Median Salary (2013)*	$114,300

Educational Requirements for a Lawyer

Aspiring lawyers must complete law school. Applying to law school requires graduating from a bachelor's degree program and, in nearly all cases, taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Applicants wanting to specialize in a particular field of law may consider an undergraduate degree in that field. For example, students who want to become tax attorneys might study accounting, while those interested in environmental law may consider majoring in environmental science.

Required Skills

While no particular field of study is required for applying to law school, aspiring lawyers should hone their reading, speaking and argumentation skills while in college. Courses in political science and English may help students advance these skills and provide a medium for presenting facts and arguing positions. Students may also use these classes to strengthen critical thinking skills and prepare for the LSAT.

Law School

Law school students typically study for three years and earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree upon successful completion of their degree program. There is no mandated or standardized curriculum, but most law schools provide a comprehensive overview of the field, with courses from civil procedure to property law. Students learn legal writing and are taught to conduct research in legal libraries and online.

After the first 1.5 years, students may begin enrolling in specialized courses like environmental law orbankruptcy law. Students may also apply for externships that allow them to observe and participate in daily legal procedures. Additionally, most programs offer law clinics in a particular field, such as environmental law, in which students work with attorneys to research precedents and meet with clients.

Gaining Admission to the State Bar

After earning a J.D. degree, law school graduates must take and pass the bar exam for the state or U.S. territory in which they plan to practice. Depending on the jurisdiction, the bar exam may consist of several different tests, such as the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE). Most jurisdictions also test applicants on their knowledge of appropriate professional conduct.

Salary and Career Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates a 10% job growth for lawyers in the years 2012-2022. The BLS also indicated that lawyers earned median salaries of $114,300 as of May 2013.

Types of Law Degrees and Legal Studies Degrees

Essential Information

Three main types of law degrees are available in the United States. The first degree students can enroll in is a Juris Doctor degree program and can complete it after three years of full-time study. The second law degree is the Master of Laws (LL.M.), and the third degree is the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.).

Some J.D. programs may be combined with other master's degree programs in specific facets of law, business or public policy, and these programs might last longer than three years. The first year of study focuses on basic topics, like international law, criminal law and civil procedure. Second and third-year students may customize their education to reflect their interests, taking electives in such areas as tax and business.

• Program Levels: Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science.
• Prerequisites: J.D. programs require a bachelor's degree, LSAT scores, recommendation letters and a current resume. Master's programs are reserved for those who already practice law outside the U.S. or have their J.D. within the U.S. To qualify for a Doctor of Juridical Science program one must have a J.D. or LL.M. and professional law experience. A dissertation proposal is also generally required.
• Program Specializations: Include human rights law, environmental law, technology law or taxation
• Program Length: One year to three years.
• Other Requirements: Dissertation.

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Juris Doctor

Applicants must have bachelor's degrees, at minimum to enter this standard law degree. Prospective students don't need to take any undergraduate law courses or have prior experience with the judicial system. For the application, law schools will request scores for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), recommendation letters and, in some cases, a current resume.

The first year of the curriculum covers core courses. Students may then choose a concentration and complete a required number of elective classes. Some possible classes include:

• Torts
• Constitutional law and patent law
• Legal writing
• Federal litigation
• Environmental law and public interest law
• Law and ethics

Master of Laws

Unlike most master's degree programs, which are considered to be the first level of graduate degrees, the Master of Laws is the second professional law degree after the Juris Doctor. An LL.M. program takes one year to complete with full-time study, and students may specialize in their interests, such as human rights law, environmental law, technology law or taxation. Because there are many different concentrations within LL.M. programs, curricula will differ. For example, a student enrolled in a tax law LL.M. program will gain a strong understanding of U.S. tax law. An LL.M. program mainly benefits international lawyers who wish to become familiar with and legally practice American law, but American lawyers who want to focus their studies on specific areas of law or prepare for an S.J.D. program may be accepted.

Classes depend largely on the type of Master of Laws degree program students pursue. Core courses in a particular area of the law must be completed, and then students choose electives of interest to them. Potential courses may include:

• Estate planning
• Corporate tax problems
• Local and state taxation
• Intellectual property law
• Bankruptcy

Doctor of Juridical Science

The most advanced law degree in the United States, the Doctor of Juridical Science program can be completed on a full-time basis in three years. Many applicants to a Doctor of Juridical Science program are established law professionals with many years of experience. In addition, a S.J.D. program qualifies students to work in academic settings as law professors.

The program, which is research-intensive, requires students to know their research interests before beginning the application process. Most of a student's time will be spent on the completion and defense of a dissertation. The course requirements are typically dealt with during the first year of enrollment and determined by students in conjunction with their advisors.

A majority of the S.J.D. curriculum gets spent researching and writing a dissertation. However, a small number of courses must be completed before students begin their projects. Classes appeal to an individual's interests, and they may include:

• Legal research
• Business law
• Legal advocacy
• Family law
• Migration law

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Job Outlook and Salary Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of lawyers was expected to increase by 10% from 2012 to 2022 (www.bls.gov). Law firms, corporations and government agencies often hire lawyers. Fierce competition was predicted due to the large number of law school graduates. The annual average salary of a lawyer in May 2014 was $133,470.

Doctoral graduates may work in academia, teaching and writing papers while employed by a major law school. The BLS reported that the employment of professors would increase by 19% between 2012 and 2022. Postsecondary law teachers were listed as making a mean annual salary of $126,270 in May 2014.

Continuing Education Information

Graduates of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program need to pass the bar exam before they can begin practicing law. Each state administers its own bar exam, but most require candidates to have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Lawyers must pursue licensure through the state in which they wish to practice law.

Careers in Education Law: Education Requirements and Job Options

A career in education law typically requires a bachelor's degree at a minimum. Continue reading for an overview of the responsibilities and salary info for some career options in the field.

Essential Information

Educational reform influences national and state law and policy, which can in turn affect individual students, institutions and schools across the country. Professionals are thus needed to uphold and enforce these state and national regulations.

Career	Lawyer	Postsecondary Teacher	Postsecondary Educational Administrator
Education Requirements	Completion of law school	Doctoral degree usually required	Master's degree usually required
Other Requirements	State bar licensing	State licensing	Related work experience
Projected Job Growth (2012-2022)*	10%	19%	15%
Average Salary (2014)*	$133,470	$74,040	$101,910

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Career Options

Besides becoming a lawyer, those specializing in educational law can do their part to affect educational reform by becoming school administrators or instructors. Read on to educate yourself about the many careers someone interested in educational law can practice.

Education Law

The field of education law provides many opportunities for lawyers, policymakers and related professionals. Education lawmakers and policymakers may advocate for fairness in education, poor and underprivileged students, students with disabilities and other special cases. They may create laws to eliminate gender or cultural bias in standardized testing, classroom learning, class projects and other assignments.

Educational Requirements for Lawyers

In order to become a lawyer, one must complete a bachelor's degree program as well as a law school degree, or Juris Doctor (J.D.). Upon completion of law school, graduates must pass a bar exam applicable to the state in which they wish to practice law. Most states also require that lawyers continue their education in order to remain updated on the latest issues in the field of law.

Prospective education lawyers should pursue courses in law school such as education law and policy, child welfare, education advocacy and child advocacy where applicable. Some schools offer joint J.D. and Master of Arts (M.A.) programs in law and education. These programs are specifically designed for students who are enrolled in law school and are interested in pursuing a career in educational law and policy.

Educational Requirements for Non-Lawyers

Some non-lawyer careers in the field of education law include those of teachers, school administrators or educational legislators. These positions do not necessarily require that a student become a lawyer or enroll in law school, although educational lawyers may fulfill these positions as well.

Generally, a bachelor's degree in education or a related field can allow prospective education law professionals to begin their careers. For teaching positions in public schools, a valid teaching certificate is required. In order for these professionals to advance their careers, they may choose to enroll in a master's degree program in educational administration or a related field.

Career Options in Education Law

Educational legislators develop and endorse laws related to education. These appointed or elected professionals research issues and establish regulations in the educational sector. Education law professionals may also teach their profession in postsecondary institutions. Additionally, educational lawyers advocate for fairness in education and work to ensure institutions follow existing laws. Other career options in education law include legal advocates and education administrators.

Employment Outlook and Salary Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported annual average salaries of $131,990 for lawyers and $58,260 for secondary school teachers in 2013. Lawyers could look forward to 10% employment growth, according to the BLS, from 2012-2022, while elementary and kindergarten teachers could expect 12% growth and secondary school teachers could expect 6% growth in employment opportunities during that time.

How to Prepare for Law School in the US

Law school is a great career choice for many international students. While a job in law is both rewarding and lucrative, actually getting into law school can be a bit of a challenge. Law schools in America have been bumping up their admissions requirements in recent years and are seeking the best international and domestic students in the nation.

Getting Into Law School

Many students are unsure of how to prepare for law school. Getting into law school is not an easy task for many international students, and there is certainly some preparation that is required in order to be successful in their endeavors. Law schools are becoming more and more competitive each year, as they have begun to see a rise in applications. In order to be successful in the pursuit of entering law school, there are a few things that students can do to make sure they are ready.

• Good Grades. First off, one of the major factors in getting into law school is the student’s GPA. Students should prepare early for law school by trying to get the best grades they can in every course. This starts from the day they enter college until the day they leave. The closer a student’s GPA is to 4.0, the more likely they are to be accepted into law school. Students should take time to study for every exam, complete every assignment, and get as much as they can out of every course. All of this will pay off as international students get into good law schools in America.
• LSAT Exam. Another way that students should prepare for law schools by studying very hard for theLSAT exam. The LSAT is the entrance exam to law school, just like the ACT or SAT is the entrance exam for undergraduate students. By studying for the LSAT, taking practice tests and practice courses, students will increase their chances of a high score, making them much more marketable to law schools in America.

By following these two preparation tips, students can enter into a top law school and be on their way to becoming lawyers.

Getting out of Law School

After actually getting into law school, there many other things to do in order to prepare before your first day. While getting into law school is a challenge, getting out is a whole new obstacle. Law school is very difficult and requires constant study. While there may not be as many assignments as you had during your undergraduate studies, each exam or assignment carries a lot of weight. When asked, most law school students talk about the importance of reading in law school. The amount of reading students need to do for each class is astounding, and may require students to read cases, briefs, and articles almost every night. Unlike your undergraduate program, missing a reading or assignment can set you back quite a bit and may lead to you failing a course. The cases and court briefs required can be complicated and may often take several readings to understand. Exams in law school are often tough, but fortunately students have a lot of materials to prepare with. Most law libraries store a collection of previous exams for each course, which can be used as study materials for law students. Law school classes are also renowned for their discussion format. Most law school teachers use the Socratic Method, meaning they will call on you to answer many question rather than just lecturing. If you are afraid of public speaking, do not worry; you will get used to talking in class and discussing legal matters with your classmates.

Preparing For the Bar

Your law school education does not end at graduation. While you may have a law degree, students will need to pass the bar in the state they want to practice in. The bar exam is the culmination of all the things you have learned in law school, and is seen by most students as one of the hardest things you will ever do in academia. Most schools teach bar preparation courses as part of their curriculum, but that usually is not enough to be successful. After graduation, students should expect to study for weeks in order to be fully prepared for the bar exam. Most universities offer a bar preparatory workshop following graduation in order to ensure that their students will soon be lawyers. These preparation materials should be proficient in answering the questions of how to prepare for law school.

International Lawyers getting an LLM in the USA

What is an LLM?

An LLM is a Master of Law Degree. The full name, Legum Magister, is, like so many other aspects of the legal profession in the US, derived from Latin and literally means Master of Law. Typically a one year program, the LLM serves as an introduction to the US Legal System and is most often requested of applicants to the bar who were educated in or practiced outside the US.

Do I need one?

Because all US lawyers are required to be admitted to the bar and each US state (and the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.) sets its own rules for bar admission, not all foreign-educated lawyers need an LLM. Some 23 states require all bar applicants, regardless of their origin, to earn a law degree from a school accredited by the American Bar Association. In these states, an LLM is not a useful option – although the system of reciprocity LINK set up by the various US jurisdictions might be. Nevertheless, because many foreign lawyers enroll in LLM programs because they plan to take the bar exam for New York or California*, the LLM continues to be a viable option.

But not all foreign-educated lawyers need an LLM to sit for the exam. As noted above, New York State, one of the largest and most attractive jurisdictions in the US, is among the most open to admitting foreign lawyers to practice. In fact, in New York, foreign-educated lawyers can qualify for the bar examination without an LLM if they successfully completed a three-year law program in a country where the legal system is based on the English common law system. In fact, such applicants would be eligible to sit for the bar without having to obtain any further American law school study. In this case, however, foreign-educated lawyers must begin the process by getting their law degree reviewed and analyzed by the American Bar Association (ABA) and not all who apply are allowed to proceed without the LLM.

For those not educated in civil law or otherwise ineligible for a waiver from the ABA, an LLM is a necessary next step. The LLM is important because, at its heart, it provides an overview of US law for foreign lawyers in one year in place of the a more traditional three year law program required of first time law students.

Indeed, most LLM programs in the US are offered by established law schools and most US LLM programs allow foreign attorneys to take law courses together with their normal domestic students. There are also online degree programs for the LLM program that allows attorneys to work collaboratively in an international virtual classroom. The University of Liverpool offers an online LLM program in International Business Law, International Finance and Banking, and in Technology and Intellectual Property Law. These LLM programs are designed to prepare students for a high-level career in an international law firm, multinational company or governmental organization.

In practice, therefore, a US LLM program provides foreign-educated lawyers exposure to a US law school for one year. In the course of their LLM program, students learn how traditional US law is practiced. Courses emphasize the aspects of the legal profession that form the heart of the American Law School culture in order to teach LLM students how US lawyers think about the law.

In addition to this broad overview, LLM students are also required to take courses that reflects the aspect of law they are interested in pursuing. Examples include Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Torts, and more. Regardless of their emphasis, however, once foreign-educated lawyers complete the LLM program they, like their domestic classmates, will have the opportunity to sit for the bar exam as well.

Legal education in the United States

Legal education in the United States generally refers to the education of lawyers before entry into practice. (Other types of legal education, such as that of paralegals, of Limited Practice Officers (in Washington), and of the citizenry in general, and of the education of lawyers after admission to the bar (continuing legal education) are not covered in this article.

Initially there was much resistance to lawyers in colonial North America because of the role they played in hierarchical England. Slowly the colonial governments started using the services of professionals trained in the Inns of Court, and by the end of the Revolution there was a functional bar in each state. As institutions for training developed in the colonies, because of the distrust of a profession only open to the elite in England, the institutions which developed in what would become the United States would be much different from those in England.

Initially in the United States, the legal professionals were trained and imported from England A formal apprenticeship (training) or clerkship program was established first in New York in 1730—at that time a seven-year clerkship was required, and in 1756 a four-year college degree was required in addition to five years of clerking and an examination.Later the requirements were reduced to require only two years of college education.A system like the Inns did not develop, however, and a college education was not required in England until the 19th century, so the American system was unique.

The clerkship program required much individual study. The mentoring lawyer was expected to carefully select materials for study and to guide the clerk in his study of the law to ensure that the material was being absorbed.The student was supposed to compile his notes of his reading of the law into a “commonplace book”, which he would endeavor to memorize.Although those were the ideals, in reality the clerks were often overworked and rarely were able to study the law individually as expected. They were often employed to tedious tasks, such as making handwritten copies of documents. Finding sufficient legal texts was also a seriously debilitating issue, and there was no standardization in the books assigned to the clerk trainees because they were assigned by their mentor, whose opinion of the law may be different greatly from his peers.One famous attorney in the United States, William Livingston, stated in 1745 in a New York newspaper that the clerkship program was severely flawed, and that most mentors “have no manner of concern for their clerk’s future welfare…is a monstrous absurdity to suppose, that the law is to be learnt by a perpetual copying of precedents.”There were some few mentors that were dedicated to the service, and because of their rarity, they became so sought after that the first law schools evolved from the offices of some of these attorneys who took on many clerks and began to spend more time training than practicing law.

It was seen over the years that the apprenticeship program was not capable of producing lawyers capable of serving their clients.The apprenticeship programs often employed the trainee with menial tasks, and while they were well trained in the day-to-day operations of a law office, they were generally unprepared practitioners or legal reasoners.The establishment of formal faculties of law in U.S. universities did not occur until the latter part of the 18th century.The first law degree granted by a U.S. university was a Bachelor of Law in 1793 by the William and Mary College, which was abbreviated L.B.; Harvard University was the first university to use the LL.B. abbreviation in the United States.

The first university law programs in the United States, such as that of the University of Maryland established in 1812, included much theoretical and philosophical study, including works such as the Bible, Cicero, Seneca, Aristotle, Adam Smith, Montesquieu andGrotius.It has been said that the early university law schools of the early 19th century seemed to be preparing students for careers as statesmen rather than as lawyers.At the LL.B. programs in the early 1900s at Stanford University and Yale continued to include “cultural study,” which consisted of courses in languages, mathematics and economics.

In the 1850s there were many proprietary schools which originated from a practitioner taking on multiple apprentices and establishing a school and which provided a practical legal education, as opposed to the one offered in the universities which offered an education in the theory, history and philosophy of law.The universities assumed that the acquisition of skills would happen in practice, while the proprietary schools concentrated on the practical skills during education.

In part to compete with the small professional law schools, there began a great change in U.S. university legal education. For a short time beginning in 1826 Yale began to offer a complete “practitioners’ course” which lasted two years and included practical courses, such as pleading drafting.U.S. Supreme Court justice Joseph Story started the spirit of change in legal education at Harvard when, as a lecturer there in the early 19th century, he advocated a more “scientific study” of the law.Therefore, at Harvard the education was much of a trade school type of approach to legal education, contrary to the more liberal arts education advocated by Blackstone at Oxford and Jefferson at William and Mary.Nonetheless there continued to be debate among educators over whether legal education should be more vocational, as at the private law schools, or through a rigorous scientific method, such as that developed by Story and Langdell.In the words of Dorsey Ellis, “Langdell viewed law as a science and the law library as the laboratory, with the cases providing the basis for learning those ‘principles or doctrines’ of which ‘law, considered as a science, consists.’” Nonetheless, into the year 1900 most states did not require a university education (although an apprenticeship was often required) and most practitioners had not attended any law school or college.

Therefore, the modern legal education system in the U.S. is a combination of teaching law as a science and a practical skill,implementing elements such as clinical training, which has become an essential part of legal education in the U.S. and in the J.D. program of study. Whereas in the 18th and 19th century, few U.S. lawyers trained in an apprenticeship “achieved a level of competence necessary to adequately serve their clients,” today as a result of the development of the U.S. legal education system, “law graduates perceive themselves to be prepared upon graduation” for the practice of law.

Legal Education System

Becoming a lawyer in the United States requires a structured curriculum that is made up of high standards and academically rigorous classes. By better understanding legal education in the US, you will be better prepared to decide if a career in law is right for you! You can start your path to a career in law as soon as you complete your high school diploma. As an overview, here are the most important steps that will lead you to a successful career as an attorney:

1. Bachelor's degree at university or college - approximately 4 years
2. LSAT preparation exam - determined by your aptitude and law school
3. Law school to earn Juris Doctor - approximately 3 years
4. Bar examination - immediately after law school
5. Certification to practice law - received after passage of bar exam

Pre-Law

Legal education in the US is unique since there is no formalized law program upon completing high school. Instead, students complete their undergraduate degree in their subject of choice. This provides students with the opportunity to study any subject before deciding that a career in law is right for them. To complete their undergraduate degree, American students go to a college or university to receive their bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in the US is usually four years but can range from two to six years and certifies full-time studies within a particular subject. The subject that the student specializes in is also known as the student’s major. Because there is no defined path to study law at this point in the education, it is important for students to concentrate on building their oratory, written, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), a volunteer organization of lawyers and law students that set standards for the American legal profession, “the ABA does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline.” So there is truly no required course at all to get into law school - great lawyers can start as English majors, history majors, engineers, doctors, pilots, builders and everything in between!

Most law schools evaluate a student’s academic performance based on their grade point average (gpa). A grade point average measures a student’s academic achievement over the course of their degree usually out of a scale of 4.0. This number is a critical indicator for law schools as, together with the LSAT score, it is used to predict future performance in law school. Students are therefore encouraged to study a field of interest where they will both earn high grades and that will also improve writing, speaking, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

LSAT Exam

Another important factor in law school admissions is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). For many, this is the first step toward a career in law. Many students will take the LSAT exam if they plan to continue to law school immediately after graduating with their Bachelor’s degree. Other students may join the work force before they determine that a career in law is right for them. In either case, the true first step to becoming an attorney is sitting for the LSAT exam. Law schools use the LSAT as an important indicator of a student’s potential for success in law school.

The LSAT exam is a standardized test administered four times a year testing student’s analytical and logical reasoning skills. Lasting half a day, students complete five sections of multiple choice questions along with a written section that is sent directly to law schools unscored. Many students spend months prior to the exam taking sample tests and using external resources like tutors and prep classes to prepare themselves. It is important for students to do well since all results, even if students retake the exam, will be sent to admissions for review. Additionally, under normal circumstances, individuals cannot take the LSAT more than three times in any two-year period so it is important to come to the testing center prepared.

Law School

Applying to law school in the US is not an easy process! Law school selection alone can be difficult. The ABA recognizes over 200 accredited institutions in the US including private law schools, public law schools, law schools affiliated with larger colleges/universities, and even independent law schools. Once your application has been evaluated, you may just be lucky enough to receive a welcome letter in the mail! If you are accepted to law school, it’s time for you to mentally prepare. Many students say that law school is a difficult challenge, especially in the first year where you are adjusting to a new, academically challenging schedule and environment.

Students are typically referred to as 1Ls in their first year of law school, 2Ls in their second year of law school, and finally 3Ls in their third year of law school. Students can expect to take courses covering Constitutional law, civil procedure, contracts, evidence, criminal law, torts, legal writing and research, and property just to name a few courses. Most 1Ls have a set curriculum that is developed by the school to provide students the exposure they need. At the same time, the first year also serves to lay the foundation of skills as students continue their legal education in the US. 2Ls and 3Ls are usually able to choose their own classes based on their interest of legal study such as contract law, tax law, international law, etc.

Schools generally vary in curriculum so it is important to investigate classes, teaching methods, evaluation, and more, even before you submit your application. Many law classes focus on analyzing legal issues, reading cases, identifying the facts, and finally applying law to these facts. Finally, once you successfully complete your 3-year law school, you will be issued your Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) which will allow you to sit for the bar examination.

Bar Examination

The bar examination in the United States is required before students begin practicing law. In order to receive a license, students must contact the state board of bar examiners to schedule a time to sit for the test. These licenses provide authorization to practice in that state alone. Students who intend to practice in multiple US states investigate which other US states will allow them to “waive” into their state bar – no one wants to sit for multiple state bar exams if it can be avoided!

Once students have determined the state in which they’d like to practice, the next step is to register for the state administered bar exam. Most bar exams are approximately two days long and a few states have three day exams. There are multiple choice and essay questions designed to test knowledge on general legal principles across a wide variety of topics, and knowledge of state-specific laws and principles. Most students participate in a bar review or other bar exam review course to prepare for this test. The bar examination is the final step in your legal education in the US before you begin practicing law in your state.

How to Choose the Right Law School

International students who are applying to law schools in the US will first have to determine what law school is best for them. How to choose the right law school is a big question. There are a lot of qualities to look for in a good law school. Students should be sure to do thorough research into potential law schools, and apply to the ones they feel will provide the best fit for them.

Rankings

Law school rankings are becoming more and more important to incoming law students looking to find the right school. All accredited law schools in the US are ranked annually based on a number of different criteria. These criteria include quality, rankings by lawyers, selectivity, placement success, and bar passage rate. International students often look into the results to choose which law school they want to attend. Generally speaking, the higher ranked the law school, the more likely they are to put a student into a law position following graduation. Most current students would say that schools in the top 100 are the first place one should start looking. Find schools that interest you and also have the quality education that will help you once you enter the profession. The next tier of law school is the top 40 ranking, which are more selective and have even better success in placements and quality. Lastly are the top 12 schools, which are generally seen as the best law schools and most competitive. Many of the biggest firms around the country recruit directly out of these schools and look to select the top students in each class to come work for them as summer associates and eventually full time employees.

The School’s Location

One of the most important things to consider when asking how to choose the right law school is where the school is located geographically. Why is this important? In most cases, the region in which the school is located in is very likely to be where you will find work as a lawyer (that is, if you do not return back to your home country!). There are a few reasons for this.

1. First off, law degrees are very regional, meaning that they carry much more weight in your area than in another. A student who earned a degree from a school in Florida is far more likely to find work in a nearby city than a student from Mississippi looking to work in the state. While exceptions happen, it is becoming rare to see out of area students practicing law in a far off city.
2. Another reason is because of the local alumni base. Alumni from a college are more likely to hire a law student from their alma mater than from a different school. Most firms are opened in the region around where a person graduated.
3. The final, and perhaps most important, reason that a law degree tends to be regional is the bar. Each state requires a lawyer who wants to practice in that state to pass a bar exam. State laws differ from state to state, and a student who studied law in Georgia may not be prepared to pass the bar in Florida. There are, of course, exceptions to all these rules. The best schools in the country extend degrees that are admired nationally. Students from these schools can find work just about anywhere and are heavily recruited by law firms.

A School with the Right Field of Study

Lastly, international students asking how to choose the right law school should look into studying at a law school that has courses in the type of law they wish to study. Some schools have better reputations in certain types of law. These reputations stem from the faculty that the schools employ and their former positions. Schools may have great programs in public service law such as working for the state or public defender’s office. Other schools may have top notch programs in sports law and have a reputation for putting out some of the best sports agents or sports related lawyers. Other types of programs may be human rights law or environmental law. Students should look into each school and see if their field of study matches the type of programs that law schools in the US offer.