Do you want to become a lawyer in California? If you want to pursue your career as a lawyer, you can practice anywhere in California. The general path of becoming a lawyer takes a three-year approach to law school.

The time taken to complete the course depends on how you clear your exams. Different requirements depend upon the state, and we can’t say that requirement for every state is the same. Hence the duration to complete the course ultimately depends on the state you choose to pursue the law course.

Understanding the steps in a lawyer’s career can help you become a lawyer for the specified duration. If you are willing to become a lawyer, you can set timelines to gain experience to complete your goal in a specific time by gaining knowledge based on your aim. In our blog, you will explain the process of becoming a lawyer in California.

A lawyer is the one who gives legal advice to the people and constitutes them in legal procedures and also completes the paperwork for the same.

They continuously explain the laws based on the different legal situations of their clients. They also make an analysis of several areas comprising criminal laws, dangerous driving laws, laws for immigration, business laws, and much more.

How long does it take to complete? 

On average, it takes you seven years or more to become a lawyer in California, which comprises four years of undergraduate courses and three years of law schooling.

There are many students who choose to work in the field of law to make a strong career profile. You must have an idea of the fact that your term of becoming a lawyer might get extended if you choose to work as a legal student. You can also reduce the extent of your duration if you choose to become a lawyer by taking the exam credits during your undergraduate course.

It ultimately depends on you to practice as a full-time or a part-time lawyer. The salary of a lawyer gets completely influenced by several factors, including education, the field of specialization, the location of your practice, etc.

Several lawyers work extra hours in order to provide better service to their clients, which further affects the pay scale of the lawyer.

Steps to Become a Lawyer in California

It takes years of dedication and groundwork to become a wholly-fledged lawyer. If you are looking forward to completing a law course, then the first thing you need to be aware of is the responsibilities of the job title.

Also, ensure that you are competent and attentive to handle these responsibilities. Here are steps that will explain to you how to become a lawyer.

Undergraduate degree: the applicants need to hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject. It would be beneficial if you get your undergraduate specialization in subjects such as political science, English, sociology, criminal justice, etc.

There are several law schools that require specific course certificates before applying for admission. In order to get the most actual application for law school, you should have involvement in extracurricular activities and have a high percentage in the undergraduate degree.

Getting a good grade on the LSAT

Clear the LSAT exam: in order to take admission to a law school, it is most commonly referred to clear the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). This test determines your ability to be a compatible student in law school.

Hence it would help if you spent several months preparing for the exam. Although, the LSAT scores are an essential part of your application to law school. A high grade in the LSAT makes you a top contender for admission to law school.

If you do not feel satisfied with your scores in the exam, you can prefer to reappear for the exam, but this will have a direct impact on the duration of completing the course.

Law schooling: students need to complete the graduate program in law school to become a lawyer. A student can attend three years of regular education in order to complete the course. There are students who prefer part-time law schooling, but this will have a direct impact on your term of meeting the system.

Being a regular student in law school will help you develop skills and knowledge in the legal field. This will also help you face some standard outlines, which will give you practical experience as an upcoming lawyer. There are certain states that do not require regular appearance in law school, whereas there are also states that do not allow you to prepare for the exam if you have been a non-attendant student.

Become A Lawyer In California by passing the Bar Exam

Clearing the Bar exam: after completing graduation from law school, you will have to remove the bar exam under your state bar. The exam bar helps in determining whether your skills and understanding are eligible to practice as a lawyer or not. For clearing the exam, you will have to prepare for several months of preparation for the test.

After this, you will also have to undergo a character examination and comprehensive background tests. The time required to give background and character test results ultimately depends on how to clean your background is. After clearing the exam, you will still have to wait for getting admitted to the law bar to start practicing as a lawyer.

Applying for the job: just after clearing the bar exam, you get certified to practice as a lawyer. Now, you can focus on applying for a job at a law firm. Clearing the bar exam makes you eligible to work in government, private, and several other organizations.

You can apply for a job as per your subject specialization, and you can also apply for various positions after graduating and determine your interest in several law fields.

Your salary entirely depends on where you have completed your law schooling. To practice as a full-fledged lawyer, you might also require shifting to another state or city to get a better experience in the legal field. Also, you will have to need a clean record in your school to clear the background and character test with ease.

Famous People Who Became a Lawyer In California

California has been home to numerous prominent individuals who have had a significant impact on the state’s rich cultural, political, and economic history. Among these luminaries are several famous people who have practiced law in California, including Earl Warren, Robert Kardashian, Gloria Allred, Johnnie Cochran, Dianne Feinstein, Jerry Brown, and Sandra Day O’Connor.

Earl Warren

Earl Warren was a lawyer in California who later became the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. His career spanned from 1919 to 1953 and he played a vital role in several landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of schools in the United States.

Robert Kardashian

Robert Kardashian was a successful businessman and an attorney who earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Kardashian became a household name as one of the defence attorneys in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Before becoming a businessman, Kardashian practiced law for several years.

Gloria Allred

Gloria Allred is a prominent attorney in California who has been practicing law for over four decades. Allred has represented many high-profile clients, including victims of sexual harassment and assault. She is a television personality and has appeared on several talk shows, news programs, and reality TV shows.

Attorneys In Cali

Johnnie Cochran

Johnnie Cochran was an attorney in California who gained national prominence as the defence attorney in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Cochran earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and was known for his ability to persuade a jury.

Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein is an American politician who has been serving as the senior United States Senator from California since 1992. Before entering politics, Feinstein worked as a lawyer in San Francisco, where she focused on family law and criminal defence. She was also the first woman to serve as the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and later became the first female mayor of San Francisco.