Legal Education in the USA

Legal Education in the USA

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The required college and law school education usually takes 7: years of full-time study after high school-4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law. , Law school applicants must have a bachelor's degree to qualify for admission: ' To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions, which usually require 4 years of study; about 1 in 10 graduates from ABA-approved schools attended part time.

Although there is no recommended " prelaw" major, prospective lawyers should develop. proficiency in writing and speaking; reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically - skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the profession. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting. "

Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant's ability to

aptitude for the study of law, usually through good undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of the applicant's undergraduate school, any prior work experience, and sometimes, a personal interview. However, law schools vary in the weight they place on each of these and other factors.

All law schools approved by the ABA require applicants to take the LSAT. Nearly all law schools require applicants to have certified transcripts sent to the Law School Datx'Assembly -, Service, which then submits the applicants' LSAT scores and their standardized records of college grades to the law " schools of their choice. Both this service and the LSAT are administered by the Law School Admission Council. Competition for admission to many law schools---especially the most prestigious ones-generally is intense, with the number of applicants greatly exceeding the number that can be admitted.

ABA - American Bar Association

Answer the following questions:

1. How long do you study at a law school and what qualifications are necessary before you enter a law school?

2. Is it possible to be a part-time student at a law school?

3. What subjects should you study before you enter a law school?

4. What are the admission requirements?

5. What can you say about the competition for admission to the law schools in the USA?