How to Become a Successful Lawyer

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How to Become a Successful Lawyer
By Marlon Trotsky, eHow Contributor Above all, successful lawyers have a firm understanding of the law. No matter what area of the law you decides to practice, finding success as a lawyer largely depends on a fundamental understanding of the law and how it applies to various scenarios. Furthermore, the most successful lawyers are generally well spoken and personable and know how to inspire confidence and trust in their clients. While challenging, the process of becoming a practicing attorney can also lead to a rewarding career. Aside from having impeccable academic credentials, a lawyer should also be determined and possess an analytical mind.

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Instructions
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1 Earn strong grades throughout your undergraduate career. Take English, history, government, criminal justice and foreign language classes, depending on what area of law you want to practice. Begin establishing relationships with your professors and become involved in on campus activities and organizations, including the student government or the college newspaper. Apply for scholarships and fellowships. Secure summer internships at a legal organization, such as the International Law Institute of Washington D.C., every year you are in school.

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2 Prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) by signing up for a study course and taking practice tests online. Score at least a 160 on the LSAT, and as high as a 170 to get into the top law schools. Gain acceptance into an elite law school such as Harvard, Yale or Columbia. Excel during your three years on your way to earning a juris doctorate degree (J.D.). Continue to cultivate the relationships with professors and attorneys you know. Participate in legal clinics and practice trials at your school. Join one of your school's law reviews and run for an editorial staff position.

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3 Apply for summer clerkships with high quality law firms where you might want to work. This is by far the most important step in securing a good law-firm job after graduation. A clerkship is a paying job (often a high-paying job) that serves as a three-month interview for a permanent job. A good summer clerkship gives you a tremendous advantage when applying for a permanent job at that firm. It also could be a good qualification when applying at a different firm.

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4 Study for and pass your state's bar exam, typically within one year after you graduate from law school. The bar exam typically consists of the Multistate Bar Examination as well as tests on state law. You generally must pass a bar exam in order to be licensed as a lawyer. Most states also demand lawyers to successfully pass an ethics exam. Many successful lawyers begin their careers with a coveted federal judicial clerkship, through which they gain unmatched insight into the judicial process. Find out whether your state or jurisdiction requires enrollment in a continued education program. Have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

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5 Build a rapport with those you work with, and gain the trust and confidence of those who you encounter so that even if they do not agree with you, they will respect your decision-making, said Stephen C. Ellis, managing partner at the law firm of Tucker, Ellis & West, during a commencement speech at Case Western Reserve School of Law. Earn a reputation as being dependable, Ellis adds. Stay apprised of recent legal developments.

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6 If you choose to work at a law firm, climb the career ladder, as most lawyers begin as salaried associates and work their way to making partner. Take on any case, no matter how small, and treat it as if it were a landmark case. Know the case and your client inside and out, and do not be deterred by statements made against your case. Besides working for law firms, other lawyers choose to open their own practices, become judges or law school faculty, take a post in the private sector, or work for the government.

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