This week’s question:
I am a freshman in college and I am thinking about becoming
a lawyer. What do I need to do to become one? What are the educational
requirements? How can I learn more about what lawyers do?
/s/Andy A.
Almaden Valley
Dear Andy:
Thanks for emailing in that question, Andy. This is a topic
that is near and dear to my heart, as you might imagine. I have been doing
this work for over 41 years now and still thoroughly enjoy it.
You can learn a bit more about what lawyers do, the
educational requirements, and other topics by talking with a lot of people and
doing a lot of reading about this field of work. The more you know, the better
your decision might turn out to be.
A very good source of information is the State Bar of
California. In this state, all practicing attorneys must be a member of the
State Bar. Some states have a voluntary bar association, but here in
California it is mandatory.
The State Bar publishes several excellent consumer-oriented
pamphlets, one of which is entitled, “How Do I Become a Lawyer”. It
is just a top-notch source of information that you might find interesting and
informative.
Some of the topics in the pamphlet include, (1) What do
lawyers do? (2) What are the requirements for admission to practice law in California (3) How do I
prepare for law school? (4) What is the LSAT? And (5) Where can I find out more
about becoming a lawyer?
The more you read and the more you learn by talking with
others, the better position you will be in to determine if this might be a
field of work for you. It seems to me that there is a vast range of career
options available for one with legal training.
As is stated in the State Bar pamphlet, the pamphlet
summarizes the general requirements for becoming a California lawyer. It also
touches on the many opportunities available to those who pursue a legal career.
This field may not be for you, and becoming a
lawyer—and practicing law—is not easy, but a career is law can be very
rewarding.
You can read the pamphlet “How Do I Become a
Lawyer” online by bringing up the California State Bar web site and
entering pamphlets@calbar.ca.gov.
Or, you can contact The State Bar of California, Office of Media and
Information Services, 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-1639. Their
telephone number is: 415-538-2000, and they may be able to mail you a copy of
the pamphlet at little or no cost.
Best wishes in your career path, Andy.
/s/Donald J. DeVries
Almaden Valley
Donald J. DeVries is an attorney practicing law in the
Almaden Valley. Past Almaden Times
articles since 1986 can be accessed through his web site: www.almadenvalleylawers.com.
If you would like him to answer your question in his next Almaden Times column, you can reach him by
email at don@almadenvalleylawyers.com,
with “Almaden Times” in the subject line, fax at (408)268-6502,
telephone at (408)268-9500, or mail at DeVries & Horowitz, 6475 Camden
Avenue, Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95120. Your matters are personal and private,
so of course, he will not disclose your identity or any details about your
situation. Mr. DeVries writes this column to provide you with general
information about important legal matters affecting California
residents—not to give you legal advice about your specific matter. No
attorney-client relationship is created by these articles. The law is complex
and constantly changing and varies from state to state. So you should consult
an attorney before taking any action that would affect your personal or
business matters.
December 11, 2011
