Heres a helpful tip from T.K. Leigh for any of you out there with a main character who is a lawyer... Please, please, please research the amount of time it takes to actually become a lawyer here in the US... If I read one more book where someone was practicing law at the age of 22 or 23, Im going to lose my f***ing mind. To become a lawyer, there are quite a few steps that you need to take. First, you generally have to hold a bachelors degree. It can be in anything. Bachelors degrees typically take 5 years, but can be completed in 4. If you start college at the age of 18 as most do, were already at the age of 22. Next, you have to apply and be admitted to a Law School. It doesnt have to be ABA accredited, but honestly, it should be. You will be better prepared for taking the bar exam. If you go to law school full time, it takes 3 years. So were at the age of 25. Then, you have to take the bar exam. In every state, the bar exams are offered in July and February. If you graduate from law school in the Spring, you can sit for the July bar exam. You dont get your results for quite a while, usually about 2 months, but these vary by state. General rule of thumb, if you sit for and pass the July bar exam, youll be sworn in during the month of October. So please, if you have a character who is practicing law at the age of 22, please explain that theyre some sort of child genius that was in college at the age of 15 or 16. Please dont downplay the amount of time, energy, and dedication those of us who have gone through the strenuous and time-intensive process of becoming members of the Bar in any state. On behalf of all lawyers, I thank you. ***Oh, and another thing... If youre admitted to the Bar in one state, that doesnt give you authorization to practice in a different state. It violates our Code of Conduct, unless special permission is granted.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:06:54 +0000