How to Become a Commercial Law Attorney
This journey starts as it does for all lawyers, by earning a bachelor’s degree at a highly-respected, four-year university. What’s great about pursuing law is that you can study any subject you like during your undergraduate education, and as long as you show excellent results you’ll be fine. But for commercial law you might want to focus on economics, history, government or public speaking. Business classes are useful as well, so you have a more complete understanding of the issues that face corporations within each industry.
In your final year of college you’ll have to take the LSAT, or Law School Admissions Test. Performing well on the LSAT is a prerequisite for all law schools, and there’s really no way around it. This is widely regarded as the most difficult graduate exam there is. Not only are you tested on your current understanding, but the LSAT also judges your analytical and critical thinking skills, to determine what kind of lawyer you could eventually become. Go through a study course and work hard to do well if you want to get into a quality law program.
With your LSAT scores in hand it’s time to apply to law school. There are literally hundreds of schools to choose from. You’ll first narrow it down by removing the schools that don’t have a commercial law program. Be proactive and research the corporations or law firms that you would like to work for after you graduate. Where do the majority of their staff come from? Hedge your bets by attending the absolute best program you can, and ideally one that sends graduates on to prominent positions within commercial law.
While at school it’s time to get down to the business of learning commercial law. Get your prerequisites out of of the way and then zero in on classes that cover the needs of a commercial attorney. You’ll have to learn about intellectual property laws, and how a company’s ideas and products can be protected. Your knowledge of every aspect of the law will be tested, and if you hope to work inside a corporation you should know that you must excel at absolutely everything.
After you graduate it’s time to take the bar exam. You will have to pass the exam for every state you plan on practicing within. Don’t forget that a commercial attorney’s work will often cross state lines. And if the other side has hired top Gullands solicitors you might even need to be versed in international law. You’ll study for at least a few months before successfully passing the bar, so get a nice head start if you can. And once you are licensed you can then begin searching for your first position as a commercial attorney.