How to Get a University Law Degree
If you are ambitious and want to pursue a career in prominent fields such as politics and business, getting a university law degree is a good initial step towards achieving those goals. Getting a law school degree usually takes three years or six full semesters of coursework. To be admitted to a law school, you need to finish a four year bachelor's degree from any reputable school. Law schools usually look for graduates who have excellent academic credentials and exceptional writing and critical thinking skills.
Law schools do not look for a specific major in accepting applicants. This means that graduates from fields such as engineering, zoology, physics, as well as liberal arts fields such as political science can get law school degrees. Law school admissions committees usually select applicants based on their undergraduate GPA and their LSAT (Law School Admission Test) scores. Many law schools combine an applicant's GPA and LSAT score into an index score that is used for comparison with other applicants' scores. Prestigious law schools often have high standards regarding GPA and LSAT scores. Upon graduation, US law schools confer a professional degree such as the Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Doctor of Law. (1) The Bachelor of Laws or the Bachelor in Civil Law degree is conferred in Canadian law schools such as the University of Toronto. (2) Graduates of law school degree programs are then required to pass the state or provincial bar examination to become a practicing lawyer.(3) In the US, law school degree graduates usually take the comprehensive Multistate Bar Examination.
If you plan to enter law school, taking liberal arts courses like writing and journalism is advisable because they help you develop your writing and communication skills. Degrees for law school require exceptional writing and critical thinking skills. In selecting an undergraduate school, choose one that offers a wide range of courses to help you broaden your academic horizons. This will help prepare you for the academic challenges of law school. You can also consider entering a law school that has an accelerated program or part time programs if you don't want to pursue full time law studies. Nottingham Law School in the UK has a "distance learning" law degree program that allows for greater academic flexibility. (4) In the US, Drexel University has an accelerated law degree program that allows students to earn both a bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor degree at the same time.(5)
Literary Citations & Article References:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Toronto
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school
(5) http://www.drexel.edu/em/undergrad/academic-programs/accelerated-degrees/default.aspx