Career Information and Job Description for Business Lawyers
Job Descriptions September 23, 2015Lawyers are those that assist people to resolve their legal issues. They are required to administer research, compose legal documents, deal with settlement terms or argue the case of their client before a court. Meanwhile, a business lawyer is the one who concentrates on his or her legal practice on disputes that influence or have a great impact to business like intellectual property, different forms of business transactions and taxation.
In addition, nearly all lawyers work on a full-time basis in offices. There are times when they are required to work for longer hours particularly when preparing for a specific case. In truth, the education path to becoming a lawyer is quite long; however, the potential income for this field is expected to be high. Usually, people who work for private companies particularly in the business world obtain more income as compared to their counterparts.
Career Information for Business Lawyers
•For the degree level: Juris Doctor
•For the degree field: Law
•Certification or Licensure: Passing the State Bar Examination is required in all States (lawyers must be licensed)
•Required skills: research and writing skills, analytical reasoning, critical thinking and negotiation skills
•Salary as of the year 2014: the median yearly salary for lawyers is about $114,970
Overview of How to Become a Business Lawyer
•Students are required to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, there is really no specific major that individuals aspiring to become lawyers must take. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics asserts that law students may obtain bachelor’s degree in history, government, economics and the likes. It matters to ponder on finishing a bachelor’s degree program, which is related to business administration or business in order to have deeper understanding of the fundamentals of business operations.
•Take the Law School Admission Test. Applicants are required to take the LSAT exam and hand in their test scores together with their applications. This examination can be taken during the third year of undergraduate study. This type of exam tests the applicant’s analytical reasoning and logical thinking skills.
•Graduate from Law School. Typically, law school requires a total of 3-year full-time study. Graduates are then awarded with a Juris Doctor at the end of 3 years. On the first year, law students accomplish classes in fundamental law subjects like civil, torts, contracts and property laws. On the second and third year, law students must finish elective classes and may also partake in judicial internships.
•There are a few law schools that offer law students the ability to obtain certificates and focus their studies on a field such as business law. Obtaining certificates and finishing such a concentration entails taking more courses that are related to business like business organizations, securities regulation and corporate finance.
•Indeed, there are also schools that offer Master of Law and Joint JD in business law programs. Such programs generally entails additional semester of study, but this awards students both degrees at the time of graduation.
•Pass the Bar Exam. Each state requires lawyers to pass an examination and be granted to its bar association so they can practice law.
•Earn an LLM. These are programs that are especially designed for licensed lawyers and offer extensive instruction in the field. Secured transactions, business torts, copyright law and business tax issues are some of the classes covered here. Essentially, advanced education can make you more in demand.
