Law Lawyers Legal Years Work Government Agencies Individuals

Lawyers typically "advise" (give advice to) and "represent" (speak for) clients in courts, at government agencies, or in private legal matters. They also "interpret" (help others understand) laws, "rulings" (official court decisions), and "regulations" (rules; laws) for individuals and businesses.

Most lawyers work mainly in offices. However, some travel to attend meetings with "clients" (customers) at various locations, such as homes, hospitals, or "prisons" (where the police place people suspected or convicted of crimes). Some lawyers gather "evidence" (things showing someone's guilt of innocence); others appear in court.

Becoming a lawyer usually takes seven years of full-time study after high school. This includes four years of "undergraduate study" (first four years of college) followed by three years of law school. Most states require future lawyers to complete a juris doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school "accredited by" (given official permission by) the American Bar Association (ABA), which is the national organization that gives individuals permission to work as lawyers.

Law students often gain "practical" (work; hands-on) experience by participating in school-sponsored "legal clinics" (where people can go for free or low-cost legal advice),, in practice "trials" (the arguing of a case in court) under the supervision of experienced lawyers and judges, and through research and writing on legal issues for a school's law "journals" (academic or school publication).

Part-time or summer jobs in law "firms" (companies), government agencies, and "corporate" (a large company's) legal departments also provide valuable experience. These experiences can help law students decide what kind of legal work they want to focus on in their careers. These experiences may also lead directly to a job after "graduation" (completion of a degree).

Becoming licensed as a lawyer is called being "admitted to the bar" and licensing exams are called "bar exams." To practice law in any state, a person must be admitted to its bar under rules established by that state. The requirements vary from state to state.