Being the diverse field that it is, there are specific requirements when it comes to narrowing down to your field of specialization. Corporate law is one of the many, and there are specific qualifications for a corporate lawyer. See what they are…
Taking up law as a profession is like taking a dip in a very vast ocean. It’s a very good field to be in, but there is a lot to pick from, and unless you know exactly what it is that you want, you could be left confused. The decision regarding what part of law you want to be dealing with should come into play right in the beginning, when you choose to get into this line in the first place.
When it comes to work, that of a corporate lawyer works both ways. He has the option of working at a law firm, or appearing in the courtroom. It is for him to decide what it is that he would like to do. Very evidently, none of this comes easy. There are education requirements that are essential to make it to this spot, so take a look at the qualifications along with a quick look at the corporate lawyer job description and salary.
Education
Joining the league of such high profile jobs always means high levels of education too. The requirements to become a lawyer are no different. A lot of education from some of the best law schools is the way to set foot into corporate law. Take a more detailed look at the way to get there.
Your first step to becoming a corporate lawyer is by spending a few years studying your undergraduate studies, and getting a bachelor’s degree. While it doesn’t matter what area you have a bachelor’s degree in, it most certainly wouldn’t hurt to have an undergrad degree in pre-law studies, or anything that is closely related. On a different note though, if you have always planned and prepared for a career as a corporate lawyer, you could take up a course that’s actually built to act as a base to getting into corporate law. Even having a background in courses such as government or politics, foreign languages, economics, philosophy, and anything on similar lines help to a certain extent when looking to make it through the field of law.
Once the graduation part is done, the next step moves on to taking the LSAT, or the Law School Admission Test. This step is extremely crucial in order to make it through to law school. The LSAT scores definitely play a large role in the acceptance part of it for any law school, but every now and again there could be moments when the applicant may be judged on the basis of undergrad scores, former work experience, or even a personal interview if need be.
Following the completion of the LSAT, the next step is that of choosing a law school. It is of extreme importance that the law school selected is one that is accredited by the American Bar Association. In order to make it through the LSAT with ease, a student can also enroll for the various courses available that help prepare for the test.
Clearing the test with a good score is the cue to getting into the law school of your choice. Once you get in, it would mean lasting through three years of school. This is because the initial year or two involve getting accustomed to the various aspects of law. It also deals with aspects such as getting familiar with research and mock trials. The next year or so is about specializing in the field of your interest. This is also when you take on internships and all other necessary electives.
On completion of the 3 years in law school, the student receives the degree of juris doctor. Receiving the juris doctor also means the student now has to appear for an exam by the American Bar Association in order to procure a license that permits practicing. For those keen (always recommended), it is also a good idea to keep up with the education at a later stage too.
Other Aspects: Job Profile & Salary
Apart from knowledge regarding the education requirements, there is also a need for that of job description and corporate lawyer salary. With regards to job description, or job profile, a corporate lawyer could either be appearing in court for clients, or he could spend time working on paperwork and documentation at the firm he works at.
A majority of corporate lawyers choose to work at large firms, especially if they are interested in specific fields of work. Rather evidently, their main profile includes taking care of the legalities of any business of their clients. Occasionally, they also serve as either in-house lawyers, and sometimes as outside counsels. This is entirely dependent on the individual.
Regarding the salary, the average annual salary of a corporate lawyer is fairly good. It goes without saying that the key deciding factors for a good pay are education, experience, and employer. The better educated, and the better the school you graduated from, the better your chances of getting hired at a great firm, one that has great paying potential too. It is always essential to know how a firm pays, before accepting a job offer from any place. Needless to say, experience always counts too. The longer your years of experience behind you, the higher the opportunities of a respectable salary. In general, the scale could range as much as $45,000 to $170,000 or even more. The aforesaid factors decide it all.
I hope this information has helped with questions regarding the qualification, job profile, and salary, and that you find yourself a job at your dream firm soon.