How to Become a Lawyer

Career Description: * Criminal lawyers have the same basic duties as other lawyers. * First, they advise their clients of their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as any potential problems. * Second, they represent their clients before the courts. Third, they research rules, regulations, and previous cases. * Finally, they prepare legal documents. In each case, lawyers interpret the law and apply it to specific situations. In the courtroom, criminal lawyers act on one of two “sides:” the defence or the prosecution. * Defence attorneys represent people who have been charged with criminal offences (for example, murder or theft) by making a case that supports their clients’ innocence. * On the other hand, prosecuting attorneys—usually called Crown attorneys or Crown counsel—act for the government on behalf of the public. They form cases against defendants by convincing juries to view the facts as evidence of guilt. * Both prosecuting and defence attorneys are responsible for preparing their cases before and during the trial.

Education & Training:
To become a lawyer, you must attend law school and complete a law degree. Before applying to law school, you must complete at least 2 years of undergraduate studies at university (except in Quebec, where you can get into law school straight from a CEGEP). However, because the admission process is extremely competitive, most applicants have at least a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degrees usually take 4 years to complete.
To get into law school you need very good marks. You almost always need to write an aptitude test called the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) as well.
After graduating from law school, you still need to work for approximately 1 year as an articling student, under the direction of licensed lawyers (fortunately, you usually get paid for this part) before you can become a licensed lawyer. Then you have to successfully complete the bar admission program, including classes and exams, which several weeks to several months to finish.

Criminal
Lawyer

Related College & University Programs
Professional Law - Canadian Common Law
Professional Law - Quebec Civil Law
Advanced Legal Research Studies, General
History, General
Humanities
Philosophy
English Language and Literature
Political Science
Other Suggested Qualifications If you are considering a career in law, you need to be a good student with strong analytical skills. You should have good people skills and work well under pressure. It’s essential that you are a logical thinker who enjoys arguments and complex ideas. You also have to be willing to work hard.
It is a good idea to read books, magazines, and newspapers that relate to the field you are considering. Any kind of presentation experience (for example, debating), or involvement in politics or community events is helpful too.
Grade 12 Courses Required: English
Communications & Media Studies
Mathematics
Economics / Politics
History / Philosophy / World Issues
Law
Business & Management
French |

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LEVEL 3 | Senior Lawyer / Partner | EARNINGS | $75,000 to $200,000 a year or more | REQUIREMENTS | • 5 to 6 years of experience as a junior lawyer | RESPONSIBILITIES | Doing legal writing; preparing legal documents; representing clients or government before the courts in larger matters; preparing written and oral arguments for appeals. |
Earnings
Criminal lawyers work for law firms (which can range in size from just a few lawyers to several hundred), for the government as prosecutors, or for themselves as solo practitioners. After completing law school, lawyers must work for a year as an articling student before they can write the bar exams. Most articling students receive a salary for their work. Their earnings range from about $25,000 to $70,000 a year, depending on the employer. Most lawyers earn between $50,000 and $165,000 a year, and their national average income is somewhere between $85,000 and $125,000 a year. Where an individual criminal lawyer lies within this range depends on a number of factors.
Check out this website for more info on employment: http://www.rubinthomlinson.com/?gclid=CNTs7Z-9mrMCFUZgMgodvUIAuQ Sample Career Paths: LEVEL 1 | Articling Student | EARNINGS | $25,000 to $70,000 a year | REQUIREMENTS | • Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB/BCL) | RESPONSIBILITIES | Doing legal research and writing; assisting senior lawyers; having some contact with clients; having limited representation of clients or the government before the courts in small matters. | | | LEVEL 2 | Junior Lawyer | EARNINGS | $50,000 to $150,000 a year | REQUIREMENTS | • Approximately 1 year of experience as an articling student
• Successful completion of the bar admission program | RESPONSIBILITIES | Doing legal research and writing; preparing legal documents; representing clients or government before the courts in small to medium-sized matters. | |