Becoming a Contract Law Attorney: A Guide
Becoming a contract law attorney has its pros and cons. Click here to learn everything you need to know about getting started in this field.
From what is seen on TV or heard in conversation, most people assume lawyers are people who love to argue. Being a lawyer is often associated with going head to head against others in courtrooms, or dealing with tough negotiations outside of court.
However, being a lawyer isn’t always about getting into arguments after something goes wrong. Sometimes, the work of lawyers establishes clear rules and regulations to make agreements that keep negative situations from happening.
Such is the work of a contract law attorney. Contract attorneys write, edit, and finalize contracts for business purposes. They mediate the wants and needs of two parties in order to come to an agreement, then .
The work is interesting and rewarding. But, there are a few steps to take in order to enter this pocket of law. Here are the basics of becoming a lawyer, deeply explained for the contract law attorney track.
Going to Law School
First things first, to be a contract law attorney, you have to go to law school.
This path begins in undergraduate studies. After all, there’s a slim chance of getting into a good post-graduate law program if you weren’t involved or got bad grades when completing a bachelor’s degree.
Yet, there are a few more things to keep in mind when it comes to law school.
Sending in Applications and Committing
If you want to go right into law school – without taking a gap year or semester off – you need to make preparations early on. Start studying for the LSAT in the time between your sophomore and junior year of college.
This gives you plenty of time to take the LSAT exam and get applications in for your preferred round of entry. In fact, getting a head start on studying means you can take the LSAT a few times if you want to. It sounds like a lot of work at first, but it gives you the best chances to get a high score.
Keep in mind, scores matter for applications as well as scholarships and financial support. These play a big role in getting into your top choices for law school, then deciding which of those is the one you want to commit to.
Budgeting Your Money and Your Time
Once you’re in law school, get ready for quite the journey.
Your lesson plans are going to pile up almost as fast as your expenses and the library is about to become your best friend. But, you should make a few friends in your classes and take a little time to socialize, too.
The best way to manage all these priorities is to budget and plan. Set aside time for studies and time for play. Make sure you have enough money to support your coffee needs and outing pleasures.
Also, prepare for surprises; law school isn’t always what you expect it to be.
Trying Your Hand at Law
The first year of law school gives you a chance to get your bearings. This is the time to study harder than you ever did for undergraduate courses, and more frequently, too.
After you get the basics down, it’s time to get a real-life feel for practicing law as a contract law attorney. Here are some ways you can do that.
The Student Bar Association
Every lawyer has to follow the rules of the American Bar Association.
This group establishes the standards and best practices of all kinds of law. It applies to contract law as well as immigration law, criminal defense law, and real estate law – which are practices you can click for more info about.
During law school, students can join the Student Bar Association. Similar to the way active, professional lawyers manage and support the ABA, students do so with the SBA. Such involvement gives soon-to-be lawyers an up-close look at what it means to follow best practices and to enforce them.
Internship Opportunities
Like many other degrees, one of the best ways for a future contract law attorney to get experience is to get an internship. This is the first in the door for most lawyers.
An internship provides young lawyers with a feel for what real life, day to day operations look like. It’s a time to learn from an established contract law attorney who knows the ins and outs of a good contract. Such a veteran lawyer has seen the good the bad and the ugly of law, and can pass a few pointers regarding each to their intern.
Not to mention, most offices have more than one intern. This provides new lawyers with the opportunity to find community and support in their learning process. It’s a resource that helps get many people through their final stretch of law school, as well as a comfort to have in the early years of being a contract law attorney.
Finding a Job as a Contract Law Attorney
Speaking of entering the workforce as an official contract law attorney, keep in mind this isn’t just about passing the Bar Exam. To get the best position – where you can build your talents and create some work/life balance – you need to put some real effort into the job hunt.
The following three things help you do just that and find your ideal role.
Writing Your Resume
The first thing you should always do when looking for a job is to make sure your resume is ready to go. This goes for the contract law attorney job you get right out of law school, as well as roles you may want to transition to in the future.
Take the time to research professional resume writing and get it right. Ask for feedback from professionals you know well and respect.
If anything, you can find a resume writing service and pay to have this done.
Searching and Applying
Once your resume is ready to go, it’s time to start searching.
Some people look for opportunities in the area where they went to law school. They talk to their old professors and reach out to offices they interned with, too. Others take the transition from law school into the job hunt as a chance to relocate.
Either way, make sure you do a thorough search. Also, don’t pass up any chance to apply. Even if a certain opportunity doesn’t seem too exciting, it may turn out to be just what you’re looking for.
Interviews and Offers
Job descriptions and applications serve as an introduction. The description gives you an idea of the firm you may potentially work for, and your application is the first impression you give them.
That’s why interviews are so important. They are a chance to see if you really are the best fit for a company and if a business is a place you feel welcomed and challenged, too.
You may even end up with a few different offers during this process. Take your time weighing the pros and cons of each one before making your decision.
Establishing Your Own Firm
There’s one more step to becoming a successful law contract attorney: opening your own firm. Starting a business isn’t the ideal route for everyone. But, for some lawyers, it’s the ultimate dream come true.
Much goes into this process beyond negotiations and agreements, though. To get a closer look at what it means to start your own business, .
