Degree Level | Juris Doctor (J.D.) |
Licensure | All states require lawyers to be licensed by passing a bar exam |
Experience | Employers may prefer to hire real estate attorneys with 2-5 years of experience |
Key Skills | Analytical, communication, problem-solving, research, speaking and writing skills |
Mean Salary (2014) | $133,470 (for all lawyers) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster.com job postings (September 2012).
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor’s Degree Program
Students who want to become real estate attorneys must normally first earn a bachelor ‘s degree. Most bachelor ‘s degree programs typically last four years, careless of the field of study. Law schools do not require that applicants complete a especial major. however, because much of real estate of the realm law practice can be related to business transactions, students may consider earning a bachelor ‘s degree in commercial enterprise or economics. alternatively, a pre-law degree program teaches students the analytic, oral and communication skills they need to enter police school .
Step 2: Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
police schools approved by the American Bar Association require that applicants to take the Law School Admissions Test ( LSAT ). This half-day examination measures an individual ‘s recitation and verbal argue skills. The LSAT is one of a count of factors law schools consider during the admissions summons.
Success Tip:
- Prepare for the LSAT. Because it is relevant to admission to law school, students may want to prepare for the LSAT by completing prep courses. These courses may help test takers become familiar with the directions for each section and the type of questions the exam contains.
Step 3: Earn a Juris Doctor Degree
A law degree can broadly be earned in three years of full-time sketch. Some jurisprudence schools offer part-time programs for working professionals, although these programs may take longer to complete.
The first year of law school typically consists of courses in law subjects that are considered fundamental to the profession. Examples of these include civil routine, legal spell and torts. The second and third gear years of study consist of elective classes, internships or clinical experiences. Examples of elective classes include administrative police, civil rights litigation and energy law.
Success Tips:
- Complete elective classes about real estate. Law schools may offer elective courses specifically designed to prepare students for practicing real estate law. These classes may cover topics like real estate transfers, environmental law and land use planning.
- Complete a clinical experience. Clinical experiences are often available in multiple legal fields, including real estate law. Completing a clinical focusing on real estate law can provide students with hands-on experience working in the practice.
- Consider concentrating in real estate law. Some law schools offer students the ability to concentrate their law school studies in real estate law. Students in these programs complete additional coursework in the field, such as in real estate transactions, tax and business organizations.
Step 4: Pass the Bar Exam
To work as an lawyer, most states require that individuals pass a browning automatic rifle examination. The format of these exams varies, and may consist of respective days of try and multiple-choice questions. Most states incorporate the 6-hour Multistate Bar Examination ( MBE ) and an ethical examination, known as the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam ( MPRE ), into the stripe examination. completion of a local prevention examination may besides be required. early normally administered exams include the Multistate Essay examination and the Multistate Performance Test, which gauges an entry-level lawyer ‘s hardheaded skills .
Step 5: Begin Working as a Lawyer
After passing the bar examination, lawyers can practice in any field of law. private jurisprudence firms may entirely focus on practicing real estate law or number it among the many fields of law in which they practice. many times, employers seek actual estate attorneys with 2-5 years of know .
Step 6: Earn a Certificate or LLM
In addition to J.D. degrees, law schools offer Master of Laws ( LLM ) in very Estate and certificates in veridical estate to practicing attorneys. Earning a graduate-level legal academic degree is n’t required, but it could lead to extra career opportunities. These programs normally consist of courses in commercial real estate, real estate in union tax law and real estate finance. elective course courses may cover topics like low-cost caparison, construction law, historic conservation police and veridical estate litigation. Some schools give students the chance to work in law firms that specialize in actual estate law .