It’s important that you do as well as you can. Most law students have at least a 3. 00 when they graduate. If you want to go to a top-ranked school, you’ll need to do even better—closer to a 3. 7 or higher. Your undergraduate GPA is one of the most important factors in law school admissions. In countries outside the U. S. , you may be able to earn a law degree as an undergraduate. However, if you want to practice as an M&A lawyer in the U. S. , you’ll probably need to get a master’s of law (LLM) or complete the juris doctor (JD) at a law school in the U. S.
The LSAT is offered four times a year, typically in September, December, February, and June. The exam is offered on Saturdays, but special Monday tests are available for those who observe a Saturday Sabbath. [4] X Trustworthy Source Law School Admission Council Nonprofit organization which supports law schools and students in the applications process and administers the LSAT Go to source The exam tests reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning. There is also an unscored writing sample. [5] X Trustworthy Source Law School Admission Council Nonprofit organization which supports law schools and students in the applications process and administers the LSAT Go to source You should certainly study. You could pay for a prep course, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Alternately, you can buy old exams online and take practice exams.
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) has a calculator you can use here: https://officialguide. lsac. org/release/ugpalsat/ugpalsat. aspx. Enter your LSAT and GPA. You will see your likelihood of getting into accredited law schools. Remember to apply to “safeties” as well as to “reaches. ” A reach is a dream school. Yale is a reach for someone with a 3. 4 GPA and a 160 LSAT. By contrast, safeties are schools where you should definitely get in based on your numbers.
National ranking. M&A lawyers tend to work for large or medium law firms, and these firms generally hire more people from higher-ranked law schools. [6] X Research source Accordingly, you should pay attention to a law school’s U. S. News & World Report ranking. Costs. Private law schools can charge $40,000 or more in tuition alone. You will need to pay for living expenses, fees, and books. Analyze the costs to attend a school and compare it to the likelihood that you’ll find a job. Job placement. Pay attention to the school’s general placement statistics for recent graduates. Even if you choose not to become an M&A attorney, you’ll still want a job after you graduate. Law schools vary greatly in their ability to place graduates in legal jobs. Curriculum. Most law schools offer the same courses. However, some have begun offering special tracks in mergers and acquisitions. You should check to see if the school has an M&A specialty.
You’ll need to send CAS copies of all academic transcripts—undergraduate and any post-graduate courses you’ve taken. People who write letters of recommendation will also send them to CAS. You will probably need at least two letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors. However, you’ll have to write a personal statement for each individual law school and submit it directly to the school. Applications can cost about $100. If you can’t afford that, ask for a waiver.
Civil Procedure Contracts Torts Criminal Law Constitutional Law Property Legal Writing or Legal Methods
Business Associations Federal Income Tax Securities Regulation Accounting for Lawyers Mergers and Acquisitions Antitrust Law
The exam is typically offered in March, August, and November. Sample test questions are available for free on the MPRE website. You may also purchase a practice test. The practice test comes with an answer key and explanations. [10] X Trustworthy Source National Conference of Bar Examiners Nonprofit organization responsible for the development of national and state bar examinations. Go to source
If you want to work in D. C. , then you can get a license from any state.
There are some red flags the character and fitness committee will take note of: criminal records, substance abuse or mental illness (if untreated), and financial irresponsibility. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Bar Association Leading professional organization of lawyers and law students Go to source If there’s an issue, the committee will call you in for an interview. You should consult with an attorney who specializes in professional responsibility beforehand. They can help you strategize for the meeting. The worst thing you can do is fail to disclose something. If the committee catches you lying, then you definitely won’t get a license. Accordingly, you should be upfront, even about embarrassing information.
Essays can cover the same topics as the MBE but also other ones. For example, it is common for states to ask essay questions about their rules of civil procedure. States might use essay questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, or they may create their own. It generally takes a few months before you find out whether you have been admitted to the bar.
Research firms to see that they have M&A practices. Not all firms do. Go on the firm’s website and check. Ideally, the M&A practice should be large. Firms with smaller M&A practices may only hire one new associate a year.
At the end of your summer, the firm will decide which associates to offer full-time employment to. If all goes according to plan, you will know which firm you will be working for before you start your 3L year.
Nevertheless, you can see if any openings become available during the school year or after you graduate. Medium-sized firms might realize that they need a new associate, so you can put together your application materials (resume, transcripts, writing sample). Your career center should have a job bank you can search. Meet with a career counselor to discuss your options.
Look on law firm websites, which should have a section devoted to job openings. Also network with M&A lawyers, who might know of job openings at medium-sized firms. You can meet M&A lawyers at bar association events. Make sure you have business cards to hand out. Ideally, you should be working in a transactional legal field already, such as real estate. It might be hard to lateral as a litigation associate.
