how to be a corporate attorney

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. One of the first steps to becoming a corporate attorney is to earn your bachelor's degree in a related discipline, which can include business, finance, ...
2. Complete an internship. Explore your internship opportunities at local law firms, government offices or legal clinics. ...
3. Apply for law school. The next step in becoming a corporate lawyer is to apply for attendance at an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
4. Earn your juris doctor degree. Law school prepares you to earn your juris doctor (J.D.) degree, the degree you must hold to become an attorney.
Pass the bar exam. Even if you do well in law school, you'll still need to pass the American Bar Association's (ABA) bar exam.
Get licensure in your state. Upon passing the bar exam, you can apply for licensing in your state. ...
Meet with professionals in the field. When searching for a position as a corporate lawyer, you may find more success if you've taken the time to connect with current ...
Develop your resume. A strong resume can convince a hiring manager that you're the best candidate for the open position, or at least that they should interview with you ...

Full Answer

How to become a proficient corporate lawyer?

Part 1 Part 1 of 3: Getting Qualified Download Article

1. Understand what a corporate lawyer does. Corporate lawyers serve only one client - the corporation they work for.
2. Get an undergraduate degree. Becoming a lawyer is a long process involving many years of study and training.
3. Gain some experience while you study. ...
4. Take the law school admission test. ...
5. Go to law school. ...
6. Take the most relevant courses. ...

More items...

What are the Good Things of being a corporate lawyer?

• Restructuring companies by selling shares and assets
• Listing companies on the stock exchange
• Merging a company with another business (mergers and acquisitions)

What should I major in to be a corporate lawyer?

• Accounting
• Business law
• Economics
• Business management
• Finance
• Ethics in business

How do you become a corporate lawyer?

Take a specialist course in corporate law.

• The Masters of Laws (LLM) degree is a qualification that you can complete after you have your JD.
• It is an advanced law qualification that is recognised globally, and enables you to focus in more on specific areas on law.
• It is generally a one year, full-time academic course. ...

More items...

What exactly does a corporate lawyer do?

Corporate lawyers structure transactions, draft documents, negotiate deals, attend meetings and make calls toward those ends. A corporate lawyer works to ensure that the provisions of an agreement are clear, unambiguous and won't cause problems for their client in the future.

What skills do corporate lawyers need?

Corporate lawyers should have excellent writing, communication, and negotiating skills because these skills are relied upon so heavily in day-to-day corporate law work.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

Is corporate law difficult?

You have to study for many years, so be prepared for hard work and sacrifice. You will need to get qualified, gain experience, and then continue your professional development and study for your specialism in corporate law. Corporate Law is a comparatively new field and the growth and career options are ample.

How to become a corporate lawyer?

To be a corporate lawyer, begin by joining a debating society or running for student government to develop your skills in public speaking and communication. Also, consider writing for a student newspaper, because corporate lawyers need to be able to write clearly and well.

What does a corporate lawyer do?

As a corporate lawyer, you will be called upon to handle a variety of legal tasks including corporate taxes, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structure issues, employment law, and government reporting.

How to make contact with corporate law?

Prepare to make contact. When you have found people to call or email, prepare a short overview of yourself and your reasons for calling. Explain that you are not looking for a job interview and that you are simply looking to discuss the corporate law field. Let the person know how you got their information and ask if they have time to meet.

How to prepare for a law school interview?

Ask the career services office at your law school about these opportunities. You will usually start interviewing during your second year of law school for summer internships and summer associate jobs. To prepare, ask career services about the employers coming in. Do some initial research on the employers and put together an application package. Often , your application package will include your resume, a cover letter, references, and your transcripts. One you have put together your application package, make sure you submit it to the employers on time. If you are chosen for an interview, the employer will usually set up a time to meet with you on campus.

What is an LLM?

The Masters of Laws (LLM) degree is a qualification that you can complete after you have your JD.

What to do in law school during summer?

Consider a part-time job at a local firm to help support you while you study, most law schools already offer this opportunity during the summer, as this will give you the experience of working in law.

Is law school competitive?

The law school application process is very competitive, so don’t only apply for your first choice.

How long does it take to become a corporate lawyer?

Becoming a corporate lawyer requires approximately seven years of schooling and passing multiple exams. Here's a closer look at some steps to become a corporate lawyer: 1. Earn a bachelor's degree. Earning a bachelor's degree is the first step in becoming a corporate lawyer. There isn't a specific major for you to select.

What is the difference between a commercial lawyer and a corporate lawyer?

However, commercial law relates more towards business in general, whereas corporate law relates to the specific actions of certain companies. A commercial lawyer may provide guidance related to specific guidelines and regulations for the sale and distribution of goods. A corporate lawyer may assist with the formation of new businesses, mergers and similar tasks.

What is an LLM degree?

Consider earning your Masters of Law (LLM) degree, which is an advanced qualification that allows you to specialize in one area of the law. LLM programs are often full time and require one year to complete. A corporate lawyer LLM degree program may include coursework related to areas like contracts and commercial law and corporate and securities law.

How much does a commercial lawyer make?

However, the national average base salary for a corporate lawyer is $130,857 per year, and the national average base salary for a commercial lawyer is $142,025 per year.

What is a commercial lawyer?

A commercial lawyer may provide guidance related to specific guidelines and regulations for the sale and distribution of goods. A corporate lawyer may assist with the formation of new businesses, mergers and similar tasks. Also, salaries for corporate and commercial lawyers may vary. Factors like experience, location and payment method may affect ...

What is corporate law?

Corporate law is a diverse legal sector that affects both the legal and business industries. Working as a corporate lawyer can be an exciting career path for those interested in both industries. However, becoming a lawyer involves many years of schooling and hard work. In this article, we discuss what a corporate lawyer is and how to become a corporate lawyer.

How many questions are asked in the bar exam?

The requirements for the bar exam will vary for each state, but many states accept the Multistate Bar Examination. The exam is a 200-question standardized test with multiple choice and essay questions related to multiple areas of law, regardless of your desired specialty. The bar exam includes questions related to:

What is corporate attorney?

Corporate attorneys provide legal representation for companies, guiding them through legal regulations. Their job is to make sure business procedures adhere to local and federal law.#N#As a corporate attorney, you might work for different clients at a law firm or be directly employed by the corporation that uses your services. In any case, your job will be to prepare and manage legal documents, negotiate deals, give legal advice to management, and assess business opportunities from a legal aspect.#N#You will need a law degree to be considered for this position and probably experience working in a corporate setting, as well. You will need your communication and negotiation skills to be in shipshape, and an aptitude in analytical reasoning must come with the trade.

What are the best states to become a corporate attorney?

The best states for people in this position are Alaska, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington. Corporate attorneys make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $152,158. Whereas in New York and Massachusetts, they would average $150,404 and $144,452, respectively. While corporate attorneys would only make an average of $137,998 in Washington, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

How much do corporate attorneys make?

Corporate Attorneys in America make an average salary of $125,482 per year or $60 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $239,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $65,000 per year.

What does a corporate lawyer do?

A corporate attorney, or company lawyer, works on various legal issues related to corporate business practices. They often handle business, legal and financial functions for their client. For instance, a corporate lawyer might be in charge of corporate taxes or appraise and oversee mergers and acquisitions.

Corporate lawyer vs. commercial lawyer

While corporate lawyers and commercial lawyers handle cases related to business law, there is a difference in their areas of focus.

How to become a corporate lawyer

If you want to become a corporate lawyer, consider following these nine steps:

How long does it take to become a corporate lawyer?

It often takes several years and a lot of hard work to become a corporate lawyer. You can complete the five-year integrated B.A. LL.B or the three-year LL.B degree and then pass the bar exam to start practicing. As you gain work experience and insight in the legal field, you can study further for the one-year LL.M degree.

What qualifications do you need to become a corporate lawyer?

To become a corporate lawyer, you can pursue a five-year BA LL.B course after your 10+2. You can also gain a graduate degree in any discipline and then do an LL.B. degree. You can then specialise in corporate law or study further for a master's degree in corporate law.

Is corporate law a good career?

Corporate law is a good career as it offers many options in nearly every industry and a strong salary. As a corporate lawyer, you can work for the government or various business verticals, like retail, marketing, travel, hospitality, insurance, or technology industries.

Are corporate lawyers in demand?

The demand for corporate lawyers is rising, and it's likely to increase in the future as individuals, companies and governments seek expert legal advice and guidance on various elements of national and international business. With globalisation and an increase in outbound investments, international business transactions have gone up exponentially.

Why do companies need corporate lawyers?

It is essential for organisations to hire corporate lawyers so that they can diffuse any controversial situation that the company might land into. Candidates being recruited as Corporate Lawyers at such organisations will have to surrender their license. The job roles offered to law graduates in the employment sector are explained below.

What is corporate law?

Candidates who complete their degree in law with a specialisation in Corporate Law and go on to build a professional career in the same field are known as Corporate Lawyers . As corporate lawyers, the overall job of candidates is to ensure and check the legality of all commercial transactions of the company or organisation for which they work. Corporate Lawyers also have to advise their corporations regarding their duties and legal rights and this is inclusive of the responsibilities and duties of the corporate officers of that organisation. The role of a corporate lawyer affects the whole organisation at large and they represent their corporations on the legal front. It comes upon the Corporate Lawyer to resolve any controversy that is faced by the company and offer legal solutions for the same. Corporate Lawyers also have an important role to play in internal investigations in which they have to look over the attorney-client privilege so that they can be considered to shelter any potential wrong doing by the company.

What is a legal manager?

A legal manager, or the designated Corporate Lawyer, of a company, is completed responsibly for all the legal matters of the organisation. He/ she has to be an expert in commercial law and has to ensure that the transactions made by the company comply with the laws and regulations of corporate.

What is an associate in law?

Associate. An associate of a law firm can be a junior or a senior attorney. Associates are viewed as the employees of the partners and are usually freshers who have just stepped into the professional venture of Corporate Law. An associate has to carry out the day-to-day legal work for their clients as directed by the partners.

What is the difference between a senior associate and an associate?

The post of a senior associate is one step ahead than that of an associate. After an associate has worked at a law firm for a specific number of years and performed all his/ her duties well, he/ she is promoted to the level of a senior associate. The responsibilities of a senior associate are more complex than those of associates. They deal with bigger issues of their clients and have a team working under them. Senior Associates at law firms may or may not be supervised by the partner.

What is a partner in a law firm?

The partner of a law firm is responsible for running the daily administrative services of the firm. Partners directly supervise the legal and technical support teams of the law firm. They also have the responsibility of coordinating the new cases that are assigned to the firm.

What is the role of an associate in a firm?

An associate is expected to manage his/ her own time and workload so as to progress matters and bill the required time.

What do corporate lawyers need to do?

To structure a business transaction legally, a corporate lawyer may need to research aspects of contract law, tax law, accounting, securities law, bankruptcy, intellectual property rights, licensing, zoning laws, and other regulations relating to a specific area of business. The lawyer must ensure that a transaction does not conflict with local, ...

Why did one corporate lawyer like this side of the law?

One corporate lawyer remarked that she liked this side of the law precisely because the transactions take place among peers: There is no wronged party, no underdog, and usually no inequity in the financial means of the participants.

What is senior associate?

Senior associates are the primary client contact, and run deals and closings by themselves. They have increased responsibility and are trying to develop a reputation in their specialty. Often they supervise the training of new associates. At the five-year mark associates decide if they want to be on a partner track. Those who do put in very long hours before their review (which usually takes place around seven years). Others leave for a related position in business or become an in-house counsel at a corporation.

How does a new associate work?

New associates spend their days reviewing documents and doing legal research. They gather information on statutes that affect their clients’ transaction to insure that it can be done legally and keep track of the paperwork needed for the closing. The work is hard. Expect to put in long hours and work weekends.

What is the most important trait a lawyer can have?

As one person observed, “The most important trait a lawyer can have is a leather-ass. You’ve got to be able to put your butt in a chair and do the work.”. The upside to this profession is the compensation is good and you usually work with smart people.

How competitive is law school?

Law school admission is extremely competitive-the top twenty-five schools have an admission rate of about 10%. You can get tracked early: The kind of school you attend affects what kind of summer job opportunities you may have, which in turn affects the kind of permanent job you secure.

Is corporate law cushy?

The practice of corporate law is less cushy now; the days of the endless expense account are gone. The state of the economy always shapes the nature of corporate law; changes in the interest rates, the tax code, and other regulations affect the kind of transactions being done and how they are structured.