What degree do you need to be a defense attorney? To become a defense attorney, you must earn a bachelor's degree in any field, although specializations such as political science or criminal justice are common. Subsequently, you must obtain the degree of Doctor of Law (J, D.) One of the best ways to check if a specific specialty fits your interests and abilities is to enroll in a college summer class before you finish high school. For example, if you think you want to specialize in banking or financial law, try an introductory economics class to see if you like it. By studying history, you can understand how certain laws and regulations developed.
You can also learn about historical cases that have set precedents for future cases. Many future law school applicants may be attracted to political science as undergraduate students because of the close relationship between politics and legislation. Needless to say, knowing how government and judicial systems work is crucial for lawyers. While the relationship between being a lawyer and English may not be as obvious as in other specialties, the law requires a strong emphasis on reading and writing. This area of study will help you refine your grammar, critical thinking, and general communication skills.
You'll also develop a sophisticated understanding of culture and society. For example, the Harvard Summer School course, The Culture of Capitalism, analyzes capitalism in the context of literature, theater, and film. Studying philosophy will encourage you to exercise your logic and reasoning muscles, skills important for lawyers who must support their interpretation of facts or material by citing evidence. A class such as Introduction to Political Philosophy covers the purpose of democracy and how to defend it. Kenneth Suhariono and Nathan Wongkar, who met on campus during the course “Emerging Markets in Europe and Asia”, worked with Professor Bruno Sergi to publish an economic research article.
At the end of all that coursework, the big prize is your Doctorate in Jurisprudence (JD). After law school, some students pursue advanced studies, such as the Master of Laws (LLM) or the Doctorate in Legal Sciences (JSD or SJD), but those people generally plan to do academic research or teach law. For most students who want to pursue criminal law, JD is what they need to practice after passing the bar exam, of course. Criminal law then focuses on what conduct should be punished and on setting the appropriate punishment for those misdeeds.
In the next section, we'll explore the academic specialties that can best prepare you for these demanding tasks. Last but not least, the work of a criminal lawyer is based on the intoxicating responsibility of cases with potentially life-changing ramifications, while fighting for justice to be done on behalf of their client. They also provide their clients with a realistic evaluation of their case and legal advice on how to navigate the criminal justice system. The defense attorney's role is to challenge evidence from the prosecution, defend the innocence of his client and negotiate agreements with the prosecution.
You'll complete a combination of required and elective courses, many of which will expose you to the practice and details of criminal law. There's no bad choice, as long as it prepares you for the rigorous study of the law and helps you develop the skills needed to be a successful criminal defense attorney. From the LSAT to the bar exam, from the first criminal law class to the day you earn your diploma, becoming a criminal lawyer requires a great deal of time and effort. But wherever they end up, criminal attorneys invariably have a significant impact on clients and the society they serve.
As you think about the best major for law school, remember that it's OK to select an area of study that you like. All that said, even if you're seriously considering criminal law, it's best to keep your mind and options open in law school, says Professor Hansen. The path to becoming a criminal defense attorney, for example, requires a specific set of skills, academic qualifications, and personal attributes. To better understand the practice of criminal law in the real world, students should take advantage of internships, summer programs, and experimental courses in the law school.
