Working as a corporate lawyer can be a very rewarding and lucrative career option. You have to read for many years, so be preparing yourself 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 commercial law.
What a corporate lawyer does?
Corporate lawyers serve up only one client – the corporation they work for. As a corporate lawyer, you will be called upon to handle a variety of legal works including corporate taxes, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structure issues, employment law, and government reporting. Corporate lawyers will generally need to be knowledgeable in a wide range of legal fields and will need to be able to handle a large number of problems. Some organizations hire multiple lawyers, and each will be a specialist in one or two areas of corporate law.
Get an undergraduate degree
Becoming a successful lawyer is a long process involving many years of study and training. Before you join law school you will need to complete an undergraduate degree. There is no fixed subject you are required to study in college, but you should consider the kinds of skills that lawyers need to possess when choosing your course.
- You will need better writing and comprehension skills.
- You will need to be able to critically analyze a problem and clearly articulate your position with adequate supporting evidence.
- You will need to be capable to read, research and process large amounts of information.
- Some courses to consider include history, economics, political science, philosophy, and English & management.
Gain some experience while you study
It’s a very good idea to think about your time studying as an opportunity to gain some useful experience as well as qualifications. Think about the chances to develop your skillsets in practice working in student government, debating societies, or writing for the student newspaper.
- Look for corporate internship possibilities with local law firms.
- Consider a part-time work at a local firm to help support you while you study, most law schools already offer this opportunity during the end of the semester, as this will give you the experience of working in law.
- A part-time job and internship can also enable you to develop some contacts in the industry.
Take the law school admission test
Before you near the end of your undergraduate studies, you need to be already thinking about the next steps. In most instances, you will need to take the Law School Admission Test (LAST) or CLAT well before you plan to actually go to law school. At the beginning of your last year of undergraduate studies, look for LSAT dates and locations local to you. The LSAT is a very.
The standardized test, which is administered four times a year at designated sites across the world includes India.
It is a half-day test which is an integral part of the law school admissions process in the US and Canada & India.
The test is designed to help admissions decisions by evaluating reading and verbal reasoning skills, which are particularly important for law school students.
Go to law school.
Once you have passed the Entrance examination, you can go and apply for law school. This can be a long and arduous process, so it’s important that you have some patience and are committed to your own career choice. Apply to study for LL.B degree at American Bar Association approved law schools.
• The law school admission process is very competitive, so don’t only apply for your first choice.
• In most instances, you will be required to apply through the Law School Admission Council’s online portal or CLAT website.
• You can create an account there and manage all the necessary documents and information very easily.
Take the most relevant courses.
In order to prepare your specialism in corporate law, you should take plenty of classes on business, taxation law, IPR as part of your LL.B. It’s much helpful to tailor your studies to those areas most relevant for a future career in corporate law at an early stage.
As well as business and taxation courses, look for contract law, finance, and corporate governance law other corporate laws;
Make contact with the teachers of those elements which most interest you, and ask them about focussing your studies for a career in corporate law.
Pass the bar exam (AIBE)
Once you have successfully completed your LL.B at law school, you still have to pass your local bar exam before you earn a license to practice law.
Discussion
Talk with other professionals in the legal field. After many years of reading, training, and testing, you are finally ready to begin practicing law. Finding a job can be very difficult in the extremely competitive world of law, so it’s important to develop contacts and present yourself in the best way possible. Talk to anyone who you interned for or know through your college professors, to get some insight and recommendations.
Take a specialist course in corporate law
Once you have, acquire some experience and are ready to progress on the path to becoming a successful corporate lawyer, you should consider extending your education. There are many advanced qualifications that go beyond the basic requirements to practice law but are very helpful in developing your specialism. If you have any position at a firm, they may support you to study for this extra qualification.
The Masters of Laws (LLM) degree is a qualification that you can complete after you have your LL.B.
It is an advanced law qualification that is recognized globally and enables you to focus in more on specific areas on commercial law.
It is generally a one year or six months, full-time academic course.
A corporation law LLM course will generally include working on corporate and securities law, contracts and commercial law, IPR and other areas.
Consider joining professional networks
As you are developing these skills SETS and qualifications, you should also be trying to develop your professional profile. Having a combination of good contacts, and good qualifications will give you the better chance to secure a career in corporate law.
Here you will get access to legal news, information, and professional events and networks. You will have many opportunities to meet fellow professionals and be involved in debates and discussions about the law.
Interview on campus while in school
Law colleges will often bring employers in to interview their students for open positions. Ask the career services office at your law school about these types of opportunities. You will usually start interviewing during your second year of law college for summer internships and summer associate jobs. To prepare, ask career services about the employers coming in your school. Do some initial research on the employers and put jointly an applications package. Often, your application’s package will include your CV, a cover letter, references, and your transcripts. Once you have put together your application package, make sure you submit it to the employers on the time. If you are chosen for an interview, the employer will usually set up a time to meet with you on college campus.
Conduct informational interviews.
Informational interviews provide a unique opportunity to talk with successful lawyers in the corporate arena. During an informational interview, you will have a conversation with a lawyer about their career experiences and about any advice they may have for you. To set up and complete an informational interview:
• Research the people to talk with. Call corporations and ask to speak with their legal cell. Email people in your network and ask if they have any contacts you may be able to utilize.
• Prepare to make your contact. When you have found people to call or email, prepare a short view of yourself and your reasons for calling him. Explain that you are not looking for a job interview and that you are simply looking to discuss the corporate law field with that person. Let the person know how you got their information and ask if they have time to meet you.
• Go to the informational interview anywhere. When the time comes to conduct your informational interview, dress as if it were a job interview and arrive as early as possible. Must be ready to conduct the interview and have a series of questions ready to go.
o You may want to ask about how they got their start in the corporate field, how they moved their way up, and how they would recommend you go about looking for a position in that firm.
• Follow up. When your informational interview is over, be sure you follow up with the person you spoke with the interview. Thank them for their valuable time and let them know you are appreciative. Stay connected with these people and give them updates every once and a while.
Apply for jobs you find online.
The internet is a great thing for finding jobs. However, unlike some of the other methods, the jobs you find online are often going to be incredibly competitive because of the large volume of responses these employers receive. While you should apply for jobs online, do not stop trying other methods as well.
• In order to apply for jobs online, look at employer websites and more general other job sites. When you find an open position, submit an application in the form and proper manner requested. Also, Some employers want a resume and cover letter. Other employers may want you to answer questionnaires about your experience and expertise in a particular field. Be sure that you read each job posting carefully so you know exactly what needs to be submitted.
Rent office space
If you are facing trouble finding a job, offer to rent office space from someone doing work you would like to get into. When you do this, ask if they would intend to pass your work when they become busy or when they have tasks they do not want to complete. You need to be willing to do any type of work, even if it is administrative menial and any others. Over time, the person you are renting space from maying chooses to hire you or may give you a good reference for another job in a corporate organization. This is the best way to get your foot in the door.
Offer your services for free
But, In a lot of circumstances, corporate lawyers will be happy to offer you work and experience, but they will not be willing or able to pay you for it. While this may be frustrating, offering your services for completely free can be a great way to gain experience and to build your professional network.
• If you find yourself not getting a lot of work offers, go back and offer your services for completely free. However, to be making sure you are giving yourself enough time to apply for paid positions as well.
