Is there a way around law school?
I want to run my own consulting business as far as providing information to clients regarding wills/trust, bankruptcy, divorce/child custody modifications etc. I want to be able to do more than a paralegal (as far as being able to give more advice and be a little more credible as far as the law field goes,) but less than a lawyer(kind of like what a physician assistant is to a Doctor), if possible I would like to avoid law school. Would a Masters degree in Paralegal studies be a good option for me. How about a masters in Pre-law? If so what are some good online schools to complete my graduate studies? Please give me some good advice, I have been trying to figure this out for sometime now and am still really confused.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
It’s illegal in most states to falsely hold yourself out as an attorney and/or unauthorized practice of law, which is the risk you run if you provide legal information of the kind you mention in your question.
If time/work schedule is an issue, how about an online law school, like Concord, or a part-time program at night? There are also some states that will allow you to take the bar without having attended law school, but they still usually require an apprenticeship at a law firm and self-study.
Otherwise, I believe you could still work on wills/trusts, bankruptcy, etc. for form-filling and other technical aspects (i.e. a paralegal’s work), but not give legal advice to clients.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
No, there’s no way around law school. The reason we have law school and Legal Practice Certificates is so that only people who are qualified to do so, can practice law. If not, then anyone can claim to be an attorney, and that would lead to chaos, and malpractice. So the best thing to do is not to bypass the system, but to go through the relevant graduate programmes (if you hold an undergraduate degree), and after that the relevant training and qualifying exams.
Good luck. Do it properly and you won’t need to lie about your credentials and you’ll be confident that you know what you’re doing.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
In some states you can sit for the Bar without having to attend Law School, but you’d have to check which ones. Additionally, you could become a Paralegal than hang out your shingle and do paper pushing for attornies that they’d rather not do anyway. Ever hear of We the People…check them out.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 am
The paralegal route is very good for a start. There are many questions you can provide and be cognizant of the ‘legal’ questions you can not answer. Each state has its requirements, so check in your specific state to learn how you can do what you want without attending law school. There have been individuals that took the bar exam without law school. They also passed the bar. Be honest in your endeavors, check reliable sources and be certain you are following sound advice to reach your goal. It is possible, you just have to find the correct route. Also the University of Phoenix is a good point to start and ask questions regarding what they offer for Paralegal studies and beyond.
How to Pass the California State Bar Exam Without Law School – wikiHow
California Bar Article on Becoming a Lawyer without Law School … Pass the Bar Exam. Survive Your First Year of Law School …www.wikihow.com/Pass-the-California-State-Bar-Exam-Without-Law-School – 26k – Cached
Good luck,