What It Takes To Become An Attorney In California

"What it takes to become an Attorney in California"

Since I was in elementary school I always said I want to become an Attorney when I grow up. I remember watching television shows like The Practice and Boston Legal. When I see shows that have a role of an Attorney I get excited. I have always imagined myself in a court room representing a client and giving cross-examinations. Laying my burden of proof to win my case. When I graduated from high school I decided to attend Cerritos College and major in the paralegal field. I figured this would be my first step in learning what it takes to become an Attorney. Now that I am working has a paralegal I still do not know what I need to do and how it really is to take the role of an attorney. I think in order to become an Attorney in California you need to get your Bacherlor's degree and then transfer to law school, which it should take you about two years, then you will have to take a test called the Bar Exam. Somebody told he it takes about six months to get your results if you pass. Then you receive a bar number that allows you to start practicing law in California.

The questions that I would like answered are, is it better to go to a private law school or a university law school? What does it take to prepare for the Bar Exam? What are the requirements to become a licensed attorney in California? How to you get a state bar license number? Once you pass the bar how hard is it to start working has an Attorney?

In ordered to have these questions answered, I interviewed an Attorney named Rose Marie Gallegos, Esq., she has her own law practice in Whittier and specializes in Family law. I asked her what does it take to become an Attorney? She said that she began by attending UCLA law school for about one year. At that time she was but in an awkward

position because she was called for activity duty to the military. At this point she said she had to decide whether she was going to continue with law school or somehow find an alternative. She said she had no choice but to enroll into a private law school called Western State University. They allowed her to attend part-time on the weekends. She flew in from Washington every weekend to attend law school. I asked her it she thought was better to attend a University or a private accredited law school. She told me that she believes