If you study business law, you will quickly find there’s no area of the law quite like it. You can probably say that about any legal niche, though. You will have certain factors that make each legal area unique.
That’s probably part of why courtroom skills differentiate great attorneys. You might have a lawyer who knows all about some aspect of the law, but they’d never feel comfortable getting up and speaking in front of a judge. Even the most brilliant lawyers can get stage fright, which is why some make sure they’re never in a position where they need to make a public address in front of a crowd.
If you have a business law interest, though, you may feel unsure about how you can go from studying this niche to practicing it. You can make a respectable living practicing business law, though, so let’s talk about how you can go from a spirited amateur to a professional, practicing business lawyer.
Clerking Somewhere First Makes Sense
It makes sense to start clerking at a law firm while you’re in college. While it’s true that some autodidacts never go to law school, most people do who want to make the law their career.
Once you have signed up for law school and you’re attending it, you will most likely have your hands full. You will have to attend classes, do your homework, and study constantly to learn the area of the law that interests you.
You might feel like you will never have the time to clerk at a law firm as well, but you will be at a distinct disadvantage if you don’t do it. You should know that other individuals who plan to get into business law will clerk for any of the established firms that accept them. If you won’t willingly do that, then your competitors gain ground while you keep treading water.
You Must Then Pass the Bar
Once you graduate from law school, you will need to pass the bar. If you ever hope to go from an enthusiastic amateur to a practicing business lawyer, this must happen.
For many individuals, passing the bar becomes a signature moment in their life. However, you might not do it very easily.
You need to study for years, in most instances, to get to the point where you can pass this supreme legal test. You must demonstrate that you know many aspects of the law and how the legal system handles them. No matter what career path you have ahead of you, you must pass the bar before you can start down the road to glory and prosperity.
You Should Then Focus on Networking
Once you graduate from law school and pass the bar, you might feel like the world’s your oyster. However, just because you have the tools in place that you need, that does not necessarily mean you can immediately dive head first into the profession you want.
If you clerked at a law firm years for years, then you probably made some connections that you can put to good use now. You might ask at the law firm whether they need an up-and-coming lawyer.
They should know all about you and your personality by this point. Maybe one of the older lawyers took you under their wing and showed you the ropes.
If you can’t get an entry-level position with the law firm where you clerked, then you probably at least made some other connections that will serve you well now. You can ask around and see if any firms are hiring. It’s not likely you can start your own firm at this point. You need experience before you can even think about that kind of an ambitious step.
If you don’t find that a job opens up through your internship, then maybe you can start going to conferences and other hiring events in the legal niche. The school you attended should have resources you can use.
It’s likely you will meet someone who can give you a break. This is the time when networking and putting yourself out there makes the most sense.
You Must Decide When to Strike Out on Your Own
Getting your foot in the door in the legal profession can challenge you, whether you’re getting into business law or some other niche. Assuming you got a job with a firm that offers business legal services, now you must buckle down and show what you bring to the table.
During these early years, you might not make a lot of money. You will probably get a lot of busy work that the more established lawyers give you.
However, a time will come when you start to prove your worth. You will begin to get more important work and you’ll show that you’re dedicated, loyal, and trustworthy.
You may work toward becoming a partner in the firm if that’s your ultimate goal. You may also think about branching off and starting your own practice one day.
You will need to find clients if that’s your goal, though. That’s not always easy, but the relationships you make can push you in the right direction. The legal business runs on character. Proving yours will put you in the right company with individuals who share your world view.
You might also reach a point where, instead of starting your own law firm, you begin working for just one company or individual. That can work out very well financially for some business lawyers.
Certain companies reach a size where they need a whole team of attorneys working for them at all times. You might feel like that’s the best use of your skills.
No matter what road you choose, getting into business law can define your life if you let it. It can make you rich and famous, but it may also let you make a difference in the world in a positive way.
