How do I Become a Consumer Law Attorney?

To become a consumer law attorney, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in a subject that pertains to legal matters or analytical thinking. You will also need a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an accredited law school institution. Gaining experience in consumer law through internships should be part of your education, from undergraduate through graduate school. You must also pass your country's licensing exam in order to become a practicing attorney in your area.

Becoming an attorney, particularly a consumer law attorney, requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college. Law schools do not generally require that applicants major in a particular subject, but it is useful to consider subjects that emphasize critical thinking skills and a knowledge of the consumer business environment. Majoring in a business subject, such as marketing or finance, may help you become a consumer law attorney because it will increase your grasp of the challenges and dangers that consumers might face in the marketplace.

After successfully obtaining a bachelor's degree, your next task will be to matriculate in and graduate from law school. Requirements differ according to the specific school, but usually you must have top grades from your undergraduate coursework in order to be considered. During law school, you will learn topics that should be of significant interest to a student who wishes to become a consumer law attorney, such as torts law, contracts, and product liability. Be sure to pay attention to the precedence set by legal cases that you encounter throughout your law school career, as these court decisions will determine how you handle future consumer law cases.

In addition to a solid legal education foundation, having pre-professional experience in a firm which caters to consumer protection cases will be extremely valuable to you. You should start as early as your first year in university to look for opportunities to work at qualified legal firms or non-profit institutions in your area. Consumer protection cases are usually not very cut and dry, and each individual case is different. Getting real world experience in as many cases as possible will add to you legal repertoire.

The final step to become a consumer law attorney is to pass your jurisdiction's attorney licensing exam. These exams often test applicants on topics mastered while in law school. If you commit to diligently studying for this exam, you will have no problem passing it and becoming a professional consumer law lawyer.