How do I Become a Foreclosure Lawyer?

When a person wants to become a foreclosure lawyer, he starts out by graduating high school and going on to college. After college, he attends law school and goes on to take the law exam that is required in his jurisdiction. This path represents the basics any person needs to become a lawyer. In order to pursue the foreclosure specialty, an aspiring lawyer may take finance and real estate electives and participate in related internships in an effort to prepare for a career in this field.

A foreclosure lawyer assists borrowers or lenders as they go through the foreclosure process. A foreclosure occurs when a borrower fails to pay his mortgage for a significant amount of time, and the lender obtains a court order that allows it to repossess the real estate. The lender can then sell the property, usually through an auction, to recoup its losses. If a foreclosure lawyer is assisting a borrower, he typically tries to end the foreclosure process and help the borrower retain his home. If he’s working for the lender, he may work to see that the foreclosure process is completed in a timely, smooth manner.

To become a foreclosure lawyer, an individual starts by completing high school or earning an equivalent diploma. In high school, courses and activities that build writing and verbal communication skills can be particularly helpful for an aspiring foreclosure lawyer. For example, composition courses may prove helpful as can debate and drama activities. Besides these courses and activities, following a basic academic track in high school can help an aspiring lawyer to succeed in college.

College is the next step for a person who wants to become a foreclosure lawyer. Typically, an individual interested in this field will attend a four-year institution. An aspiring lawyer may enroll in a pre-law program, but he does not have to. He may enter law school after completing just about any major. For example, a person may pursue a political-science-related degree in preparation for law school while another may earn an English degree.

Law school is next in line for a person who wants to become a foreclosure lawyer. To prepare for this career, a person may attend any law school, but one with a good reputation for its real estate and bankruptcy law program is a good choice. While in law school, a prospective foreclosure lawyer may do well to take finance-related electives. Seeking internships with a foreclosure law firm or financial institution may prove helpful as well.

When law school is over, a person who wants to become a foreclosure lawyer still has one more step to complete. He has to pass his jurisdiction’s law exam before he can legally practice as a foreclosure lawyer. Once he’s done so, he may seek a position with a law firm that handles foreclosures or an organization involved in mortgage lending.