Education is the most important step that you will need to take to become a fraud attorney, and schooling could take at least six years to complete. Most jurisdictions require that you have a law degree and have passed all local examinations in order to practice law. This profession is an extremely particular type of law that handles numerous types of cases involving fraudulent behavior, and you will need to focus on your area of expertise during law school. There are undergraduate universities that offer courses in pre-legal studies, which will assist you with law school admittance.
Although most law schools do not require that you have a particular type of bachelor's degree, you should focus on pre-legal studies to prepare for advanced law school coursework and become a fraud attorney. Aside from general coursework, you may want to consider enrolling in courses in communication, economics, political science, legal management, statistics, and various business classes. These courses will help with the law admissions exam that most jurisdictions require before being accepted into law school. Some students find that part-time employment with a legal firm prepares them to enter this profession. An excellent academic record and involvement in various school activities may also assist you with your law school admissions process.
Most students apply to several law schools to ensure acceptance, and you should research a number of schools that offer courses in fraud related topics. The first year of law school will involve general legal coursework, including criminal law, torts, legal research and writing, civil procedure, contracts, federal litigation, and constitutional law. Specialty courses that you will need to become a fraud attorney will cover numerous topics regarding fraud and the law. Some schools offer courses such as corporate fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, and other legal studies that teach you the various laws in this field.
During law school, you should find an internship with a law firm that has a department specializing in fraud law. This will allow you to observe the profession and assist field professionals with cases, which may help you gain the experience needed to become a fraud attorney. In addition to education and experience, you will need to have problem solving skills, negotiation techniques, advanced researching abilities, and excellent communication skills. These skills are necessary to become a fraud attorney because the job is primarily based on technical writing, office work, interpersonal relations with clients and legal professionals, and litigation.