BOBBY J. BARNHART, JR.

ATTORNEY & COUNSELOR AT LAW

MEDIATOR - CONSULTANT

The process whereby one becomes a lawyers is not complicated.

• Graduate from an accredited college or university (there are exceptions, but these are very few);
• Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT);
• Attend a law school (best if it is an ABA [American Bar Association] accredited law school, but not always necessary);
• Graduate with a JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree (although lawyers who have been in practice since before 1970 may have an LLB [Bachelor of Letter of Laws] degree);
• Take and pass the admissions test (Bar exam) for the State or Federal jurisdiction (state or district) where one intends to practice (called "sitting for the Bar");
• Pay requisite fees (annually) and begin practice (either with others in a law firm [or partnership] or as a sole practitioner);
• Abide by the Bar Rules (the rules governing the practice and conduct of attorneys in a particular jurisdiction - much the same in all 50 states and federal jurisdictions).

You can usually find the full text of the Bar Rules governing the jurisdiction you are interested in on the internet or in your local library.  The following links will direct you to the full text of the rules for the State of Maine, the State of Texas and the Model Rules of Professional Conduct formulated by the American Bar Association.  The Federal Rules vary by jurisdiction, but are similar.

• MAINE BAR RULES
• TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES
• MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT