Becoming A Car Accident Attorney

The decision to become a lawyer may be an easy one. Deciding which type of lawyer to become may be a little harder of a decision. There are many types of lawyers to choose from so it's important that you choose the type that you are passionate about. One option for you to choose from is a car accident attorney. 

What Does a Car Accident Attorney Do?

The main goal of any lawyer is to help the client win the case. As a car accident attorney, your responsibility would be to represent someone who has been in a car accident. 

On top of representing your client in court, you'd also be responsible for the following:

  • Investigating the accident
  • Gathering witness and police reports
  • Negotiating a settlement
  • Handling communication with insurance companies
  • Completing any paperwork and documentation

Education Requirements

The process of becoming a car accident lawyer is similar to becoming any other type of lawyer, but there are slight differences. You will first need a high school diploma. Once you receive your diploma, you can enroll in college to receive your bachelor's degree. After your bachelor's degree, you will be required to attend a law school for a law degree. To get into law school, you'll need to take the LSAT. When you graduate from law school, you will receive a Juris Doctorate degree. 

It's not required, but it's always a good idea to look for clerkships or internships at law firms near you while you're in law school. This will allow you to get some training and experience. If possible, these internships or clerkships should be at law offices that specialize in car accident cases to better your knowledge of the process. 

The last, and most important, step is to pass the bar exam for the state you plan on practicing in. If you do not pass the bar exam, you will not be able to practice law. Once you have passed the bar exam, you can begin looking for permanent employment at a law firm. It is important to keep up to date on all accident and insurance laws to keep your licenses valid. This may require continuing your education after you've become licensed.

What Makes a Good Car Accident Attorney?

To be a good lawyer, you need to remember you're not just working for a paycheck. You could be your client's only hope, and it's never fair to them if you slack off. You need to be an organized person to keep all the details of the case easily accessible. Your communication skills need to be top-notch as you are fighting and negotiating for your client. Lastly, your clients need to be able to trust you with their cases. If you are not trustworthy, it will be hard to get clients to hire you.

To learn more, contact a car accident law firm like Higinbotham & Higinbotham LLC.

Share