If your vocation is to practice law in the United States, as a foreign legal professional, but you have many doubts regarding the requirements and procedures, below, we will resolve your doubts by showing you what you need know to achieve the goal of working as a legal representative in the USA.
What does a lawyer do in the USA?
Generally, lawyers, as legal professionals, are responsible for assisting or representing natural or legal persons, building cases and defending their rights and property integrity.
Lawyers in the United States intervene in a wide variety of legal fields, where they perform functions such as:
- Interpret legal regulations, laws and regulations.
- Analyze various documentation to determine, from a legal and jurisprudence point of view, the most beneficial action for your client.
- Draft a variety of legal documents such as divorce agreements, wills, business contracts, appeals, interventions in immigration cases, criminal matters, appeals and others.
- Attend hearings and other legal activities with your clients.
- Collaborate with police forces, paralegals and other actors in the preparation of cases.
- Manage, promote and schedule statements from witnesses and other relevant figures for the solution of the case.
You should also know that the law in the United States is derived from the Common Law or law practiced in England.
For this reason, its organization, structure, application and nomenclature are very different from that used in Roman Law practiced in European or Latin American countries.
How to be a foreigner and a lawyer in the United States?
As a foreign legal professional who wishes to practice law in North American territory as a work activity, it is essential to comply with a series of specific and general requirements of the state where you will practice the profession.
The North American legal system is very complex, which is why it is essential to comply with a series of educational and training stages aimed at guaranteeing that applicants have acquired the knowledge and skills that will allow them to obtain certification as a lawyer in the United States.
You should know that currently 33 states in the USA allow citizens of other countries to practice law, subject to compliance with the specific requirements of each state.
If you are an immigrant and want to practice as a legal professional in the USA, these are the general requirements that you must satisfy:
Have a degree in Law
Regardless of the country of origin, this is an essential and basic requirement. To be valid in the United States, the law degree must be approved and will be subject to verification of its legality by competent authorities.
Carry out complementary studies
Commonly, the applicant enters a law school in the United States to carry out complementary studies that will allow him or her to learn about the scope, operation and procedures that outline the legal framework of the North American nation. You must first take and pass the Law School Admission Test, also called LSAT.
Take the Bar exam
After obtaining the complementary learning, the next step is to pass the Bar exam, where the level of knowledge of the North American legal system will be tested. In this way the jury will determine if you have achieved sufficient preparation to professionally pursue a legal career in the United States.
Obtain work visa
As a foreign lawyer who wishes to work in the United States, it is mandatory to have a work visa. It is also very likely that you will have to prove at least one year of legal residence in the town where you will carry out your activity.
Other requirements
You must also meet other requirements such as employment references from other law firms where you have worked as a lawyer and have no criminal record. In most cases, have a valid driver’s license and others that the authorities consider relevant.
Types of lawyers in the United States
Given the legal structure of the country, the types of lawyers in the United States have certain differences with those we can find in countries with other influences or legal doctrines.
As an immigrant who wants to enter the field of legal procedures, it is also important to familiarize yourself with the specific activity of the most popular types of lawyers in the USA:
Labor lawyer
I intervened to resolve problems due to violations of labor duties and rights. Acting in companies that have difficulties with their employees or legally assisting an individual or group of individuals with problems with their employer.
Personal injury lawyer
Specialized in obtaining compensation for damages caused by third parties, they intervene in the event that a person suffers injuries due to an accident.
Immigration lawyer
Indicated for problems with immigration status, managing issues such as processing visas, green cards, citizenship applications, asylum or refuge requests.
Corporate lawyer or Corporate lawyer
I intervened advising corporations or companies on issues related to their commercial activity.
Criminal lawyer
Represent people facing criminal charges, assisting in matters such as arrests, settlements, bail, trials and appeals.
Civil litigation lawyer
Specialist who helps in lawsuits between individuals.
Family lawyer
Necessary for prenuptial agreements, divorces, custody and support.
Tax lawyer
Type of lawyer in the United States specialized in adverse situations involving taxpayers, the tax administration and the IRS.
Medical malpractice lawyer
Responsible for acting when the consequences of a medical error can cause damage of varying severity to a patient.
Intellectual property lawyer
Known as IP attorney, they specialize in the defense of everything related to copyright, patents, trademarks, among other activities.
Bankruptcy lawyer
Advise clients on the type of bankruptcy to declare, depending on the specific financial difficulty situation.
Long-term job prospects for lawyers in the USA
As a foreign legal professional, once you are authorized to work as a lawyer in the USA, you will surely begin your activities in a legal firm, where the initial occupation will be in the position of junior associate, in charge of a large amount of work of all kinds.
With your performance, additional training, acquired experience and professional reputation, in some years the next level will be that of a senior associate, until reaching the level of a partner of the firm.
Experienced lawyers can join other more prestigious firms or work in their own law firm. While with advanced degrees they can occupy positions in the legal system as judges, conduct research or teach at universities.
Those lawyers in the USA with inclinations towards social work can be part of non-profit associations or foundations, which provide advice on a variety of topics to people in vulnerable situations.
Although the processes can be demanding and will require some effort, money and time, once the validation process is completed without any major setbacks, you will be able to begin practicing as a foreign lawyer in the United States.