Thomas C. Grajek | May 23, 2025 | Lakeland Criminal Law
For many people, “lawyer” vs “attorney” is a distinction without a difference. Most people use these terms interchangeably, and there is nothing wrong with that. When someone does make a distinction, however, they are usually distinguishing between someone who has been to law school and someone who is actually licensed to practice law.
How To Become a Lawyer in the United States
The path to becoming a lawyer in the United States is different from the path to becoming a lawyer in most other jurisdictions. Here is how you do it:
Graduate From an Accredited Four-Year College
It is generally okay if you graduated from a university outside of the United States, as long as you can prove your proficiency in the English language. Although you don’t need a 4.0 GPA, the higher your GPA, the better your chances of admission.
Just about any major is okay for law school. You may have heard that majoring in political science is ideal for law school, but even a major in chemistry will do, technically speaking.
Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Due to recent developments, the LSAT is no longer a requirement for every law school in the country (though it still is for most). However, it can serve as a way to stand out with your application in either event.
Apply to an ABA-Accredited Law School
As of May 2025, the American Bar Association (ABA) accredits 197 US law schools. Some states, not including Florida, allow you to practice in-state if you graduated from a state-accredited law school. If you take this route, however, your credentials will be useless in another state.
Graduate from Law School
Graduating from law school is easier said than done. Watch the film “The Paper Chase” for a general idea. Despite its difficulty, the graduation rate for almost every law school is above 50%. Graduating with a “C” average, however, might present difficulties when you are looking for a job in your field.
What You Cannot Do as a Mere Lawyer
As a lawyer who is not an attorney, you cannot represent clients on your own, meaning a licensed attorney must sign off on your work before it leaves the office. You cannot appear in court on behalf of a client. An attorney can do all of these things.
How To Become an Attorney in the United States
The first step in becoming a full-fledged attorney in the United States is to become a lawyer. In other words, graduate from law school. The following additional steps separate an attorney from a lawyer.
Take and Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
The MPRE is an examination on attorney ethics. Although it is easier than the general bar exam, it is not easy. The passing grade is a scaled score of 80.
Take the Bar Exam in the State Where You Want to Practice
It’s okay if you want to go to law school in Florida and practice in New York. Although most states focus on a national curriculum most of the time, you will probably need to study some local law to prepare for the bar exam in a state where you didn’t go to law school. The Florida bar pass rate was 46% as of February 2025.
Pass the Moral Character and Fitness Screening
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners will assess your moral character and fitness. You will have to reveal intimate details of your personal history, including even unpaid debts and traffic tickets. If your character is found lacking, you will have to either show evidence of rehabilitation or abandon your quest to become an attorney, at least temporarily.
“Power of Attorney”: It Means Something Different
In a power of attorney, the “attorney” (technically called the “attorney-in-fact”) is not necessarily someone who is licensed to practice law or who has even been to law school. It is the person authorized to act on behalf of someone else (the principal) in personal, financial, or medical matters.
Contact a Lakeland Criminal Defense Lawyer at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Lakeland criminal defense attorneys at Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, for a consultation. We serve all areas in Lakeland, Polk County, and throughout Florida.
Visit our convenient location:
Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law
112 E Poinsettia St
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 688-4606