How do I Become a Disability Lawyer?

To become a disability lawyer, one must commit to years of hard work and dedication, but for many people, it's worth it. A career in disability law can be a rewarding path for individuals who yearn to use their abilities to help people in need. A person who wants to become a disability lawyer should focus on obtaining the necessary education. Then he or she will need to pass a bar exam and join a law firm that specializes in disability cases.

Disability lawyers work on behalf of clients who have suffered an illness or injury that curtails their ability to work and earn money. The biggest part of a disability lawyer's job is to help his or her clients obtain disability insurance. Disability lawyers also work with insurance companies in order to resolve disputes.

The first step to become a disability lawyer is earning a bachelor's degree. An aspiring law student might choose any major — the major isn't as important as the skills that are honed. When it comes to getting into law school, what matters most is having top-notch abilities in logic and reasoning, research, speaking and writing. Aspiring law students might round out their education by completing coursework from a wide range of disciplines, including political science, public speaking, history or economics.

An individual who wants to become a disability lawyer typically must take an admissions test in order to qualify to be accepted into a law school. Gaining entrance to a good law school can be competitive. To avoid lag time before starting law school, it's recommended that students apply to several schools and then make an informed choice. Law schools look not only at a candidate's admissions test scores but also at grade point average (GPA) and the general quality of undergraduate work. Some law schools require interviews.

During the first year of law school, the aspiring disability attorney will take courses pertaining to the general field of law. Such coursework might include legal writing, civil procedure and constitutional law. As the student progresses, he or she can start to specialize. A student wishing to become a disability lawyer should study insurance law. Upon graduation from law school, an individual must register to take the bar examination in the jurisdiction where he or she intends to practice. The new lawyer then should apply for jobs with firms that specialize in disability law.

A disability claim lawyer works with clients who have medical problems, so studying medical books can be helpful. A person who wants to become a disability lawyer must work to enhance his or her knowledge of injuries and illnesses. The more that a disability claim attorney knows, the more he or she can help clients in need. Successful disability lawyers are those who can advocate with knowledge and authority for the rights of their clients.