is it really possible to be 22 and a lawyer?

[cuteprickleypink1]

I don't know it seems far-fetched. My best friend has been dating a guy who says he's a crikinal defense lawyer. He works at one of those office firm thingies... I'm just wondering is it possible and how?

[bitesize]

Yeah....I'm pretty sure it's possible?? Are you from the US?? I'm honestly not sure about this so hopefully someone will clear it up for me..but aren't you guys only able to study law as a postgraduate degree?? Maybe he did is as an undergraduate in a different country and has recently graduated. Fairly sure it's possible...

[cuteprickleypink1]

I don't know I know it's not a 4 year degree I think you have to be in law school etc.....

[Invision]

You have to get a bachelor's, take the LSAT and then spend another 2 years in lawschool.

So while it's possible, this person would have to be a prodigy. Also there's no such specialty as a 'criminal defense lawyer'. That's basically freelancing but getting assignments from the state which the state doesn't have lawyers on-staff for.

Edit: As far as my source, my dad is a criminal defense lawyer, although obviously that's a huge simplification. He does civil suits and gets assignments from the state. Murder cases pay $90/hour, for example. While it's a good (great) job as far as finances go, it heavily depends on the state and how it works with these things. *shrug*

Anyway. I highly doubt that this guy is a lawyer. Very, very much. He'd be a financial specialist working in a law firm or something, not a freelancer.

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by Invision

You have to get a bachelor's, take the LSAT and then spend another 2 years in lawschool.

there's no such specialty as a 'criminal defense lawyer'.

Edit: As far as my source, my dad is a criminal defense lawyer, although obviously that's a huge simplification. He does civil suits and gets assignments from the state. Murder cases pay $90/hour, for example. While it's a good (great) job as far as finances go, it heavily depends on the state and how it works with these things. *shrug*

Anyway. I highly doubt that this guy is a lawyer. Very, very much. He'd be a financial specialist working in a law firm or something, not a freelancer.

Would like to make a point here, if the original poster is from the UK, then yes, Criminal defense lawyers do exist. Although usually referred to as criminal lawyers/defense lawyers. In England smaller firms rely on legal aid cases, but all defense lawyers will also do private work. While some lawyers might specialise in more than one type of law, criminal lawyers specialise in criminal law. They may work for the prosecution or defense. I know this because my dad is a partner in his own criminal law firm. I also have an american aunt who is a lawyer, so know the the system works differently in the states compared to the UK.

As for whether he can be a criminal lawyer at 22, this is possible, in the UK. Some unis offer an 4 year integrated law course. I'm not sure of the details, and know there is further training after graduating, but if this guy started uni when he was 18 it is probable that he is now working as a trainee within a criminal law firm. It is possible he is trying to impress your friend and is exaggerating the truth slightly.

[Carpe Diem]

That would be pushing it though. From where I'm from (US/Canada), you would need to first get a bachelor's in something (4 years), and then apply into law school (which is another 4 years). Getting a law degree NORMALLY takes 8 years then. I don't see your friend getting that in 4 (assuming he started college at 18) unless he reeaaallyy flew (and I mean FLEW) through the degree. Again, this applies only to the colleges I talked to in the US and Canada, and not to the other ones.