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Lawyer · Career Roadmap

Lawyer Career Roadmap

A comprehensive visual roadmap from pre-law through bar passage to partnership or general counsel. Covers LSAT prep timelines, law school milestones (journal, moot court, clinics), OCI recruiting, bar exam strategy, and career progression in BigLaw, government, and in-house tracks.

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Your Legal Career Timeline

Phase 1: Pre-Law & LSAT (Years 1-4)


  • Year 1-3: Any bachelor's degree (political science, English, and philosophy are common but not required)

  • Year 3-4: LSAT prep (3-6 months of dedicated study for best results)

  • Year 4: Applications due November-February, decisions March-April

  • Key milestone: LSAT score + GPA determine your law school options (and thus your career options)
  • Phase 2: Law School (Years 5-7)


  • 1L year: Foundation courses — Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law

  • 1L summer: Firm internship or judicial externship (1L grades determine summer options)

  • 2L year: Electives, journal/law review, moot court, OCI recruiting in August

  • 3L year: Clinics, advanced seminars, bar prep course planning

  • Key milestone: Law review membership and 2L summer associate position
  • Preview shows 2 of 6 phases. Full roadmap includes bar exam state selection, BigLaw promotion timeline, and paths to partnership/GC.