Requirements for Becoming an International Lawyer

• Become an international lawyer.world image by Clark Duffy from Fotolia.com
  
  The area of international law has grown over the last few decades and is expected to continue to grow. With the world becoming more interconnected, countries are doing business with each other the way states did 50 years ago. All of those business transactions require lawyers to look over contracts and advise their clients of the possible issues involved in international deals.
  
  

Undergraduate Education

• You need an undergraduate degree to be accepted into law school. While any undergraduate major will be considered for an application, if you intend to practice international law, consider an undergraduate degree in international studies, international politics or languages.
  
  

Law School

• Choose an institution that has a reputation as an international law school. Many law schools offer students the opportunity to study abroad during their three years of law school. Additionally, some of these study abroad programs offer a joint degree from the university in the country where you are studying.
  
  

Licensing

• After completing law school, apply to take the bar exam in the state where you intend to practice. Historically, cities like New York and Washington, D.C., were where you needed to practice to be an international lawyer, but that is not true today. Along with the bar examination, you must take the multi-state responsibility examination and go through a character and fitness background check.
  
  

Employment & Experience

• Once you have passed the bar and been sworn in as a lawyer, seek employment with a firm that focuses on international law or with a large corporation that employs in-house counsel for international transactions. Additionally, check with your state bar and inquire whether it certifies lawyers as specialists. If so, apply to become certified in international law after you have gained enough experience.