Though paralegals play an important role in legal defense, some aspire for more responsibility and higher pay as a licensed attorney. It is no easy move. There is extensive education and a good deal of late nights pouring over law books, but still it is quite possible. The path for advancing from a paralegal to a lawyer varies depending on the state.

California, for instance, details 4 ways to become a licensed attorney. You can attend a law school approved by the American Bar Association, attend a non-ABA approved course that has state approval, study law for 4 years in an approved program under the guidance of a judge or lawyer, or have a law license from another state. Then you must pass the California Bar Exam. Other states have similar requirements, with most requiring a formal law education and the passage of a state bar exam. Paralegals already have a jump on their law education, having already learned the fundamentals in their current profession.

The real benefit in becoming a lawyer after being a paralegal is it's not much of a career stretch. You already have a taste for what legal work is like. In fact, you are doing most of the work of an attorney right now, but you aren't getting paid for it. Get your education, pass the bar and start making the money you deserve. Sound easy? Dream on. The process is a load of hard work, but it's worth it.

Back to School

Entry into law school requires some sort of undergraduate degree, as stated by the US Bureau of Labor. The degree ideally should be in an appropriate field such as political science., criminal justice or paralegal studies.

In most states, becoming a licensed attorney will take at least 7 years, depending on whether you are going to school full time or managing another job or family responsibilities in the mean time.

Tackling the Bar

Once you've graduated from law school, there's one major hurdle in front of you- passing the bar. This will be an intense test of your legal aptitude and fitness to become a lawyer. The examination varies from state to state, but most require a 6-hour Multistate Bar Examination as part of the test. Pass this test, and you are an attorney, ready to enter the legal job market for better pay and privileges.

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