| Often referred to as a trial lawyer, a personal | | | | the first half of a three year law school |
| injury lawyer represents people who claim to | | | | concentrates on general law areas such as |
| have been injured, physically or emotionally, due | | | | contracts, torts, property law, and constitutional |
| to the negligence of a company, government | | | | law. |
| agency, business, institution, or other person. | | | | All states require taking the Multistate Bar |
| They tend to be experts in an area called tort | | | | Examination (MBE), the Multistate Essay |
| law that includes civil wrongs, vehicle collisions, | | | | Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Professional |
| medical errors, work injuries, assaults, defective | | | | Responsibility Examination (MPRE), and a state bar |
| products, slip and fall accidents, and much more. | | | | exam. |
| Damages sought usually involve financial | | | | They focus their practices on this special cases. |
| compensation for harm to a person's health and | | | | To help them stay up-to-date on legal issues, |
| well being, property, or reputation. | | | | they must complete a required number of |
| In order to practice law in the United States, this | | | | continuing legal education (CLE) courses. To be |
| professional must pass a written bar examination. | | | | certified as a specialist in personal injury, a lawyer |
| Most states require applicants to have completed | | | | must complete a specialty certification program |
| a four-year college degree and a law degree from | | | | accredited by the American Bar Association |
| an accredited law school. It is valuable to obtain a | | | | (ABA). Lawyers who have completed a specialty |
| bachelor's degree in an area of study that | | | | certification program are recognized as specialists. |
| requires a lot of writing, researching, and reading. | | | | There are a number of steps one can take |
| Good choices include a bachelor's degree in political | | | | before attending law school, during law school and |
| science, history, English, or economics. It would | | | | after graduation in order to specialize in this type |
| also be helpful to take electives that relate to | | | | of law: |
| personal injury and the law. | | | | - Research law schools to make sure that the |
| To gain an even greater competitive edge over | | | | American Bar Association has given the schools |
| other law school applicants, one may want to | | | | accreditation. |
| take a Bachelor of Science Degree in Personal | | | | - While attending law school, acquire a clerk |
| Injury. This degree provides basic skills such as | | | | position at a law firm specializing in personal injury. |
| communication skills and critical thinking. You will | | | | Study personal injury cases that come into the |
| develop other important skills that include | | | | firm. Develop relationships with lawyers that work |
| research, litigation preparation, analyzing medical | | | | at the firm. Learn about all of the types of injuries |
| reports, brief preparation, case law analysis, and | | | | that can cause various types of medical |
| damage presentation. You will also learn how to | | | | conditions. |
| assess product liability and insurance claims. Areas | | | | - When you have graduated and employed at a |
| of study include liability limitation, motor vehicle | | | | law firm, develop a good relationship with |
| insurance claims investigation, pre-litigation | | | | experienced and respected doctors so you have |
| protocols, instructing expert witnesses, tactics and | | | | a list of quality medical expert witnesses. |
| negotiations, technical competencies in insurance | | | | Personal injury is one of the most profitable areas |
| law, product liability, medical records summation | | | | of the law. Since getting into law school can be |
| and review, and medical malpractice litigation. Many | | | | very competitive, it is important to obtain the |
| universities offer master's level degree courses | | | | best education. Do your research to find the best |
| and confer advanced degrees with concentrations | | | | bachelor's degree that will make you stand out |
| in personal injury. It is important to be aware that | | | | from other applicants. |