Know? Lots and lots. Most of the required knowledge is covered through the professional degree of Juris Doctor (JD). To earn the JD, in the US you need to get into, attend, and pass law school. Most states require an ABA-accredited school, which is a 3-year program (some do it in as little as 2.5, some 4+).
Then, after graduating, you need to study for and pass the bar exam (one per state that you intend to be licensed in). This is a 2-3 day substantive test that makes sure you know how to think like a lawyer. The specific subjects vary by state, but most of them (though not all) will be subjects you have taken in law school. Most people (including me) spend 2-3 months full time after graduation just studying for the bar.
Most states also require you pass a Professional Responsibility (ethics) test, which separately tests your knowledge of the ethical duties of being an attorney. Most states also require a moral character determination, where you have to convince the state you are ethical, and that your friends think you are ethical.
As far as general knowledge, public speaking is necessary for litigators and those who want to practice in a court or to teach. Writing and research are essential, and school only covers the rough edges of this. One of the reasons I spend so much time on Yahoo Answers (while studying for the California Bar in July) is to practice my writing abilities. Any practice helps.
But most importantly, to be a good lawyer (not to pass the bar, but to actually succeed), you need to be able to separate your emotional reactions from your logic. You need to be able to look at issues from many different perspectives, including those you may be personally opposed to. This gives you the ability to prepare not only your side, but to prepare against the other side.
The same skill applies when representing a client whose views you may not agree with. This is less of an issue in the corporate world, but even there you need to be able to explain to friends and co-workers that your represent the company, not them, and that anything they tell you can be disclosed to the company.
Lawyers operate under strict ethical requirements, including absolute loyalty to your clients, candor (truthfulness) to the court and in all business proceedings, and constant studying. Violation of these requirements is grounds for being disbarred, which means potentially never practicing law again. Sadly, many of these ethical constraints get muddied bent and often broken as attorneys practice, largely because that's what other lawyers do and following the rules with integrity puts you at a tactical disadvantage.
It's a difficult profession, and a long road. Many who graduate from law school use their degree for something else, like politics or corporate compliance, or undergraduate teaching. But the law is like the sea -- some people may hate it, but for others it gets into your blood. Even those of us who hate litigation find other ways to practice, such as being a corporate attorney. It's not for everyone, but at its core it is a noble profession.
Good luck.
Besides personal qualities, you need to get a bachelor's degee, then take the LSAT to get into a law school, then earn a law degree (J.D. - juris doctor), and then pass the bar exam and MPRE (multistate professional responsibility exam).
Step One: Pay a lot of money to whatever school will accept you.
Step Two: Pass the bar
That's about it- Most lawyers are idiots, so don't worry about having any special skills or abilities
debate, know whats going on and what u need in order to get the jury or the judges side.
my niece went to college four years and majored in political science then 3 years to law school.you can only practice in the state in which you take the bar exam.She is an attorney in N.C. and making huge dollars,she is a criminal lawyer but also handles bankruptcies
Coragryph (1st answer) gave you an excellent answer.
What he forgot to include is that you have to realize that the people who want your services ("clients") are usually liars and only want your services because they do not want to accept responsibilities for their actions.
Or, they want you to help them gain something to which they are not entitled.
Occasionally, you'll actually deal with an honest, respectable human being, but it will be very rare when it occurs. And, you won't make much money because they will settle before going to court with a minimum of litigation or effort on your part.
Good luck (stock up on air freshener, it helps remove the stench when you get "clients" out of your office).
The first requirement is to have sold your Soul. I think there is a category on Ebay for that.
sorry Toodles, but i have no idea (as u very well know) and i am just answering because u told me to.
good memory lots of reading past cases 8 years of collage passing the bar exam and knowing what branch of law you would like to study.
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