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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 10/31/23
If you’re deciding which legal specialty to pursue, read on to learn more about insurance law and what it entails.
Insurance lawyers do their best to prevent and remedy cases of insurance fraud and ensure people and organizations receive fair compensation during settlements. If this sounds like a career you’d be interested in, this guide will tell you how to become an insurance lawyer, what to expect in this role, and more!
Insurance lawyers are legal professionals who protect their clients' rights during insurance claims. They provide legal advice and services related to insurance matters, working on behalf of either insurance companies or policyholders, depending on their specialization.
The main forms of claims these lawyers handle involve:
The major tasks that insurance lawyers undertake to serve their clients involve:
Class-action suits, in which large groups of individuals are affected by an issue and represented by one firm, are ubiquitous in insurance law. These lawyers often also work pro bono cases, as they can be expensive, especially involving large organizations.
With a better understanding of what insurance lawyers do, you can make a more informed decision on whether it's the right career. Knowing the extensive process involved in becoming an insurance lawyer will also aid your decision.
It will take at least seven years to join this profession. These seven years will involve the following steps:
The minimum education requirement to join law school is an undergrad from an accredited university. Contrary to popular belief, there is no perfect major to pursue to prepare for law school or increase your chances of acceptance. Your grades are ultimately the most considerable factor law schools will consider when reviewing your transcripts.
Choose a major that interests you and ensure you diversify your transcript by taking electives from different disciplines. This will prove you completed an academically challenging course load, which will impress the admissions committee.
Top law schools typically have median GPAs between 3.8 and 4.0. Keep this in mind as you complete your undergrad!
Your law school application will involve more than just grades and achievements. You must also submit a resume detailing everything you pursued outside the classroom. This includes extracurriculars, research, work, volunteer experience, and other meaningful projects.
Ensure you keep busy throughout your undergrad so your resume demonstrates a breadth of skills that will be helpful in the legal field!
The LSAT is the most dreaded part of aspiring law students’ applications, aside from their personal statements. This one score will play a massive role in the admissions committee’s decision on your candidacy, so you must give yourself enough time to master this exam.
Set a study schedule of at least two months, ideally four to six, and hold yourself accountable. Treat your prep like a job and ensure you don’t miss any shifts.
Once you’ve gone through the arduous process of applying to law schools and anxiously awaiting responses, you should hopefully receive several offer letters from your top law schools. Choose the law school that best fits your needs and goals.
Look for schools that offer courses, experiential learning experiences, or externships involving insurance law. Ensure you also maintain your grades and begin building a network.
Most states require legal students to pass the MPRE before practicing as attorneys. This exam ensures they understand the ethical and professional standards lawyers are bound by and how to abide by them.
Fortunately, this exam is only moderately challenging. Some students can ace it on their first try after only a few weeks of practice.
A JD will typically provide you with in-depth but broad legal training. You will learn about the most common legal specialties and be equipped with adequate training and skills to practice law independently.
However, some lawyers want to increase their expertise in one legal area and pursue an LLM. A one-year LLM in Insurance Law can also give you more credibility and qualifications, making you a desirable employee.
After completing the necessary educational requirements to become an insurance lawyer, passing the bar exam is the final step to prove you’re ready for a legal career. This exam will test a range of competencies to ensure you can safely and effectively practice law in your state.
The final consideration to explore when discussing how to become an insurance lawyer is their salary and career outlook.
The average salary for an insurance lawyer is $95,099 a year. Lawyers working in large law firms can expect to make more than this, especially as they gain more experience.
These lawyers have high earning potential and are in high demand. Losses, accidents, and injuries are inevitable, so insurance lawyers are needed to mitigate the risks involved with these issues.
If you have any remaining questions, you can find your answers below.
It will take seven to eight years to become an insurance lawyer: four years to obtain an undergrad, three years to complete a JD degree, and an optional additional year to pursue an LLM in Insurance Law.
Becoming an insurance lawyer is challenging. Maintaining high grades in your undergrad requires strong study skills and diligence. Crafting a unique and impressive application for law school requires creativity and effort. Lastly, getting into a competitive law school and thriving in requires laser-like focus.
The average salary for an insurance lawyer is $95,099 a year. Depending on years of experience and location, some insurance lawyers can make up to $110,376.
There aren’t any specific certifications you need to become an insurance lawyer. Your JD is the only mandatory requirement to begin practicing insurance law. However, some lawyers pursue LLMs in insurance law to gain more specialized training in the specialty, and some pursue certifications through insurance companies to gain more expertise.
Insurance lawyers typically work in private or public law firms, for federal organizations, or for insurance companies.
Deciding which legal specialty to choose can feel overwhelming. Learning more about what each area involves can help you decide quickly. After exploring how to become an insurance lawyer, you can determine if it tops your specialty options!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
