Fema Employment

If I get a law degree, does that mean I have to become a lawyer to join FBI?

I'm 16 years old, sophomore in high school, and before recently, I've wanted to be an actor. I've had acting training, but its not felt right to become an actor. I love my country, U.S.A, and I am interested in criminal justice and law enforcement. I want to do a federal law enforcement job (CIA, DEA, Secret Service, U.S Marshal, etc...) but I mainly want to get into the FBI and do criminal investigative work at a high level, maybe do undercover work, but mainly detective work. I've read several questions on Yahoo Answers and read the website of the FBI, but I'm a little confused. I want to start getting ready for a college I can get a degree in and hopefully join FBI or another law enforcement agency. I'm currently enrolled in JROTC at my school and I am a part of the Mock Trial at my school. My main question is, if I got a law degree (like they FBI says they want) do I need to work as as an attorney or lawyer in that field for 3 years (as the website says you need to have a 3 year work experience) to join the FBI? I know that you can get a criminal justice degree, which I'm willing to do, too, but from what I've read, that's almost cliche and overdone. I really want to do something in law enforcement at a federal level, because I want to help others and keep my country safe. I'm outgoing and trustworthy, with a GPA of 4.0, and no criminal background. And I want to know what I need to do to find the best way to join one of these prestigious agencies. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. Narc.
2. Criminal Justice degrees are fine if you want to be a uniformed police officer. It won't do you any good as an investigator. CIA is not a law enforcement agency. You have a long road ahead. The average age of a new agent in the FBI is 31 and the mean education is a masters degree. For every 250 people who apply, 1 is hired, so don't focus on what is the bare minimum. Think in terms of being a competitive candidate. Also, with hiring figures like that, don't be a lawyer just to be a federal agent, because odds are you will be stuck being a lawyer.
3. Up to fifteen years ago the FBI was satisfied with limiting applicants with Law and Accounting Degrees. Obviously the need for more agents prompted the FBI to relax or open their applicant base. Therefore; they started accepting applicants with any accredited bachelors or masters degrees. Also, very importantly is a minimum of 3 years work experience. That's crucial even with a law degree, the FBI wants to know what type of employee you were at your other job, what kind of work you did, and how good you did it. I would suggest getting your bachelors degree. It could be in anything you like, criminal justice, accounting, teaching, you get the picture. Attend Law School, graduate. Or the alternative is; Once you turn 21 start applying for law enforcement positions, police officer, sheriff deputy, corrections officer, etc. You will get great work experience in the criminal justice field. You will also have an opportunity to work with other federal law enforcement agencies, which will give you the opportunity to see what there organization is like, and what is expected of there people. After 3 to 5 years file your application with all the federal law enforcement agencies. The reason you file with all of them is you have a foot in the door, let say if you get hired as a US Marshall, Border Patrol, Postal Inspector, DEA, or ATF agent you could be working and have your application in with the FBI, the FBI sees you are already in federal law enforcement it is a pretty easy leap. Good luck.
4. The FBI recruits from several sources including law schools, accounting schools and other police agencies. You will find that the reference to work experience refers to other jobs. The FBI can hire a lawyer immediately upon graduating from school, with no additional work experience. In fact, I don't know of any FBI agents who practiced law before joining the FBI.