Navigating the Path: Educational Requirements to Become a Lawyer

Embarking on the journey to become a lawyer typically involves a rigorous educational path. Determining the education required to be a lawyer can be a confusing process, especially considering variations among different states. It’s important to note that requirements vary widely between states. Accordingly, the best way to ensure you are meeting your legal education requirements is to consult with your state’s bar association.

The Foundation: Undergraduate Education

The educational road to becoming a lawyer begins well before law school. The post-high-school education required to be a lawyer generally takes seven years. This includes four years of undergraduate study and three years of law school. Most lawyers first obtain a bachelor’s degree, followed by a Juris Doctor (JD) from a law school.

While some law schools will accept students with an associate’s degree, most schools require a bachelor’s degree for admissions. For example, The Colleges of Law is one of those schools, but most schools require a bachelor’s degree for admissions. However, most law schools will allow you to apply without having received your degree yet.

The American Bar Association (ABA) allows you to choose your field of study at the undergraduate level. Students can gain admission to law school from many areas of study. There's no correct major to pursue to get into law school. As you think about the best major for law school, remember that it’s okay to select an area of study that you enjoy. The path is varied, allowing students to customize their approach.

Choosing a Major: Skills and Knowledge

Think about what type of law you would like to practice so you can take related courses in your undergraduate studies. If you want to become a lawyer to help defend people accused of crimes, a criminal justice degree makes a lot of sense. Criminal justice would be an excellent fit if you want to practice criminal law. The ABA encourages aspiring lawyers to consider undergraduate studies that build their problem-solving, oral communication, and public service skills.

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Some law schools do add weight to your major. Practicing law requires a combination of legal knowledge and other skills. So many branches of law exist that almost any subject you choose to study could be helpful. Incorporating a diverse range of subjects throughout your education gives you a well-rounded baseline on which to specialize. Consider subjects that build your soft skills and contribute to your overall education.

Communication: A strong command of written and verbal English can mean the difference between a good lawyer and an average one. Consider taking classes that improve your communication, and participate in public speaking and debating activities. If you want to become a lawyer, the law does require a heavy emphasis on reading and writing. This area of study will help refine your grammar, critical thinking, and overall communication skills. You’ll also develop sophisticated knowledge of culture and society.
Philosophy and Ethics: Many legal cases involve ethical dilemmas. Studying philosophy will encourage you to flex your logic and reasoning muscles-important skills for lawyers who must back their interpretation of events or material by citing evidence.
Statistics: Part of being a lawyer is working through massive amounts of information and drawing logical conclusions.

Alternative Paths: Apprenticeships

In some states, you can become a lawyer without attending law school. Or, at least without attending the full three years. In four states-California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington-you can become a licensed attorney without attending law school at all. The apprenticeships typically require a minimum number of weekly hours worked in a legal practice for a specified period of time, some of which must be under the direct supervision of an attorney. This also requires a certain number of study hours.

The Gateway: Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

Another essential element of a legal education is taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). and Canada. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an entrance exam designed to assess an applicant’s reading comprehension and logical and verbal reasoning skills. The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is the traditional law school entrance exam - the one that most prospective law students take in order to qualify for law school. The LSAT is administered periodically throughout the year at specific testing centers as well as online. The LSAT is administered on a monthly basis at different locations throughout the world.

The primary part of the LSAT is a four-section multiple-choice test with questions intended to measure reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. The second part of the LSAT is a written essay, known as LSAT Writing, which is administered online using the test taker’s computer. One can complete LSAT Writing up to eight days prior to the multiple-choice test. For law schools considering applicants, undergraduate grades and the LSAT score are the primary factors. Accordingly, the higher your LSAT score, the better your chances of acceptance into a prestigious law school.

Scores are valid for five years, which means you can use your test results to apply to law school until 2028. Some schools no longer require LSAT scores as part of their admissions process. The State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), which accredits The Colleges of Law, does not mandate schools to use standardized exam scores.

The higher the LSAT score, the more competitive a law school applicant usually is. The LSATs are purpose-built to test people applying to law school and focus on the essential skills you’ll need to succeed there. The first part of the exam is entirely multiple-choice and aims to test your reading, comprehension, and reasoning skills.

Alternatives to the LSAT

However, prospective law students may also have the option to take the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, or GRE. Although many law schools require LSAT results, some are now accepting GRE scores in their place. The GRE is a more standardized test, ideal for anyone applying to various graduate programs. Now, about a quarter of American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools accept the GRE, and more will likely follow suit.

The Core: Law School (Juris Doctor Degree)

If you are able to maximize both your undergraduate GPA and your LSAT score, you should be able to get into law school. Earning a J.D. from an accredited institution such as The Colleges of Law will automatically qualify you to take the exam.

Since a J.D. is a postgraduate degree, earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is typically required to apply and get into law school. Full-time law programs typically require three years beyond undergrad and can be highly rigorous. Full-time J.D. programs typically last three years and usually are rigorous, especially during the first year, experts say. The law school curriculum generally covers some core areas of law for the first year and a half, such as criminal law, civil procedure, property law, and contracts. During this time, law students can also expect to learn the basics of legal writing and research.

After the midpoint of the three-year law school journey, law students can then choose courses specialized to types of law practices, such as bankruptcy, tax law, or environmental law. Many law students will seek to earn placement on their school’s law review or other legal journals, to develop and demonstrate their writing and research skills. Students can also apply for externships and legal clinics that will allow them to observe real-world legal activities. It’s also important to seek a well-rounded education that exposes the student to the realities of practicing law. Many facets of the profession, such as working at law firms, will be vastly different from your law school experience.

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Accreditation Matters

Obtaining your J.D. from a regionally accredited program or a program accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) is the best way to learn the information you’ll need to successfully complete the bar exam. Ensure the law school you choose is an ABA-accredited law school.

There is one important caveat to that: not all jurisdictions require ABA accreditation. For example, online law schools can give degrees that will allow you to sit for the bar exam in some jurisdictions. Some aspiring lawyers choose a non-accredited law school because the closest law school is hundreds of miles away. If you can sit for the bar exam with that degree and if the training will give you a good chance to pass the bar exam, then a non-accredited school might be the best option. Students should research this potential option thoroughly before pursuing it.

The Colleges of Law

The Colleges of Law offers a traditional J.D. program for in-person instruction and a groundbreaking Hybrid J.D. program that combines online learning with intensive residencies. For more flexibility, The Colleges of Law offers a Hybrid J.D. The Colleges of Law has two campuses in California, one located in Ventura and one in Santa Barbara.

Beyond the Classroom: Essential Skills and Experiences

Gaining some work experience can be a powerful addition to your application. Participate in legal research as part of an undergraduate degree program or take some time after earning your degree to work as a paralegal.

The Final Hurdle: The Bar Exam

You must take and pass the bar examination before you’re licensed to practice law in a state. The most demanding and time-consuming step to become a lawyer in California is passing the state’s bar exam. Bar exams tend to be comprehensive, difficult, and a test of endurance. Depending on the state, the exam will take two or three days. Moreover, bar exams are generally only available twice a year. This raises the stakes for each exam. It also could add extra time, especially if you don’t pass on the first attempt.

The California Bar Exam is a two-day test consisting of five essay questions, one 90-minute performance test, and 200 multiple-choice questions. Preparing for this exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Much like training for a marathon, you should condition yourself over time to handle the strains of the experience. A law degree from The Colleges of Law can greatly increase your level of preparedness for the bar exam.

Even after passing the bar exam, there will likely be other requirements that will vary from state to state. For example, you may need to pass a professional responsibility exam. Many states also have character and fitness requirements.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

Before you can sit for the California Bar Exam, you’ll need to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is only administered on specific dates throughout the year. Once you’ve been accepted to law school and started working on your JD, you’ll also begin preparing for the bar exam. Before taking it, you must take the MPRE, which occurs commonly in your second year of law school. The exam is two hours long and covers 60 multiple-choice questions.

Components of the Bar Exam

Once you’ve passed the MPRE, you can complete an application to sit for the bar exam. Your state’s bar association administers this exam, and you must pass it to practice law in that area. You need to file a Petition for Admission of Examination through your state’s board of bar examiners, which acts as an application to take the exam on a specific date. The bar exam takes place over two days. It comprises three parts - the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). Each part consists of a combination of multiple-choice questions and written essays.

Maintaining Licensure

Congratulations on passing the bar exam! Now it’s time to maintain your licensure. California lawyers are required to complete at least 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) training every three years. The Colleges of Law offers professional legal courses for practicing lawyers to continue their education in the evolving legal field.

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