Discover what education and other requirements you need to become a lawyer.
Very few people enjoy navigating the legal system. That's what lawyers are for. They have the expertise to help ordinary people who are involved in legal proceedings.
There are many types of lawyers, but all require a certain amount of education. Below, we'll break down what it takes to become a lawyer, including the education and exams involved.
Becoming a Lawyer
A lawyer is a professional who represents clients in court and guides clients through legal processes and proceedings.
There are many types of lawyers, each with their own specialty.
Some common types of lawyers include:
To become a lawyer, you need to attend a bachelor's program followed by law school. You'll also need to pass a few different exams and may need to fulfill other requirements depending on your state.
Becoming a lawyer requires several years of education as well as exams and experience. We'll break down all the steps for you below.
<h3 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h3><p>Before you can start grad school, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degree programs are usually about 120 credits and take about four years to complete.
</p><p>Some schools offer pre-law bachelor's programs, but there is no specific major that you need to have to qualify for grad school.
</p><p><b>Some common bachelor's degrees for pre-law students include:</b>
</p><ul><li>arts and humanities
</li><li>business administration
</li><li>communications
</li><li>criminal justice
</li><li>economics
</li><li>English
</li><li>finance
</li><li>history
</li><li>philosophy
</li><li>political science
</li><li>psychology
</li><li>sociology
</li></ul><p>While in college, you may want to consider participating in an activity like debate, mock trial, or speech. These activities develop your speaking and debate skills and teach you to argue persuasively.
</p><h3 id="section---Step2PassTheLSAT">Step 2: Pass the LSAT</h3><p>Most law schools require students to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) before they can be admitted.
</p><p>The LSAT is a standardized exam that assesses how ready a student is for law school and can predict a student's first-year success.
</p><p>The LSAT test has a multiple-choice component and a writing component.
</p><p><b>There are three parts to the multiple-choice component:</b>
</p><ul><li>analytical reasoning
</li><li>logical reasoning
</li><li>reading comprehension
</li></ul><p>All questions on the multiple-choice exam are weighed equally. Most students have the option of taking the multiple-choice component of the LSAT either in person or online.
</p><p>The writing portion of the test can be done remotely starting eight days before your multiple-choice test.
</p><p>You will be given a prompt and asked to choose between two choices and to defend your choice. Copies of your writing sample are sent to all the schools you apply to.
</p><p>To help you prepare for the test, the Law School Admissions Council offers prep materials on its website.
</p><p>Some law schools will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) in lieu of the LSAT.
</p><h3 id="section---Step3CompleteGradSchool">Step 3: Complete Grad School</h3><p>After you've earned your bachelor's, you'll need to continue your education in law school. These programs are usually about three years long and can be grueling.
</p><p>Law schools are often highly selective, so it may be in your best interest to apply to multiple programs.
</p><p>Look for schools that are a good match for you and offer the type of law specializations that you're looking for.
</p><p>Most law students earn a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Is_a_Law_Degree_a_Masters_Degree_or_a_Professional_Degree.html">Juris Doctorate (JD) degree</a>. These programs teach students about legislation, procedures, professional responsibility, regulation, and more.
</p><p>You'll also most likely need to fulfill some sort of residency or hands-on experience requirements as well.
</p><p>You can find a list of American Bar Association-accredited law schools at americanbar.org.
</p><h3 id="section---Step4PassTheBarExam">Step 4: Pass the Bar Exam</h3><p>In nearly every state, you'll need to pass an exam to be admitted to the bar, which allows you to become licensed and <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Law_Practice_FAQs.html">practice law</a>.
</p><p>Most states use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) administered through the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
</p><p><b>The exam is made of three parts:</b>
</p><ul><li>Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), which is made up of six essay questions
</li><li>Multistate Performance Test (MPT), which is made up of two 90-minute tasks
</li><li>Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within six hours
</li></ul><p>A few states offer their own bar exams.
</p><p><b>These states are:</b>
</p><ul><li>California
</li><li>Delaware
</li><li>Florida
</li><li>Georgia
</li><li>Hawaii
</li><li>Louisiana
</li><li>Mississippi
</li><li>Nevada
</li><li>South Dakota
</li><li>Virginia
</li><li>Wisconsin
</li></ul><p>Wisconsin also offers something called 'diploma privilege' to students who graduate with a JD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Marquette University.
</p><p>This means that students from these schools do not need to sit for the bar exam to be admitted to the Wisconsin bar.
</p><h3 id="section---Step5ObtainLicensure">Step 5: Obtain Licensure</h3><p>Licensure for lawyers is administered at the state level, and as a result, the process for applying for and maintaining licensure varies by state.
</p><p>Most states require you to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) before you can be sworn in.
</p><p>This exam is also offered by the NCBE and is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice test that focuses on the laws covering the conduct and discipline of judges and lawyers.
</p><p>Some states may also require you to earn continuing education credits to keep your license valid.
</p><h2 id="section---BecomeALawyer">Become a Lawyer</h2><p>Becoming a lawyer requires a four-year bachelor's degree and a three-year <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Some_Top-Tier_Law_Schools_in_the_US.html">law school program</a>, as well as passing the LSAT and bar exam.</p>
