What Education Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer takes approximately seven years of education after high school, as well as passing exams to enter law school to become licensed after graduation. According to the United States Department of Labor, although there are many different areas of law, such as nonprofit, government or private practice, admission to law school and the law job market are very competitive.

Undergraduate Degree

A lawyer must have a four year Bachelor's degree to enter law school, but there is no required major or course of study.

Law School Admission Test

To qualify for admission to law school, a prospective lawyer must be able to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which tests his reasoning skills as well as his ability to retain information and comprehend legal arguments.

Law School

Prospective lawyers must complete three years of law school, where they study general areas of law such as property law, contracts, constitutional law and legal writing.

Clinical Program

Law students generally must complete a clinical program where they work in legal offices and help with court cases, but this can differ by law school program.

Advanced Degrees

After completing law school, a lawyer earns his degree called juris doctor (J.D.) and can apply to take his state's bar exam to become licensed to practice law, or can continue specialized education for an additional year in areas like business administration.

Resources

• United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook