Did you know that becoming a lawyer in New York can lead to an annual mean wage of $188,900? That’s right—New York lawyers are the eighth-highest paid in the nation.
The journey, however, requires several specific steps. First, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Next, you must pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or take the GRE. After that, completing three years at an ABA-accredited law school is essential before finally passing the bar exam, which had an 83% pass rate in July 2018.
The lawyer education required is certainly demanding, but the rewards are substantial. The median annual pay for U.S. lawyers reached $145,760 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, job projections for lawyers in New York are particularly promising, with an estimated 11.5% increase in employment opportunities from 2016 to 2026.
If you’re wondering how long it takes to become a lawyer, the path typically requires at least seven years of education beyond high school. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to become a lawyer, breaking down the educational requirements for a lawyer and providing expert insights to help you navigate this challenging but rewarding career path.
Step 1: Complete Your Undergraduate Education
“Don’t join an easy crowd; you won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high.” — Jim Rohn, Entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker.
The foundation of your legal career begins with your bachelor’s degree. While exploring how to become a lawyer, you’ll discover that law schools accept students from virtually any undergraduate discipline. Your choice of major, nevertheless, can significantly impact your readiness for the challenges ahead.
Choose a major that builds critical thinking.
Law schools don’t prescribe specific undergraduate majors. Instead, they seek students who demonstrate strong analytical thinking and communication abilities. Majors that develop these skills include:
- Political Science/Government
- Philosophy
- History
- English/Literature
- Economics
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
The American Bar Association recommends pursuing areas that interest and challenge you while developing crucial skills in problem-solving, critical reading, writing, research, and oral communication [1]. Furthermore, studies indicate that students typically earn higher grades in subjects they find engaging, essentially making your passion a strategic advantage [2].
Understand how long it takes to become a lawyer.
Typically, becoming a lawyer requires seven years of education following high school: four years for your undergraduate degree plus three years of law school [3]. This timeline assumes full-time study and prompt progression between academic programs. Moreover, nearly all students who take the bar exam within two years of graduating from an ABA-accredited law school pass [4].
Your undergraduate GPA plays a crucial role in law school admissions. While admission to top-tier law schools generally requires a minimum 3.59 GPA [4], remember that challenging yourself with rigorous coursework demonstrates your readiness for legal education [5].
Work with a pre-law advisor if available.
Many undergraduate institutions assign pre-law advisors specifically to guide students interested in legal careers [1]. These advisors can help you:
- Develop a strategic four-year plan.
- Identify relevant coursework and extracurricular activities.
- Connect with internship opportunities.
- Navigate the law school application process.
- Prepare for the LSAT
Ideally, planning for law school should begin as early as possible [6]. One-on-one professional advising provides personalized guidance throughout your undergraduate journey, ensuring you’re strategically positioning yourself for success.
Step 2: Prepare for and Take the LSAT
After securing your undergraduate degree, the next crucial step on your journey toward becoming a lawyer is preparing for and taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This standardized test serves as a gateway to law schools across the nation.
What the LSAT tests and why it matters
The LSAT doesn’t test substantive law knowledge. Instead, it evaluates skills essential for first-year law school success: analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. Notably, the LSAT is a better predictor of first-year success than undergraduate GPA [7]. Scored on a scale from 120 to 180 (with an average score around 150), this test significantly impacts your admissions prospects.
Even a small improvement in your score can dramatically affect your opportunities—jumping from a 157 to 160 takes you from the 65th percentile to the 75th [8], potentially opening doors to higher-ranking schools with better resources and employment prospects.
Tips for studying and improving your score
First, most test-takers need two to three months to prepare effectively [9]. Studying too long risks burnout, while rushing limits your potential. Consider these approaches:
- Take a diagnostic test to establish your baseline score.
- Choose quality resources rather than quantity—fan favorites include The Loophole in LSAT Logical Reasoning and The LSAT Tutor [8]
- Create a consistent study schedule—treat LSAT prep like a job with structured hours.
- Practice with officially released tests, especially under timed conditions.
- Thoroughly review incorrect answers to avoid repeating mistakes
For optimal results, the June LSAT is ideal for most applicants. This timing allows you to receive your score in July and still have ample time to prepare applications by September [9]. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to retake in September if necessary, while still submitting applications relatively early.
How many years to become a lawyer, including LSAT prep
Including LSAT preparation, the entire journey typically spans seven to eight years from beginning college until becoming licensed [10]. Ideally, you should take the LSAT at least six months before law school application deadlines. College juniors hoping to enter law school immediately after graduation should plan to take the exam during the spring of junior year, the summer after, or the fall of senior year [10].
Step 3: Attend an ABA-Accredited Law School
“We, as lawyers and humans, hate to admit to failure. But to lead and to innovate in the legal field, we need to challenge ourselves constantly.” — Selina Grun, Former law student, legal commentator.
Once you’ve conquered the LSAT, your path to becoming a lawyer continues with perhaps the most intensive phase: law school. Gaining admission to an ABA-accredited institution represents a critical milestone in your legal journey.
Lawyer education required: What is a J.D.?
The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is the graduate-entry professional degree that prepares individuals to practice law. Originating in the United States in 1902, it’s the most frequently awarded law degree and the standard qualification for legal practice [11]. This professional doctorate typically requires three years of full-time study, yet the American Bar Association doesn’t permit an accredited J.D. to be issued in less than two years [11].
The J.D. curriculum employs a scientific approach to analyzing and teaching law through logic and adversarial analysis, including casebook and Socratic methods [11]. Upon graduation, students must pass the bar examination to practice law.
Coursework and credit hour requirements
Under ABA rules, law students must complete no fewer than 83 credit hours to graduate, with at least 64 of these hours in courses requiring attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions [12]. These credits must be completed between 24-84 months after beginning law school [12].
The typical J.D. program includes:
- Foundational courses: constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, property, and torts
- Required professional responsibility coursework
- Experiential learning opportunities (minimum six credits)
- Legal writing and research instruction
First-year coursework tends to be rigorous and standardized, with more flexibility in the second and third years [13].
Internships and field placements during law school
Field placements and internships offer invaluable opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. These experiences allow you to build legal credentials, make professional connections, and refine your skills under the guidance of licensed attorneys or judges [14].
Many law schools provide extensive field placement programs, with some institutions offering over 500 externships annually [15]. These placements include opportunities with government agencies, judicial chambers, and nonprofit organizations—often in conjunction with academic components to enhance learning [16].
Legal clinics present another option, enabling you to work on actual cases under faculty supervision while remaining on campus [14]. Through these experiences, you’ll draft motions, assist in negotiations, and potentially even argue before a judge—practical skills that make you more competitive in the job market [14].
Step 4: Pass the Bar Exam and Get Licensed
The final hurdle in your legal journey involves passing essential exams and fulfilling licensing requirements. This critical phase transforms you from a law school graduate into a practicing attorney.
Take the MPRE and New York Bar Exam
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests your knowledge of established standards for lawyers’ professional conduct. With a passing score of 85 in New York, this two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam is administered three times yearly—in March, August, and November [17]. Your passing score remains valid for four years from your test date [17].
For the New York Bar Exam, you’ll need to create an NCBE Account to obtain an NCBE Number before registering [18]. The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) consists of:
- Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)—six 30-minute questions
- Multistate Performance Test (MPT)—two 90-minute skills questions
- Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)—a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test
Register and complete character & fitness review
Character and fitness review is an essential element for bar admission [19]. This thorough evaluation assesses your integrity, trustworthiness, and diligence [20]. The process requires disclosure of:
- Criminal records (including sealed/expunged records in some jurisdictions)
- Academic misconduct
- Financial responsibility issues
- Mental health and substance use treatment (in some jurisdictions)
Consequently, candor is crucial—lack of disclosure is the most common issue that results in hearings [21]. I recommend gathering documentation well in advance, as the process can take 3-5 months [2].
Meet continuing legal education (CLE) requirements
Once licensed, you must fulfill continuing legal education requirements. In South Carolina, for example, attorneys must complete 14 hours of approved CLE courses annually [1]. This typically includes:
- Minimum ethics hours (two hours in South Carolina)
- Substance abuse/mental health training (required biannually in some jurisdictions)
- In-person attendance requirements (six hours in South Carolina) [1]
Consequently, meeting these ongoing education requirements is essential for maintaining your license to practice law.
Conclusion
The Path Forward: Your Legal Career Begins
Becoming a lawyer undoubtedly requires significant commitment. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the comprehensive journey from undergraduate studies through bar admission, revealing a path that typically spans seven to eight years of dedicated effort.
Your journey begins with a bachelor’s degree in any field, though majors that develop critical thinking and communication skills provide distinct advantages. LSAT preparation subsequently becomes your gateway to law school, with even small score improvements potentially opening doors to better institutions.
Law school itself presents rigorous challenges, demanding at least 83 credit hours of coursework alongside valuable internships and field placements. These practical experiences significantly enhance your marketability after graduation.
Finally, passing the bar exam transforms your education into a professional license. Character and fitness reviews, though time-consuming, ensure the legal profession maintains its integrity. Additionally, continuing legal education requirements guarantee lawyers remain current with evolving legal standards.
Though challenging, this career path offers substantial rewards. The median annual salary of $145,760 reflects the value society places on legal expertise. Furthermore, employment projections, particularly in states like New York, indicate strong growth opportunities for new attorneys.
Remember, success in this field comes not just from completing requirements but from genuine passion for legal work. Whether your interest lies in corporate law, public service, or advocacy, the path described here provides your foundation.
For those ready to embark on this journey, the steps outlined above offer a clear roadmap. Start planning early, challenge yourself academically, and maintain focus on your long-term goals. Your future legal career awaits!
FAQs
Q1. How long does it typically take to become a lawyer? The journey to becoming a lawyer usually takes about 7-8 years after high school. This includes 4 years for a bachelor’s degree, 3 years of law school, and several months of preparation for the bar exam.
Q2. Do I need a specific undergraduate major to become a lawyer? No specific major is required, but majors that develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and communication skills are beneficial. Popular choices include Political Science, Philosophy, History, English, and Economics.
Q3. What is the LSAT, and why is it important? The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized test that evaluates skills essential for law school success. It’s crucial because it’s a significant factor in law school admissions and a better predictor of first-year success than undergraduate GPA.
Q4. What is involved in the character and fitness review for bar admission? The character and fitness review assesses an applicant’s integrity and trustworthiness. It involves disclosing information about criminal records, academic misconduct, financial responsibility issues, and, in some cases, mental health and substance use treatment history.
Q5. Are there ongoing educational requirements after becoming a licensed lawyer? Yes, most jurisdictions require lawyers to complete Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses annually. These typically include ethics training, substance abuse/mental health education, and a minimum number of in-person attendance hours to maintain their license to practice law.
