Education · 1 of 5

The path

Seven years of school, one very hard exam, then you learn the actual job in a courtroom.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   There is no pre-law requirement. Take the classes that teach you to read hard text and argue in writing.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major is allowed. Political science, history, English and philosophy are common, but engineers and nurses get in too. Your GPA is one of the two numbers that matter.

3. 3

   LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

   Months of prep

   The other number that matters. It is accepted by every law school approved by the American Bar Association, and applications run through the Law School Admission Council.

4. 4

   Law school

   3 years

   Three years full time. First year is contracts, torts, criminal law, civil procedure and property. After that, choose criminal clinics and a public defender internship.

5. 5

   Bar exam and admission

   Summer after graduation

   Each state admits its own lawyers. Most now use the Uniform Bar Examination, which is being replaced by the NextGen version between July 2026 and July 2028. Add an ethics exam and a character and fitness review.