Education · 1 of 5

The path

Seven years after high school at a minimum, and there is no shortcut in almost every state.

1. 1

   Bachelor's degree, any subject

   4 years

   There is no required pre-law major. Grades and writing ability matter far more than what you studied.

2. 2

   The LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

   Months of preparation

   The admission test accepted by every accredited law school. Your score and your grade point average decide which schools and which scholarships open up.

3. 3

   Law school

   3 years

   Three years for the juris doctor degree. Take employment discrimination, labor law and a workers' rights clinic if the school has one.

4. 4

   The bar examination

   2 to 3 months of study

   Taken after graduation in the state where you want to practice, plus a separate ethics exam and a character and fitness background check.

5. 5

   Associate, then partner, agency or in-house

   5 to 10 years

   You start doing research, taking witness statements and drafting. Real responsibility for your own cases comes in a few years.