Education · 1 of 5

The path

This is a second career, not a first one. Nobody becomes a judge in their twenties.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   English, government, history and debate. Judges read and argue for a living.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major. Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), which is the test every accredited law school accepts.

3. 3

   Law school

   3 years

   Three years for a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Grades, legal writing and law review matter more here than anywhere else.

4. 4

   Pass the bar exam

   A few months after law school

   Each state admits its own lawyers. You must be a member in good standing before any bench will consider you.

5. 5

   Practice law

   10 to 20 years

   Prosecutor, public defender, litigator or government attorney. Most judges have 10 to 20 years behind them.

6. 6

   Elected or appointed

   Varies

   Depending on your state, you either run for the seat or are nominated by a governor, a commission or the president.