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isabel
Student
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1
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Asked
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how much years does it take to become a lawyer
like how much years ,what are the best schools for it #lawyer
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4 answers
Lauren (Qian) Lin
LL.M. in International Business Law
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Lauren (Qian)’s Answer
Generally, it takes 7 years' full-time study after high school. It includes 4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. The amount of time really depends on when you will pass the bar exam of your state, when you will pass the legal profession test such as Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), and when you will finish the mandatory pro-bono requirement in many states. I actually finished a bachelor's degree of law outside of the U.S., then come to the U.S. for a master's degree in law, it takes 5-6 years in total if I pass the state bar exam on the first try.
The best law schools are usually T14, check this law school ranking website: https://7sage.com/top-law-school-rankings/. To be accepted by these law schools, they take comprehensive consideration on GPA, LSAT score, and extracurricular activities. It takes effort, but totally worth it.
Great answer Qian! Just curious - why did you pick this question to answer out of all the questions about legal professions?
Philip Xiao
Harris Oliner
Attorney
12
Answers
Lawrence, New York
Updated
Harris’s Answer
Usually 4 years of college and 3 years of Law school in the US.
Glenn Rowley
Attorney
36
Answers
Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
Updated
Glenn’s Answer
Isabel,
Lauren's answer is a good one. How long it takes you to finish your undergraduate college work depends on you, how hard you work, and how careful you are about taking the right classes at the right time. As Lauren said, 4 years is the usual answer to how long it takes to get a bachelor's degree in college in the U.S. But some complete it in only three years by taking more classes each semester and by not taking summers off. Some can only attend college part time while they work. So, it can take them 5 or more years to graduate. It just depends on your circumstances and how hard you are willing to work.
Once you have graduated college, you then have to attend and graduate from Law School. Those who attend Law School full-time graduate in three years. There are a few Law Schools that offer part-time classes at night so that working people can attend Law School. Those people typically take four years to graduate from Law School.
After you graduate from Law School, you must take and pass a bar exam in the State in which you want to be licensed to practice law. Bar exams are typically offered twice a year, once in July, and once in February. If, like most Law Students, you graduate in April or May, then you typically study for and then take the Bar Exam in July. In some states, the results from the bar exam don't get released until as late as September.
If you pass the bar exam, then you have to get sworn in to the bar. Most states have swearing in ceremonies within a few weeks of the publishing of the bar exam results.
So, let's say you graduate from High School in May of 2024. And let's assume that you start college in August or September of 2024. Then, if you take the usual amount of time to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from college, you would graduate in April or May of 2028. Typically, you would then start Law School in August or September 2028, and graduate in April or May 2031. You would typically take the bar exam in July 2031, and if you passed you would likely be sworn in in September 2031. Then, you would be a lawyer.
Warmest regards,
Glenn
Get great grades in High School
Do great on the SAT or ACT test
Apply to and get admitted to the best college you can afford
Study hard in college and get great grades
Do great on the LSAT test
Lauren's answer is a good one. How long it takes you to finish your undergraduate college work depends on you, how hard you work, and how careful you are about taking the right classes at the right time. As Lauren said, 4 years is the usual answer to how long it takes to get a bachelor's degree in college in the U.S. But some complete it in only three years by taking more classes each semester and by not taking summers off. Some can only attend college part time while they work. So, it can take them 5 or more years to graduate. It just depends on your circumstances and how hard you are willing to work.
Once you have graduated college, you then have to attend and graduate from Law School. Those who attend Law School full-time graduate in three years. There are a few Law Schools that offer part-time classes at night so that working people can attend Law School. Those people typically take four years to graduate from Law School.
After you graduate from Law School, you must take and pass a bar exam in the State in which you want to be licensed to practice law. Bar exams are typically offered twice a year, once in July, and once in February. If, like most Law Students, you graduate in April or May, then you typically study for and then take the Bar Exam in July. In some states, the results from the bar exam don't get released until as late as September.
If you pass the bar exam, then you have to get sworn in to the bar. Most states have swearing in ceremonies within a few weeks of the publishing of the bar exam results.
So, let's say you graduate from High School in May of 2024. And let's assume that you start college in August or September of 2024. Then, if you take the usual amount of time to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from college, you would graduate in April or May of 2028. Typically, you would then start Law School in August or September 2028, and graduate in April or May 2031. You would typically take the bar exam in July 2031, and if you passed you would likely be sworn in in September 2031. Then, you would be a lawyer.
Warmest regards,
Glenn
Glenn recommends the following next steps:
TWINOMUHWEZI BRIAN BRONNIE
11
Answers
Updated
TWINOMUHWEZI’s Answer
Prospective lawyers must complete a series of steps to become a lawyer. Lawyers typically need about seven years of college. After high school, interested students need to complete a bachelor's degree, which usually requires four years of study.