how much schooling does it take to become a lawyer?

Hi Mataieoa!

This is a great question and becoming a lawyer is hard work. My father is a lawyer and so are a handful of my friends. As someone who considered law school myself I am aware of the necessary work. There are a variety of paths to becoming a lawyer and it truly depends on what state you are located in as the requirements can vary slightly between states (the American Bar Association can help with some of this: https://www.americanbar.org/).

Generally speaking though, you will need to complete your undergraduate college degree (BA/BS/etc.), then begin researching law schools, sign up for and take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test - https://www.lsac.org/lsat), apply to law schools with that test result, then complete your Law School degree (Juris Doctorate, aka JD), and then you will need to sit for the Bar exam in your state. These are multi-day exams that are required for all lawyers to pass. Beyond that you must complete continuing education units every year and maintain your Bar membership for the states you are practicing in.

TL:DR Usually 7 years (minimum) of schooling after you complete your high school degree. You will need a completed undergraduate (BA, BS, etc.) degree (~4 years), a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree (~3 years), and a passing score on the bar exam (offered a few times a year, no specific waiting time).