How to Become a Lawyer: A Complete Guide by Academy Studtents

So, you've decided you want to become a lawyer? Congratulations! Lawyers tend to be some of society's most prestigious and well-paid professionals. But we'll be frank: you've got a long road ahead of you that will require dedication, hard work, and (likely) a lot of coffee. 

Fortunately, you're about to read this guide, which lays out everything you need to know about how to become a lawyer, from what to possibly major in during your undergraduate studies, and when you should take the LSAT, to how to prepare for the law school admissions requirements, and what to do after you pass the bar exam … and everything else in between.

By the time you finish reading, you'll understand exactly what you need to do to turn your dream of becoming a lawyer into reality. Let's begin!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(click to skip ahead)

• How to become a lawyer
• Step One: Earn a bachelor's degree
• Step Two: Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Step Three: Apply to and complete law school
• Step Four: Pass the Bar Examination
• Step Five: Obtain Your License
• How long does it take to become a lawyer?
• Important skills for lawyers
• Types of lawyers
• How much does a lawyer earn?
• Can you be a lawyer without going to law school?
• Final thoughts

How to become a lawyer

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree

2. Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

3. Apply to and complete law school

4. Pass the Bar Examination

5. Obtain Your License

And here’s detail on how to complete each of those steps:

Step One: Earn a bachelor's degree

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to meet the application requirements at most law schools. Why did we say “most law schools” instead of “all”? Well, there are some law schools that accept students without a bachelor’s degree.

For example, the Glendale University of College of Law accepts students with  “an AA or AS degree, or a minimum of 60 bachelor degree-applicable units from a regionally accredited college.”

Still, without a bachelor’s degree, your options for law school would be limited, and you may miss the chance to develop some essential skills.

What degree do you need to be a lawyer?

You may think you need to major in politics, history, economics, or some other field related to the legal profession during your undergraduate studies. But here’s the truth: law schools don’t care what you major in. What they do care about is your GPA and LSAT score.

So, pick an undergraduate major that interests you and that allows you to develop skills like critical thinking and logical argumentation—those will be important for both the LSAT and law school itself. That way, you can focus on learning and getting the best grades possible instead of trying to predict what might look good on your law school applications.

Step Two: Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The next step in the process is to take either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Depending on the law school you're applying to, some may require the LSAT as the only admission test, while others may accept the LSAT or GRE.

For example, Harvard Law School accepts applicants with LSAT or GRE scores. Their admissions website also states that they do not have a preference for either exam. On the other hand, Emory University School of Law requires applicants to submit LSAT scores.

When can you take the LSAT?

Here are the official LSAT test dates and registration deadlines for 2023 and 2024.

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