How to Become a Lawyer: Steps and School

To become a lawyer, you typically earn a bachelor’s degree in any major, take a law school admission test, complete a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program, then pass your state’s bar exam and a character and fitness review. Most states also require a separate ethics exam. From the start of college, the path usually takes about seven years.

What lawyers actually do all day

Most legal work is reading, writing and negotiating. Courtroom scenes are a small slice, even for trial lawyers.

Litigators spend most of their time on research, written motions, document review and depositions. Most cases settle before trial.
Transactional lawyers draft and negotiate contracts, deals, leases and business agreements, and may never see a courtroom.
Government lawyers work as prosecutors, public defenders and agency counsel.
Public interest lawyers work at legal aid groups and nonprofits on housing, immigration, family and civil rights matters.
In-house lawyers advise one company on contracts, employment and compliance.

Many firms track time in small increments and set yearly hour targets, so deadlines and client demands shape your week.

The education route

Bachelor’s degree: there is no required prelaw major. History, philosophy, English, political science and economics are common, and engineering or science graduates are welcome. Pick a major where you will earn strong grades and write a lot.
Admission test: the LSAT is the standard law school admission test, and many law schools also accept the GRE.
Juris Doctor: three years full time, or often four years in a part-time evening program. The first year covers core subjects like contracts, torts, property, civil procedure and criminal law.
Accreditation: most states require a degree from an ABA-accredited law school to take the bar. A handful allow other routes, such as studying under a practicing lawyer.

If you are still choosing a college major, see how to choose a major.

Licensing: the bar and beyond

Each state licenses its own lawyers. In general you need to pass the bar exam, usually a multi-day test; pass the MPRE, a separate exam on professional responsibility required in most states; and clear a character and fitness review of your history, finances and honesty on the application. Many states use a uniform bar exam whose score can transfer, and a redesigned national exam began rolling out in 2026, so check what your state will give when you sit. Your state’s board of bar examiners has the current rules.

A step-by-step path from high school

Join debate, mock trial or the school paper, and take writing-heavy classes.
In college, protect your GPA. Law schools weigh grades and the test score heavily.
Get to know two or three professors well enough that they can write strong recommendations.
Work or intern somewhere legal: a law office, a courthouse, a legal aid group or a government office.
Study for the LSAT seriously, usually over a few months, and apply in the fall a year before you want to start.
In law school, use summers for legal jobs and try a clinic where you work on real cases under supervision.
Graduate, study for the bar full time if you can, and start your first job.

Test the fit before applying

Watch hearings at your local courthouse. Most are open to the public.
Do informational interviews with lawyers in two very different practice areas.
Work a year or two as a paralegal or legal assistant. Many people apply after working, and it shows you the real job.
Read a few full court decisions online. If close reading of dense text bores you, notice that.

Who enjoys law, and why some leave it

Lawyers who enjoy the work tend to love precise language, can argue either side and stay calm under deadlines. People leave over long hours, student debt and the adversarial grind. A law degree still opens doors in compliance, policy, business, nonprofit leadership and teaching.

Career changers

Law is a common second career, and part-time programs let you keep working. Your first field can become your niche: a technical degree can qualify you for the patent bar, and a background in healthcare, finance or teaching can lead to health law, financial regulation or education law. Our guides on whether to go to grad school and changing careers help you weigh the cost. For current pay and outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Where a mentor helps

The law path is long, and most of it is self-directed. A mentor helps college students and young professionals explore whether law fits, plan the years before applying, stay accountable through LSAT study and coursework, organize applications and prepare for the first legal job. Mentors are not lawyers giving legal advice, admissions counselors or bar licensing experts. Learn about career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.

Common questions

What should I major in if I want to be a lawyer?

Any major works. Choose one where you will earn strong grades and do a lot of reading and writing.

Do I have to take the LSAT?

The LSAT is the standard test, but many law schools also accept the GRE. Check each school’s policy before you decide which to study for.

Can I work while in law school?

Full-time programs generally discourage working during the first year. Part-time evening programs are designed for people who keep a job.

Can I take the bar exam in any state?

Each state sets its own rules. Some accept a transferred uniform exam score, while others require their own exam or extra steps.

Get started

Considering law school and want help planning the next few years? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

How to Become a Lawyer: Steps, School and What to Expect