Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Lawyer

salary graphic

AVG. SALARY

$127,010

education graphic

EDUCATION

First professional degree

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Legal Services pathway.

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

First professional degree

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school - 4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a juris doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). ABA accreditation signifies that the law school - particularly its curricula and faculty - meets certain standards.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Law school is tough and you have to have high marks to get in. Once you're in, hard work will help set you apart from your classmates when it's time to search for a job.

Jonathan Bida is a new lawyer who earned several awards for academic achievement while completing his law degree.

"If you pay attention, if you have some modicum of interest in what you're doing, and you're committed to it, then I think you'll do well," he says of his law school experience. "I really can't see that I'm smarter than other people that I went to law school with. I think I worked harder than most."

Experts say law school graduates who are willing to move to find jobs and who have a specialty will have the easiest time finding employment.

Aspiring law students have to have a full, four-year degree before they start law school. Then, they must write an aptitude test (LSAT) to get into a law school. Law school is three years. At law school, they may attend specialized clinics or courses pertaining to a specific area of law.

Finally, they must pass a bar examination administered by a state law society in order to become a licensed lawyer.

Extra Requirements

Prospective lawyers take licensing exams called "bar exams." Lawyers who receive a license to practice law are "admitted to the bar." To practice law in any state, a person must be admitted to the state's bar under rules established by the jurisdiction's highest court. The requirements vary by individual states and jurisdictions. For more details on individual state and jurisdiction requirements, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

For additional information, visit these websites:

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.