What Does Law School Entail?
In order to practice law, lawyers must earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and then pass a state licensing exam, called “the Bar.”
Acquiring a J.D. requires approximately 7 years of education:
- Bachelors Degree (~4 years)
- Law School (~3 years)
Types of Programs
- Part-time programs that accommodate students who wish to continue working while taking course
- Extend the course of study to 4-5 years
- Combined degree programs (such as a JD/MBA)
- Extend the course of study beyond 3 years
Law School Curriculum
- 1st year: general law courses such as civil procedure, contracts, criminal law, property law, and torts.
- 2nd & 3rd year: elective courses in areas of interest
- Casebook method combined with Socratic teaching
- In preparation for class, students carefully read and research assigned cases and related judicial opinions
- In class, instructors ask students to clarify details, highlight underlying theories, and define rules in order to determine how well the students understood the material
- Law school teaches students how to "think like a lawyer" through class lectures, internships/externships, and work experience
- “Clinical” opportunities to help students acquire practical legal skills and transition smoothly into a legal career
- Extra-curricular activities, including law reviews (academic journals by students), Moot Court, and Client Counseling competitions
Licensing
- Graduates from accredited law schools are eligible to take state bar exams
- Most states require lawyers to pass a bar exam specifically for the state in which they intend to practice
- Some states have reciprocal agreements that allow lawyers to practice in several states after passing one bar exam
- All lawyers must be bar-approved in order to practice law.
What Should I Major In?
What Types of Classes Should I Take?