Guide on How to Become a Lawyer: What You Should Know

Law has always been one of the most respected and demanding careers. Lawyers shape society, policy, and everyday lives by protecting against oppression and ensuring justice.

Being one isn’t as simple as wanting to help people or believing you’re good at debates. In actuality, you’re looking at decades (an 18-year average) of providing judgment/arguments and swaying the opinions of the court. It’s one of the biggest commitments one can make.

But–how to become a lawyer?

That’s an entity in itself, and I’m here to break it down for you.

Key Takeaways

• Education Comes First: You have to earn a bachelor’s degree before applying to law school, though no specific undergraduate major is required.
• Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT): Scoring well on the LSAT—or either the LSAT or GRE, depending on the school- helps you get admission to most law schools.
• Law School Teaches More Than Law: Law students don’t just study constitutional law, civil procedure, and corporate law. They develop skills in legal research, logical reasoning, and communication.
• The Bar Exam is a Serious Hurdle: Passing the bar exam is required in most states to earn a license to practice law and start handling legal matters.
• Many Paths, One Profession: A law degree can lead to careers in real estate law, tax law, labor law, or even becoming a law professor or federal judge—the legal profession is diverse.

Start with the Right Undergraduate Path

Every lawyer must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably from an outstanding school. (The better the school, the better the jobs you get afterward.)

And there’s no “perfect” undergraduate major—real estate law, criminal defense, and corporate law all welcome diverse academic backgrounds. However, law schools are far more likely to accept students who have excellent writing, communication, and research skills.

Majors like political science, philosophy, economics, and English are common, but what’s more important is showing academic rigor and intellectual curiosity.

Before you actually prepare for law school, you also want to get involved. Volunteer work, legal internships, and mock trial teams give your law school application depth beyond just a GPA. It helps you gain the necessary skills to succeed in this stressful profession.

Law school itself is only going to teach you so much. You need real-world experience, and that should start well before you begin practicing.

Prepare for the LSAT

Before applying to law school, you’ll need to take either the LSAT or, at some law schools, the GRE. Still, most law schools in the U.S. require the Law School Admission Test.

The LSAT evaluates your logical reasoning, analytical skills, and reading comprehension, which are all important to be successful in law. Almost anyone can memorize laws, but thinking like a lawyer? Easier said than done.

• Logical reasoning: Spot flawed arguments and draw accurate conclusions.
• Analytical reasoning: Analyze puzzles and see how information fits together.
• Reading comprehension: Understand complex legal passages quickly and correctly.

Studying for the LSAT takes months. Many future law students use prep courses or free tools offered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which administers the test.

The LSAC also runs the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), a centralized platform that processes your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statement during the law school application process.

Here are a few of my reviews on the top LSAT prep courses, including Blueprint LSAT, Kaplan, and Magoosh.

Attend Law School—and Make the Most of It

Once admitted, attending law school usually takes three years full-time. You’ll earn a Juris Doctor (JD), which is the most common law degree and a requirement to practice law in the U.S.

First-year courses are often standard across programs:

• Constitutional law
• Civil procedure
• Legal writing
• Property law
• Criminal law
• Contracts

After 1L year, law students can focus on specialties like tax law, labor law, or corporate law, whichever aligns with their interests.

Students learn to write legal documents, conduct legal research, and prepare for the courtroom through clinics and moot court competitions. These real-world experiences will help you build confidence in legal work and understand different legal matters.

Remember: Networking, joining student organizations, and meeting practicing lawyers during externships will open doors after graduation.

Pass the Bar Exam and Get Licensed

Graduating from law school isn’t enough. You still need to pass the bar exam and meet your state’s licensing requirements to become a licensed attorney. There are only four states that allow you to take the bar exam without law school.

The bar examination is administered by each jurisdiction, and most states use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which includes:

• Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) – multiple-choice questions on general legal principles
• Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) – written analysis of legal problems
• Multistate Performance Test (MPT) – simulates tasks lawyers perform in practice

Some states, like California and Florida, have their own exams, including state-specific law.

Beyond passing the test, you’ll need to meet character and fitness standards. That includes a background check, disclosure of past misconduct, and references attesting to your moral character.

👉 Treat your bar study schedule like you’re working a full-time job. Many people underestimate how intense and mentally draining it is.

Once you pass, you’ll receive your law license, which lets you practice law in that particular state. Some attorneys later apply for reciprocity to work in other jurisdictions.

Choose Your Legal Career and Keep Learning

Once licensed, new lawyers can pursue a wide range of legal careers, including:

• Litigation: Representing clients in court
• Corporate law: Handling contracts, mergers, and compliance
• Government agencies: Working for prosecutors, public defenders, or regulators
• Family law: Managing divorces, child custody, and domestic relations
• Legal assistants or paralegal supervision
• Real estate law: Managing transactions and title disputes
• Legal writing or becoming a law professor

According to PayScale, annual salaries for lawyers vary by field and geography, but the median income in 2025 is estimated to be $100,537.

That said, the legal profession is changing, just like every other career category. Remote hearings, AI-powered legal research, and online legal documents platforms/CRMs are reshaping how lawyers work.

Ongoing CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credits are mandatory in many states. Lawyers must stay current with updates in case law, state statutes, and professional ethics.

Is Law Right for You?

Becoming a lawyer requires a serious, long-term commitment, and according to many, a very specific hunger for the profession.

As you can see, going into the law profession involves more than a passion for advocacy, writing, policy, or justice. Lawyers influence legislation, defend rights, and resolve disputes at every level of society. Doing that requires a level of dedication, skill, and interest that many simply don’t possess.

However, if you’ve taken the time to explore yourself/your options and still feel confident, you’re potentially looking at an extremely rewarding career.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a lawyer isn’t a move you decide to make overnight. You have to dig deep into yourself and your desires, needs, strengths, and weaknesses to truly know if it’s right for you.

Take your time, ask questions, and connect with other professionals who’ve been in your shoes. If you navigate with intention, preparation, and have an insatiable desire to commit, you’re already on the right track.

Frequently Asked Questions