People associate legal careers with years of law school, six figures in student debt, and a bar exam that sends most into temporary insanity.
Did you know that in some parts of the U.S., there’s another option?
Yep, you can become a lawyer without going to law school at all. It’s perfectly legal in only a few states—and it’s called a legal apprenticeship or a law office study program.
In this guide, I’ll fill you in on how to take the bar exam without attending traditional law school, which states help you do so, and why it’s smart for certain candidates.
Key Takeaways
- Legal Training Without Traditional Schooling: This is only available in California, Washington, Vermont, and Virginia. Yep, gain hands-on experience without having to complete law school.
- There Are Requirements: Aspiring lawyers must complete a multi-year law office study program or take the legal apprenticeship route.
- Lower Pass Rates: Bar exam requirements are the same, but pass rates for apprentices aren’t as high. Structured apprenticeship programs are highly important for this reason.
- Benefits and Drawbacks: Legal apprenticeships are a cheaper, hands-on route but require immense discipline and self-study. With no direct supervision, you’re on your own.
- Limited Availability: Unfortunately, the non-traditional route is not available in most states.
Can You Take the Bar Exam Without Going to Law School?
You can take the bar without attending law school, but only in certain jurisdictions.
In these states, instead of earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school, you can complete a legal apprenticeship. However, it must be under the guidance of a supervising attorney or judge. Once the necessary hours and study terms are completed, you’re finally eligible to sit for the state’s bar exam!
Interestingly enough, this unique path to lawyerdom has existed in some form for centuries. Well-known American figures like Abraham Lincoln and Clarence Darrow became lawyers without going to law school. Today, however, it’s much less common and comes with some challenges. Whether they’re worth it or not is totally up to you.
States That Allow You to Take the Bar Exam Without Attending Law School
Only four states currently allow you to take the bar exam without law school by completing an approved legal apprenticeship program:
1. California
California is a state that simply plays by its own rules. Thanks to the Law Office Study Program (LOSP), it’s probably the most well-known for offering this option.
Requirements include:
- Four-year study program with direct supervision from a practicing lawyer or judge
- At least 18 hours of study/week
- Monthly reports to the California Bar
- Completion of the First-Year Law Students’ Exam (also known as the Baby Bar) after the first year
Despite how appealing this may seem to some, the program has a very high dropout rate and low bar passage rate. Still, California is the most accessible state for those who want to become a lawyer without going to law school.
2. Vermont
Vermont’s Law Office Study Program is a continuation of traditional legal apprenticeships. Here’s the details:
- Four-year clerkship under a judge or supervising lawyer
- No law school classes are required
- Progress is tracked through regular written reports
Unlike California, Vermont does not require apprentices to take a Baby Bar before moving forward, making the process slightly less time-consuming.
3. Virginia
Virginia is the only state that offers the Law Reader Program, which is known to have very specific rules:
- Three-year study under a qualified attorney with at least ten years of experience
- Weekly readings, supervised instruction, and monthly exams
- Strict limitations on compensation (apprentices, unfortunately, can’t be paid for their work)
Virginia’s program is notoriously demanding, and the bar passage rate for readers, like California, is also lower than that of law school grads.
4. Washington
Washington State allows legal apprentices through its Law Clerk Program:
- Four years of work-study with a licensed attorney or judge
- 32 hours per week minimum
- Mandatory monthly exams and yearly progress reports
- Paid employment is allowed during the program
The Washington model is structured and flexible, but it’s still a tough path to take.
Bar Exam Requirements for Apprentices
Each state with an apprenticeship program sets strict rules:
| State | Program Name | Duration | Required Exams | Paid Work Allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Law Office Study Program | 4 years | Baby Bar + General Bar Exam | Yes |
| Vermont | Law Office Clerkship | 4 years | General Bar Exam | Yes |
| Virginia | Law Reader Program | 3 years | General Bar Exam | No |
| Washington | Law Clerk Program | 4 years | Monthly exams + Bar Exam | Yes |
Why Choose to Become a Lawyer Without Going to Law School?
Choosing to avoid law school is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make at the beginning of your career. Still, some people love the idea of being experimental and going straight into practice. Why?
It Saves Money
The average cost of law school over three years is $230,163 (tuition + living expenses). Most modern students will never fully repay that debt.
Legal apprenticeships can cost as little as $25,000—typically just bar application fees and study materials like prep courses. $25k is still a lot, but it isn’t nearly as much as several hundred thousand dollars. With a 4.5% interest rate and an $800 monthly payment, you could pay that off in 43 months.
Hands-On Experience
When I picture a lawyer, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is a big leather chair and a skyscraper-like stack of paperwork. Better Call Saul, anyone?
But that comes after law training. During an apprenticeship program, apprentices spend years observing and participating in real legal work. Practical training is the foundation of any legal career, but it is particularly helpful for small firms or solo practices.
More Accessibility
What about aspiring lawyers who don’t have supportive family members? Those who have to work full-time jobs to afford living expenses? Or those who simply can’t afford traditional law school?
Apprenticeships are a great option for people who are open to and confident about taking alternatives to reach their goals.
Legal Apprenticeship Programs Aren’t Perfect. Why?
Despite the benefits, taking the bar exam without law school comes with hurdles.
Limited Lateral Movement
One issue with these apprenticeships is that apprentices will struggle more if they want to move laterally. Lateral recruitment at the NQ-1PQE stage is still fairly snobby. I’m not sure how well being an apprentice who studied an apprenticeship LLB at BPP University will appear on the CV. That stigma is something you’ll constantly have to battle and be defensive about. Apprenticeships also lock you into a career choice for 6-7 years, a choice you made as a child at 18. Whereas if you did a law degree, you can always decide to do something else after you graduate.
Lower Bar Exam Pass Rates
Bar exam requirements are the same whether or not you attend law school. Unfortunately, pass rates for legal apprentices are consistently lower. In California, apprentices had a pass rate of 27% between 2011 and 2020, compared to 70 %+ for law school grads.
It’s Not Easy
Here’s some feedback I found helpful:
“I did it. Apprenticed for 4 years and passed the bar on my first try. My state’s passage rate for the apprenticeship program is about 12%. We had a state Supreme Court justice who read for the bar, actually. She was very well respected. I will say that it is not the easy route by any stretch of the word. You need to be very disciplined and self-motivated, but I think it’s a wonderful way to prepare for the day-to-day of the actual practice of law, which (I’ve been told) law school does not necessarily prepare you for.”
No Federal Qualification
Most legal apprentices are only eligible to take the bar in one state. Graduates from ABA-accredited schools can typically apply to take the bar in any state, depending on the rules.
Are They Legal in Other States?
Right now, only the four states above allow you to take the bar exam without law school. New York and Maine have hybrid programs where you can complete one or two years of law school and then finish via apprenticeship. However, they do not fully allow legal apprenticeships without formal legal education.
Other states may recognize your law license from California or Washington under reciprocity agreements, but only if you meet additional experience requirements, like active practice for several years.
Final Thoughts
Can you take the bar exam without going to law school?
Yes, you can practice law without taking the traditional law school route. There are a few different ways to get legal education without earning a law degree (depending on where you live). If you reside in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington, you can create an outstanding schedule and self-goals, and are okay with the associated hurdles, consider it.
Regardless of which path you pick, it takes an incredible amount of dedication and perseverance to be a law professional. I’m wishing you the best of luck in your career!
FAQs
Only in California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington through formal legal apprenticeship programs.
A law office study program is an alternative to law school, where you study law under a licensed attorney or judge and qualify for the bar exam after completing required study hours and reporting.
Most programs last between 3 and 4 years.
Yes. Even if you skip law school, you must pass the state bar exam (sometimes with extra exams like California’s Baby Bar).
No. Legal apprentices do not receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.). They qualify to take the bar exam based on hours studied and program completion.
