What Degree Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

Lawyers must have a law degree, also called a Juris Doctor (JD), before practicing law. You can expect to spend about seven years working toward this degree—starting with a bachelor's degree and culminating with a law degree from an accredited law school [1].

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the law profession is growing faster than average, at 8 percent through 2032 [2]. The agency expects more than 39,000 job openings for lawyers during that time [2].

As a lawyer, you may work in a law firm or a private practice specializing in areas such as real estate, immigration, estate planning, or taxes. You may also work as a government agency, school, or hospital lawyer. HG.org lists more than 260 fields in which lawyers work, including bankruptcy, corporate law, family law, and intellectual property law [3]. Knowing the type of law you want to practice can help you navigate the steps you must take for admission to the bar.

Requirements to become a lawyer

To become a lawyer, you must earn a law degree from a law school with the American Bar Association accreditation before passing your state's bar exam. Although you should consult with your state's bar to determine the admission criteria for law schools, you can anticipate needing the following.

Exams

Before entering law school, you must pass the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This two-part exam measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, logical reading, and writing skills. Your score on this exam is usually an important part of the admission process for law school.  

In most states, you must take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) to qualify for admission to the bar. Wisconsin and Puerto Rico do not have this requirement, and Connecticut and New Jersey will allow you to substitute a law school course on professional responsibility in place of the MPRE.

Bachelor's degree

A JD is a postgraduate degree, so you must earn a bachelor's degree before entering law school. As you take courses to earn an undergraduate degree, you have opportunities to develop important skills you will use in law school, such as research, writing, problem-solving, and communication.

Typically, law schools do not specify what you should major in as an undergraduate. This allows you to choose a major relevant to your interests and the type of legal work you want to do. Some of the more popular majors for pre-law students include legal studies, history, and English.

Read more: How to Get a Bachelor's Degree

Top undergraduate pre-law majors to consider

According to the American Bar Association, law schools accept students with bachelor's degrees in most majors [4]. During your undergraduate years, you're developing skills and knowledge to succeed in law school, such as problem-solving, research, communication, and organization. Learning to manage your time and overcome challenging content and professors is also helpful.

Although you can opt for a pre-law major at many schools, you also can choose a major that interests you. The following pre-law majors tend to be popular options.

Business

As a business major, you should have opportunities to learn about business theory and how it applies to the daily operations of a company. If you plan to work in corporate law or specialize in banking, health care administration, or risk management, earning a business degree can be helpful.

Communications

As a lawyer, you spend a lot of time researching, writing, speaking, and negotiating—skills you can practice as a communications major. Related topics like organizational and crisis management, critical thinking, and navigating conflict are typically included in your coursework.

Criminal justice

If you plan to practice criminal law or want to serve as a judge in the future, you may want a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Through your coursework, you'll likely study theories of criminal behavior, the structure of the legal system, criminal procedures, and the function of the courts. 

Economics

Economics is an interesting major for pre-law students because of the effects of economics on social issues and legal reform. The coursework typically includes both quantitative and qualitative courses, which can be useful if you plan to practice corporate law and tax law or if you want to deepen your knowledge of financial regulations.

English

The classes you take as an English major require a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking—which explains why this has been a popular major for law students for years. You'll typically learn to research topics, develop arguments, and defend your positions. As a bonus, you should learn about culture and society through reading texts.

History

History is another classic major for pre-law students because of the course research and writing required. Studying history helps you understand the events that lead to landmark court decisions and legislation. You also analyze historical documents, which is useful for developing your critical thinking skills to interpret legal texts.

Political science

As a political science major, you study systems of government and how people create and carry out laws within those systems. Understanding how these institutions work is essential for lawyers because they affect the legal system you work within—especially if you decide to transition into politics. About one-third of the members of Congress have a law degree [5].

Psychology

In psychology courses, you study human behavior and topics like discrimination, stereotypes, and human development—concepts many lawyers find useful in their work. You'll also have opportunities to explore factors that influence behavior, human development, and research methods used to understand them. 

Is a pre-law degree necessary for a career as a lawyer?

Although law and legal studies are popular undergraduate majors for pre-law students, law schools generally do not require you to have a pre-law degree to be admitted to their program. Many law schools recommend prospective students choose an area that challenges them and provides opportunities to build critical thinking, communication, and research skills.

Read more: 5 Types of Law Degrees

How long is law school?

Law school takes about three years to complete if you attend classes full-time. From start to finish, you should plan to spend about seven years working toward a law degree. You'll also need to take and pass your state's bar exam, so you must wait to start your practice if you have to take the exam multiple times.

Next steps toward a career as a lawyer

The requirements to become a lawyer include a law degree and bachelor's degree in any subject that interests you and helps you develop research, communication, and critical thinking skills. You can start by earning a degree like a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University, available on Coursera. The courses span business, natural science, cybersecurity, and social sciences to give you a variety of topics to study. Suppose you're still in the process of choosing a major. In that case, a course like An Introduction to American Law from the University of Pennsylvania can help you explore different areas of law in the United States.