States You Can Become A Lawyer Without Going To Law School
You can become a lawyer without law school in California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington through structured legal apprenticeships, while Maine, New York, and Wyoming allow substituting some law school with an apprenticeship. These states require extensive, supervised study under a practicing lawyer for several years, passing specific exams, and meeting strict criteria to qualify for the bar exam, which is the final hurdle to licensure.
- California: Offers the most flexible path, sometimes not even requiring an undergraduate degree, but mandates a challenging "baby bar" exam after the first year of study.
- Vermont: Requires a bachelor's degree and four years of supervised study under a judge or attorney.
- Virginia: Demands a three-year apprenticeship with a supervising attorney with at least 10 years of experience.
- Washington: Requires four years of law office study under a supervising lawyer with at least 10 years of practice.
- Maine, New York, Wyoming: Allow for a mix of law school and apprenticeship, with New York requiring at least one year of law school.
- Supervision: You must study under a qualified, experienced lawyer or judge.
- Duration: Programs typically last three to four years.
- Reporting: Regular reports on your progress and studies are submitted to the state bar.
- Bar Exam: You must still pass the state's bar examination to become licensed.
Requirement of Law School for Taking the Bar Exam
History
Before the first law school was opened, people had to study law through apprenticeships. To become a lawyer, similar to a blacksmith, people had to work in law offices.
These apprenticeships went through a system called the Inns of Court, in which a person wishing to become a legal professional would find a barrister or lawyer for training.
A number of historical figures became lawyers without law school, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
It wasn’t until the late 1700s or early 1800s that colleges started to offer law degrees, which was an alternative to an apprenticeship. The shift to lawyers having to go to law school came many years later when the American Bar Association (ABA) was created. The ABA campaigned for years to establish the current norm today, in which law school is necessary to take the bar exam and become a lawyer.
Which States Do Not Require Law School?
Nowadays, there are only four states that allow you to skip law school in exchange for an apprenticeship.
States Allowing Apprenticeships
- California
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
Additionally, there are two other states that allow you to substitute one or two years of law school for an apprenticeship.
States Requiring Some Law School
- Maine
- New York
If you live in any of these states, you are able to pursue a legal profession with at the most, some law school, if you desire. Be sure to check with your state’s specific rules for what is and isn’t allowed, in regards to pay, amount of law school, etc.
State-Specific Requirements
To skip law school to become a lawyer, it depends on the state you reside in, as mentioned above. As an apprentice, there is a required amount of hours to be spent working in a law practice each week for a period of time. For example, California requires 18 hours per week for four continuous years. Hours for the apprenticeship revolve around studying and being under the direct supervision of an attorney.
Finding an attorney to act as your mentor is a challenge of its own. The reason being that there aren’t many resources that can help you find a supervising lawyer.
Also, the mentoring attorney can’t be anybody. They have to meet a minimum level of experience, which ranges. In Virginia and Washington, that number is 10 years, but in Vermont, it is as low as three years. An overview of the requirements by state are listed below:
California Requirements
- Four years studying in a law office
- 18 hours per week
- Five hours of direct supervision
- Monthly exams
- Bi-annual progress reports
- Supervising attorney must have five years of active law practice in California
Vermont Requirements
- Four years studying with an attorney or judge
- Supervising attorney must have three years of active law practice
Virginia Requirements
- Three years studying in a law office
- 40 weeks per year
- 25 hours per week
- Three hours of direct supervision
- Supervising attorney must have ten years of active law experience
- No employment or compensation is allowed
Washington Requirements
- Four years employed in a law office
- 32 hours per week
- Three hours of direct supervision
- Supervising attorney must have ten years of active law experience
- Annual fee of $1,500
- Employment by the attorney is required
Maine Requirements
- Two years of studying in law school
- One year of studying in a law office
New York Requirements
- Four years of studying in law school and a law office
- One year of studying in law school minimum
- Remaining years studying in a law office
Apprenticeship vs Law School
If you are living in a state that allows apprenticeship over law school, understanding and comparing the benefits of both will help you make the right decision. Things to consider are cost, pass rate, and employment.
Cost
One of the benefits of bypassing law school is skipping all the costs associated with it. The annual tuition and fees for attending a private law school in 2019 is about $49,095 according to a survey by U.S. News. For a public, in-state and out-of-state law school, that average is around $27,591 and $40,725, respectively.
Putting together these costs for three years, they come out to about $83,000 – $148,000. These costs don’t even account for books, room and board, and more. Also, keep in mind that the private schools are some of the top schools in the nation like Harvard, Yale, etc. These top-tier law schools are the cream of the crop for large law firms looking to recruit.
By opting in for apprenticeship, the only costs would be books, studying materials, State Bar fees, registration fees, etc. In total, these costs would hardly break $10,000.
Pass Rate
The bar exam pass rate of an apprentice is about ⅓ of that of a student who attends an ABA approved law school, according to a study by Priceconomics. With a passing rate of approximately 27% for apprentices, it is clear there are topics that can be missed, that a traditional law school is sure to cover. This is due to lawyers practicing different types of law and apprentices not being exposed to the many topics that the bar exam will test on.
Employment
It is no surprise that the prestigious law firms in the United States are looking to recruit from Ivy League schools. A disadvantage of skipping law school is that employers and clients may pass up on someone who hasn’t attended law school.
Also, keep in mind that you may not be able to practice in another state if you choose to go the apprenticeship route.
Now that you know what it takes to be a lawyer without going to law school, you can make an informed decision. Apprenticeships aren’t for everyone, but they are a viable alternative for anyone looking to practice law.
Embarking on this unconventional path to legal practice may present unique challenges, including the Bar exam. Learn more about how many times you can take the Bar exam, an important consideration for those preparing outside the traditional law school route.
Lawyers and attorneys are not licensed to practice law the nature of lawyer-craft in America as per the United States Supreme Court. The practice of law CAN NOT be licensed by any state/ State, (Schware v. Board of Examiners, 353 U.S. 238, 239)
The practice of Law is AN OCCUPATION OF COMMON RIGHT (Sims v. Aherns, 271 S.W. 720 (1925)).
Case law
- Schware v. Board of Examiners (1957) does not state that the practice of law cannot be licensed. Instead, the Supreme Court held that while states can require high standards of qualification, such as good moral character, for bar admission, they cannot exclude an applicant in a manner that violates the Due Process or Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case actually confirms the states' authority to regulate and license the legal profession, provided they do so fairly and rationally.
- Sims v. Ahrens (1925) was an Arkansas Supreme Court case concerning state income taxation and the definition of "privileges" that could be taxed for state purposes. The opinion in that case does not mention law licenses, bar associations, or the practice of law as an "occupation of common right" in the context of licensing, and it has limited value as a federal precedent for the argument presented
Lawyers and Attorneys Are Not Licensed To Practice Law The LEGAL CRAFT
When you ask an attorney to show you their law license to practice law they will show you their BAR card with a bar number or a Supreme Court Certificate of good ethics.
The attorney pass the bar exam then the BAR association give them a bar card with a number. The BAR Association is a non-for-profit private organization aka business. They seek government funding.The BAR Association is generally a club/union organization like the painting union, teacher union and other jobs that has a Union to fight for them. The Teacher is a profession and their Teacher license or Substitute Teacher Certification come from the State Department of Education or a specific State Board of Examiners/Education. University vs. State: Your college awards the degree, but the state awards the certificate (license) after you meet their specific criteria.
The Union does not give out license to teach or certification for substitute teaching, the state does. Unlike attorneys the BAR Association is not State ran.
The Supreme Court role is not to administrate license. So the Supreme Court does not give attorneys license.
The role of a Supreme Court, especially the U.S. Supreme Court, is to serve as the highest judicial body, interpreting the Constitution and federal laws, ensuring equal justice, and acting as the final arbiter in legal disputes, primarily through judicial review (striking down unconstitutional laws) and hearing appeals on major federal and constitutional questions, thus safeguarding rights and defining the scope of governmental power. They also handle specific disputes, like those between states, under their original jurisdiction.
- Constitutional Interpretation: Acts as the guardian and interpreter of the Constitution, ensuring its principles apply to modern issues.
- Judicial Review: Has the power (established in Marbury v. Madison) to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional, a core check on legislative and executive branches.
- Final Appellate Court: Hears appeals from lower federal and state courts on cases involving federal law or the Constitution, making final decisions.
- Original Jurisdiction: Hears certain cases first, such as disputes between states or involving foreign ambassadors.
- Ensuring Equal Justice: Upholds the promise of "Equal Justice Under Law" for all citizens.
- Appeals: Most cases reach the Court via a "writ of certiorari," but they only accept a small fraction (less than 1%), often using the "rule of four" (four justices must agree to hear it).
- Life Tenure: Justices serve until death, resignation, or impeachment, promoting independence from political pressure.
- Finality of Decisions: Supreme Court rulings are final, setting precedents for all other courts.
- Voluntary Membership: Lawyers choose to join; it's not mandatory for practicing law in NJ.
- Advocacy: It lobbies the legislature and governor on laws affecting the practice of law.
- Professional Support: It offers networking, education (CLE), and resources for its members.
- Independent Body: Governed by its own Board of Trustees elected from its members.
- Rule-Making Power: The state Supreme Court establishes the rules for attorney admission, conduct, and discipline, often through statutes or its inherent judicial power.
- Admission Authority: While bar examiners certify passing scores, the Supreme Court formally admits lawyers to practice, meaning they grant the authority to practice law within the state.
- Oversight & Discipline: The court oversees the integrated bar association, which acts as its arm for enforcing ethical rules, investigating complaints, and disciplining attorneys.
- Mandatory Bar Integration: In many states, the Supreme Court's authority leads to a "unified" or "integrated" bar, requiring all lawyers to join and pay dues, making them accountable to the court's regulatory body.
- Education & Exam: You study law and pass the bar exam.
- Character Review: A board (like the Board of Law Examiners) reviews your character and fitness.
- Certification to Court: This board certifies you to the Supreme Court as eligible.
- Court Admission: The Supreme Court issues the official order admitting you to practice.
- Ongoing Regulation: The State Bar (under court direction) handles continuing education, ethical complaints, and discipline.
- What it is: Legal authority to practice a profession.
- Issuer: Government agency (state, federal, local).
- Requirement: Mandatory for specific regulated jobs (e.g., nursing, teaching).
- Scope: Usually tied to a specific location (e.g., state).
- What it is: Verifies advanced competency, skills, or knowledge in a specific area.
- Issuer: Private, non-governmental organizations.
- Requirement: Voluntary, but often preferred or required by employers.
- Process: Requires passing an exam after training or experience.
- What it is: Academic recognition for completing a course or program.
- Issuer: Educational institutions (colleges, universities).
- Requirement: Not required to work; shows completion of learning.
- Purpose: Fills specific knowledge gaps, adds skills to a resume.
- License: A license is a permission granted by a qualified authority, which permits a "licensee to do something that would otherwise be prohibited". It is typically a revocable permission and differs from an easement or lease, which imply a more permanent interest in land.
- Certificate: A certificate is a written assurance or official representation that some act has or has not been done, some event has occurred, or some legal formality has been complied with. To "certify" means to officially attest that something is true or meets certain criteria.
- In legal terms, a License grants official permission to do something otherwise prohibited (like practice a profession), while a Certificate is a formal document attesting a fact or compliance, and Certification is the process of verifying someone meets standards, often leading to a certificate, but can be voluntary vs. mandatory for licensure. Black's Law Dictionary defines a license as governmental permission to act, and a certificate as a written attestation.
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