If you’re considering a legal career, you might be wondering: is law school required to take the bar exam? While most aspiring lawyers attend law school, a few states offer alternative paths.
Let’s explore these options and what they mean for your journey to becoming a lawyer. You might just be the next Mike Ross (for Suits aficionados).
Watch Suits Video: An aspiring lawyer who never even went to law school
States That Allow You to Take the Bar Without Law School
In California, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, you can skip law school and still qualify for the bar exam. Each state has specific rules about supervision, study hours, and reporting requirements before you may sit for the bar.
California
California requires a structured apprenticeship under a licensed attorney or judge. If you have completed at least two years of college, the State Bar of California’s Rule 4.2 allows you to finish the rest of your legal education in a law office or judge’s chamber. You must put in at least 18 hours each week for at least 48 weeks to receive credit for one year of law school study.
The attorney or judge who supervises you must also have been an active California Bar member for at least five years and personally supervise you for at least five of the 18 required hours each week. The attorney or judge must also report certain information about your studies to the Bar Committee.
You may take the bar exam once you complete your legal training. Upon passing the bar exam, you are qualified to become a lawyer in California.
Vermont
In Vermont, you can participate in a Law Office Study Program supervised by a lawyer or judge as an alternative to attending law school. You must have obtained a bachelor’s degree and study law for 25 hours a week for four years to participate. After completing the four-year program, you then submit a Completion Notice to the state’s Board of Examiners. Once approved, you are eligible to take the Vermont Bar Exam.
Virginia
Virginia features a Law Reader Program with similar requirements to Vermont. You must have a bachelor’s degree and be supervised by an attorney through 25 hours of study each week for 40 weeks each year for four years. After completing this program, you may take the Virginia Bar on your way to becoming a licensed attorney.
Washington
The Washington State Bar Association’s Law Clerk Program is an alternative to attending law school if you have a bachelor’s degree and a full-time job with a lawyer or judge with at least 10 years of experience. You must work at least 32 hours a week in a law office or judge’s chamber and pay $2,000 per year while in the program.
States That Require At Least Partial Law School
The following states blend law school and apprenticeships.
New York
In New York, you can complete one year of law school and three years of study in a law office under the supervision of an attorney. You are eligible to take the New York Bar Exam upon completion of your four years of study.
Maine
In Maine, you can complete at least two years of study in law school followed by one year in a law office under the supervision of a practicing attorney. Once the program is completed, you can take the state bar exam.
Limited Circumstances in Which Law Office Study is Relevant in West Virginia
In West Virginia, getting appointed to the bar through the apprenticeship route is lengthy. If you attend three years of law school at a non-ABA-accredited law school in the state, you may become eligible to take the West Virginia Bar Exam by doing an additional three years of law office study.
Pros and Cons of Skipping Law School
Taking the bar exam without going to law school does have pros and cons.
Pros
- You can save money and lessen your risk of accruing a sizable debt.
- You get hands-on, real-world legal experience before taking the bar.
Cons
- Gaining the experience necessary to become a lawyer without getting a J.D. or LL.B. can be more time-consuming than law school. States that offer apprenticeship opportunities require applicants to complete part-time to full-time hours for many years before being eligible to take their state’s bar exam.
- You will be limited in when and where you can practice law based on state rules. You won’t be able to practice law in any other U.S. state.
Before making your decision, check out the BARBRI Bar Exam Digest. This free resource contains comprehensive bar exam information for each U.S. jurisdiction, including the typical bar exam format, subjects tested, reciprocity, and more.
If you’re still unsure of your path to a legal career, connect with a BARBRI bar exam expert to discuss your specific situation. We're here to help you create the right strategy for you.
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