How long do lawyers have to go to college

However, not every state imposes the same requirements, so choosing to practice in one state over another can significantly affect the time it takes to become a lawyer.

The initial step to becoming a lawyer generally is four years of study as an undergraduate at a college or university. Most law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association, or ABA, require you to complete a bachelor's degree to be admitted. Below is a list of courses frequently offered within a JD program, alongside a list of skills and knowledge students should gain from the class.

Introduces students to the elements of practicing law, including legal analysis, policy, and writing. Students are introduced to the basic principles of contracts, including creation, termination, and alteration. Students gain an understanding of court procedures that do not involve criminal matters; includes the study of trial litigation, discovery process, and jurisdictional rules.

Teaches students about the U. Constitution and how it structures the legal system. This course examines civil liabilities of conduct and topics such as medical malpractice and tort reform. The Master of Laws LLM is a specialized degree designed for practicing lawyers or professionals who have already graduated from a JD program. Examples of ideal candidates for LLM programs include judges, lawyers, law professors, and government officials.

This degree usually requires students to complete 20 to 26 academic credit hours to qualify for graduation. The LLM curriculum structure is built on flexibility and diversity, allowing students to focus their studies in a particular section of law. Areas of specialization include international business, property, entertainment and media, civil litigation, and taxation, to name a few. The practice of modern law does not occur in a vacuum, but at an intersection of multiple disciplines.

Universities and law schools recognize that the field draws upon different areas. As a result, many offer dual or joint degree programs allowing students to earn an additional professional degree to complement their law education.

Through these concurrent degree programs, students gain specialized expertise that prepares them for a range of professional opportunities. Some of the most common dual and joint degree programs include the following:. In these programs, students earn a Master of Business Administration to complement their Juris Doctor degree. This option allows students to earn a JD and Master of Arts or Sciences degree in a range of disciplines, such as international affairs, political science, philosophy, engineering, or environmental science.

Generally offered as a dual degree, these programs are designed for students who want to augment their legal expertise by developing specialized knowledge in another discipline. These programs are typically completed in years of full-time study and combine two degree programs—the Juris Doctor and the Master of Public Health.

Traditionally, these joint programs require four years of full-time study and prepare graduates for leadership positions in public affairs and domestic and international policy.

Example fields include anthropology, history, political science, African-American studies, or psychology. Modern legal practice extends into many different areas, with emerging and rapidly growing industries introducing a new layer of complexity to the practice of law.

Through both electives and concentrations, students can focus their education, developing advanced knowledge to address industry-specific legal issues, problems, and concerns. Below is a short overview of five common legal concentrations available to law students. Students in business law concentrations explore the varied and sophisticated transactions and components of business, such as federal income taxation, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, financial accounting, capital markets, and corporate finance.

One of the most rapidly growing specialties in law, intellectual property is concerned with trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Curriculum may include the study of cyberlaw, intellectual asset management, antitrust, Internet law, and patent strategies.

In the courtroom, criminal defense lawyers are tasked with representing clients accused of committing crimes. In addition to studying the theory of criminal law, the curriculum also introduces students to criminal procedures, evidence, national security law, white-collar crime, and trial practice. When compared to other areas of legal practice, environmental law can be considered a relatively new specialty area.

The curriculum may cover topics such as land use controls, agricultural law, international environmental law, mediation, and water rights law. In this specialization, students prepare to practice law in music, television, film, and other creative industries. The curriculum intersects with intellectual property law, exploring topics such as copyright law, motion picture distribution, digital media, television law, and trademark law.

Doctorate degrees are designed for legal professionals seeking career opportunities in scholarly research. At this level, admission is extremely competitive. It is not unusual for a law school to only accept one or two doctoral students each year and to only consider students that graduated from the same institution. Although these degrees are the highest academic programs available in law, each has its own structure and purpose.

The four options include:. The PhD in Law is ideal for JD graduates who wish to pursue academic research, scholarship, and teaching at the postsecondary level. The DSJ degree is designed for law graduates who hold an LLM and desire to pursue individual legal research and writing. The program culminates in a dissertation that should advance and make a significant contribution to legal scholarship. The SJD degree is a research-focused program designed for students interested in performing legal research and writing in preparation for leadership roles in public positions or legal scholarship.

The D. L program is closely aligned to the DSJ degree, but concentrates on the comparative aspects of law, particularly international law, highlighting the differences among legal systems throughout the world. Doctoral students build progressive, elevated skills in a range of areas. Some of these include:. Students are able to analyze issues, develop informed plans of inquiry, conduct research, and make data-driven recommendations.

Students develop an advanced understanding of legal issues, theory, and the legal system alongside critical reasoning skills. Students gain advanced understanding in specialized policy areas or domains and are able to make expert recommendations in each area.

Students are able to communicate effectively, writing and speaking clearly for varied audiences and purposes. Meet Our Teams. Our Values. Student Success. Crimson In the News. Meet our Teams. Careers at Crimson. Crimson Youth Fund. Te Ara a Kupe Beaton Scholarship. US College Admissions Calculator. UK University Admissions Calculator. University Profiles. Get your Essay Reviewed. Extracurricular Opportunities. Crimson YouTube Channel. Top of the Class Podcast. Our Blog. The path to a career in law can be complicated and confusing.

This guide will help all aspiring lawyers better understand their career options and what it takes to become successful lawyers. Many people picture lawyers as tough defenders dressed in sharp suits, pacing a courtroom. They glamorize lawyers based on what they see on television. While lawyers who prosecute and defend criminals do exist, many are involved in everyday life events like buying homes, writing wills, counseling, advocating, and negotiating. Government agencies, law firms, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and academia all have lawyers.

They help the general public interpret laws, rulings, and regulations related to their personal and professional lives. Lawyers advise clients and represent them in both criminal and civil cases.

Typically, they give advice, prepare documents, and advise clients on legal transactions before they even step foot in a courtroom. Once in the courtroom, they help select jurors, argue motions, question. Law students typically choose a specific type of practice depending on whether they want to work in a corporate setting or help individual clients.

Traditionally, solicitors and barristers make up the legal profession. A solicitor gives legal advice and can represent clients in courts. A barrister specializes in representing clients in courts. Each type of lawyer has its own set of challenges, expectations, and perks. Here is just a sample of the many types of lawyers. Many students choose law because they want to help people, groups, organizations, or companies solve challenging problems and manage their legal issues.

Here are some other reasons students choose to study law. Regardless of where you go to law school, it takes approximately six or seven years to become a lawyer. Many countries have slightly different requirements, including shorter law schools, studying law as an undergraduate, and practical course requirements. For example, in the US, you only go to law school after finishing your bachelor's degree, and UK universities offer law as an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

The road to becoming a lawyer starts in high school. Many university students, especially in the United States, choose to pursue law during or after receiving their undergraduate degrees. Learn how Crimson can help you on your path to a postgraduate law degree.

To practice law in the United States, you need a JD degree. Students who choose the graduate-level LLM degree have the opportunity to study specific areas of law, expand their knowledge, advance their career, and earn international qualifications if they received a law degree outside the US or Canada.

A law degree takes the longest in the United States. The first step in the educational timeline starts when obtaining a bachelors degree. Law schools do not require any particular bachelor's degree at this time. Any bachelor's degree is allowed for the student wishing to go to law school.

That said, there are subjects that will better prepare the student for law school : political science, history, criminal justice, or philosophy are just a few. Many students will select a typical program from a college or university that can be completed in four to five years as a fulltime student. If the student can't attend fulltime, this will obviously affect how long it takes to complete this portion of their education. There are also educational programs that can fast track a bachelor's degree as well as degree completion programs for students with community college credits.