Lawyer: bachelor's, LSAT, J.D., MPRE and the bar exam
Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of college, then 3 years of law school, then the bar exam and admission in a state.
For: Readers and writers who like building an argument, research and advising people.
Route 1: Bachelor's → LSAT → J.D. → MPRE + bar exam Typical
Most states and jurisdictions require a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. Law schools do not ask for a specific major.
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Start here
High school diploma
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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About 4 years
Bachelor's degree, any major
Common fields include law and legal studies, history and social science.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
LSAT
From the August 2026 LSAT, almost all U.S. test takers sit it at a test center.
LSAT exam pageLSAC
The LSAT — Law School Admission TestLaw School Admission Council- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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3 years
J.D. at an accredited law school
Constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure and legal writing. After year 1 or 2, summer jobs and internships in law firms or government.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
MPRE (ethics exam)
A two-hour exam, required by most jurisdictions.
Bar examsNCBE
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)National Conference of Bar Examiners- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
Bar exam in your state
Between July 2026 and July 2028 most jurisdictions move to the NextGen UBE.
Bar examsNCBE
NextGen Bar ExamNational Conference of Bar Examiners- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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License
Admission to the bar
Each state's highest court sets the rules; an admitting board checks your character and fitness.
Bar admission stepsBLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
Lawyer
New lawyers usually start as associates; some become partners, in-house counsel or, later, judges.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Judicial clerkship
- Some graduates first clerk for a judge, usually for 1 or 2 years.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- More than one state
- You usually must meet each state's licensing rules; most states have reciprocity agreements.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Route 2: Science or engineering degree → J.D. → patent bar Patent law
Patent lawyers typically need a degree, specific credits or a background in science or engineering.
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Start here
Science or engineering bachelor's
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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3 years
J.D. and state bar admission
Bar admission stepsBLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
USPTO exam (the patent bar)
Given by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
Patent lawyer
Tax lawyers may instead add a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in tax after the J.D.
BLS
Lawyers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State rules
Bar admission is granted state by state. Which bar exam a state gives, and when it switches to the NextGen UBE, differ by jurisdiction. NCBE
View source
Dates and rules to re-check
These change by season or by law. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
- NCBE: most jurisdictions switch to the NextGen UBE between July 2026 and July 2028; check your state's date.
NCBE
NextGen Bar ExamNational Conference of Bar Examiners- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- LSAC: in-center LSAT testing for almost all U.S. test takers from August 2026.
LSAC
The LSAT — Law School Admission TestLaw School Admission Council- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Where to go next
Every career page in this cluster: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and how to become one.