Kara Sears
The path to becoming a lawyer in the United States is a challenging one, requiring years of strenuous effort and dedication. To practice law across America, one must meet the requirements of each state, as the legal profession in the US is regulated by jurisdiction. This means that a lawyer must pass the bar examination in each state they wish to practice in, and there are 57 different sets of rules to adhere to. While the general requirements are similar, each state has its own nuances, and aspiring lawyers must be prepared to meet these varying standards. The road to becoming a lawyer begins with academic and extracurricular experiences that develop the necessary skills, followed by the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE). After graduating from an accredited law school, one must then pass the state bar examination, which consists of a Multistate Bar Examination and a section specific to the state's laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sets of rules governing the right to practice law | 57 (one for each state, the District of Columbia, and territories under federal control) |
| Requirements to practice law in the U.S. | Verify minimum legal education requirements, pass the bar examination in the jurisdiction where they will be working, demonstrate strong moral character and fitness to serve as legal counsel, and be a resident or employed in the state |
| Median annual pay among lawyers in the U.S. (as of May 2023) | $145,760 |
| Example of state-specific requirements | In Washington state, foreign lawyers can meet the supplemental legal education requirement with an LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved law school |
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What You'll Learn
Admission requirements
Admission to the practice of law in the United States is governed by rules and regulations set by each state's courts, legislatures, and/or bar associations. While the specific requirements vary by jurisdiction, the general requirements for admission to the bar are similar across all states.
To be admitted to the bar in a particular state, an applicant must demonstrate good moral character, be a resident or employed in the state, have graduated from an accredited or certified law school, and pass a bar examination. Foreign lawyers must also comply with US immigration laws. While no state bar requires a foreign lawyer to have US citizenship, most jurisdictions require holders of foreign law degrees to have an additional legal degree, such as a J.D. or LL.M., from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States.
State bar examinations typically consist of two parts: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which tests one's knowledge in basic areas of the law, and a second part focused on the specific laws of the individual state. Every state except Wisconsin also requires bar applicants to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), a legal ethics test.
In addition to the general requirements, some states have unique supplemental requirements for bar admission. For example, Delaware requires candidates for admission to the bar to serve five months in a clerkship with a lawyer in the state, while Washington requires applicants to complete a minimum of four hours of approved pre-admission education.
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Education requirements
To practice law in the United States, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree is the most common legal education requirement. This professional degree is specifically designed to train future lawyers and prepare them for the bar exam. It is typically obtained after three years of full-time study at an ABA-approved law school.
Each state has its own bar requirements, and while the general requirements for admission to the bar are similar across all states, there are 57 different sets of rules governing the right to practice law in the United States—one for each state, the District of Columbia, and territories under federal control. This means that the specific educational requirements can vary depending on the jurisdiction in which an individual intends to practice.
For example, Wisconsin offers a "diploma privilege" that exempts graduates of certain law schools from taking the bar exam. On the other hand, some states, like California, require additional credits or specific subjects to be completed as part of their LL.M. program. An LL.M. degree is a graduate law degree that provides a broad course of study, usually requiring 20 to 26 academic credit hours for graduation. While it is not always necessary, it can be a valuable supplement to a JD degree, especially for internationally educated lawyers.
In addition to the bar examination, state boards of bar examiners consider a candidate's educational background, competence, character, and ability to represent others in legal matters before granting full legal licensure. This includes demonstrating good moral character and fitness to serve as legal counsel, which is typically done through a detailed questionnaire.
It is important to note that a bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement for admission to law school. Prospective law students typically need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) to qualify for law school.
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State-specific bar examinations
In the United States, admission to the practice of law is governed by rules and regulations set by each state's courts, legislatures, and/or bar association. While the general requirements for admission to the bar are similar across states, each state has its own unique set of rules and requirements that must be met to become a licensed lawyer in that state.
The MBE is a standardized test consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions covering seven key areas of law: constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, federal rules of civil procedure, federal rules of evidence, real property, and torts. The MBE is administered in all U.S. states and territories, except Louisiana and Puerto Rico, which follow civil law systems distinct from the other states.
The second part of the bar examination is tailored to the individual state's laws. This portion of the exam may include locally crafted essays, the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), or the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), depending on the state. It allows the examiners to assess the candidate's knowledge of the specific state's laws, ensuring they are equipped to practice law within that jurisdiction.
In addition to the bar examination, each state may have its own unique requirements for admission to the bar. For example, some states may require applicants to have graduated from an accredited or certified law school, be a resident or employed in the state, or demonstrate good moral character and fitness to serve as legal counsel. It is essential for individuals seeking to practice law in a particular state to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements set by that state's bar association or licensing agency.
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Lawyer licensing
In the United States, the legal profession is regulated by jurisdiction, meaning there are 57 different sets of rules governing the right to practice law—one for each state, the District of Columbia, and territories under federal control. As such, lawyers are licensed by a state agency in each state, and they must obtain a license in the state they choose to practice.
The general requirements for admission to the bar are similar throughout the fifty states. An applicant must have good moral character, be a resident or employed in the state, have graduated from an accredited/certified law school, and pass a bar examination. Foreign law degrees are recognized in the United States, but they are subject to review by state bar regulators, and many states will require the completion of a course of study at an ABA-accredited law school.
State bar examinations generally consist of two parts. The first part is a Multistate Bar Examination that tests one's knowledge in basic areas of law. The second part focuses on the law of the individual state. There is also a Universal Bar Exam, and the score is transferable to 35 states within a certain timeframe.
To confirm that an attorney is licensed to practice law in a particular jurisdiction, you can contact the licensing or regulatory agency in that state that grants the bar license. In most states, the state bar association manages the licensing or regulatory agency, and in 44 states and the District of Columbia, the licensing or regulatory agency publishes its database online.
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Specialisations
Law is a broad field with many specialisations. In the United States, law school students can expect the first year of their course to cover foundational concepts such as torts, contracts, civil procedure, property, criminal law, and constitutional law. In the second and third years, students choose an area of study and begin taking specialised courses.
Some specialisations include:
- Animal law: This involves studying and practising law relating to animals, including animal cruelty, exotic animals, and property. Animal rights lawyers may defend animal rights activists, campaign for animal rights, and contest animal exploiters.
- Administrative law: This specialisation focuses on the regulation, operation, and procedures of government agencies, including the legal principles that govern federal and state administrative agencies, and how this affects financial, health, and workplace regulations.
- Admiralty law: Also known as maritime law, this field of law focuses on legislation that regulates economic transactions involving marine trade, sailors, and navigation.
- Alternative dispute resolution: This field is dedicated to solving disputes without litigation. Students learn about conflict negotiation, domestic mediation, and area-specific dispute resolution.
- Corporate compliance law: This specialisation focuses on ensuring that companies and employees abide by laws, regulations, standards, and ethical practices to avoid fines and lawsuits.
- Criminal law: This common specialisation provides students with the necessary training to become prosecutors, defenders, or lawyers.
- Education law: This involves counselling school districts or other educational agencies, and may include representing parents of children with special educational needs or students facing expulsion.
- Employment and labour law: This specialisation focuses on addressing the legal rights of workers and their employers, and practitioners may represent individual employees, unions, government workers, businesses, or interest groups.
- Environmental and natural resources law: This involves focusing on the legal and regulatory issues relating to natural resources.
- Intellectual property law: This specialisation usually involves focusing on a specific practice area, such as international law, municipal law, or private international law.
- Real estate law: This field of law focuses on issues relating to land, and may include litigation or contractual issues.
- Securities law: This complex area of law involves the formation, organisation, and financing of corporations.
- Sports law: Sports lawyers work with athletes, donors, colleges, universities, team owners, and individual players, and may act as agents.
Many other specialisations are available, including business, corporate law, commercial law, taxation, and finance.
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Frequently asked questions
To practice law in the US, one must pass the bar exam in the jurisdiction where they intend to practice, have good moral character, be a resident or employed in the state, have graduated from an accredited/certified law school, and be licensed by a state agency.
No, US citizenship is not required to practice law in the US. However, foreign lawyers must comply with US immigration laws.
The first step is to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE). After graduating from an accredited law school, one must then pass the bar exam in their jurisdiction and be licensed by a state agency.
Getting involved with a speech and debate team or a mock trial team can help develop persuasive argument skills. Other extracurricular activities such as drama, sports, writing for a school newspaper, or volunteer work can also help develop useful skills such as public speaking, personal discipline, and collaboration.
