Practicing Law In New York: Degree Requirements Explained

The traditional route to becoming a lawyer involves attending law school, taking the bar exam, and becoming a practicing attorney. However, some states in the US allow individuals to take the bar exam without a law degree. In New York, for example, one must complete a year of law school and three years of study in a law office under the supervision of an attorney. After completing these requirements, an individual can take the New York Bar exam and become eligible to practice law in the state. This alternative route to becoming a lawyer may be beneficial for those seeking a non-traditional path, but it's important to note that the bar passage rate tends to be lower for those who opt for an apprenticeship instead of law school.

Apprenticeships in New York

In New York, a person must complete a year of law school and three years of study in a law office under New York Bar Admission Rules Section 520.4. Once all that is completed, an applicant can take the bar exam. This route is known as the Law Office Study/Clerkship route.

The New York Bar Examination has four routes for qualification, all of which require some form of classroom study in a law school. The Law Office Study/Clerkship route requires applicants to complete one year of law school and three years of study in a law office, with a minimum of 32 hours of work/study per week, and 3 hours per week of direct attorney supervision. The attorney supervising the applicant must have at least 10 years of experience. Apprentices must pay an annual fee of $2,000.

The other routes to qualify for the New York Bar Examination are:

• ABA Approved Law School Study (JD graduates) - Applicants must have graduated with a first degree in law from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
• Unapproved Law School Study - Applicants must have graduated from a non-ABA-approved law school in the United States and have actively practiced law in a U.S. jurisdiction for 5 of the 7 years preceding their application to the New York bar examination.
• Foreign Law School Study - No further details are provided for this route.

In addition to the above, there are also legal apprenticeship opportunities in New York City, which can pay between $43,000 to $87,000.

Bar exam requirements

To become a lawyer in New York, you must pass the New York Bar Examination, commonly known as the bar exam. The bar exam is a professional qualifying test that allows law school graduates to practice law in a given state.

There are four routes to qualify for the New York Bar Examination, all of which require some form of classroom study in a law school. The first is to graduate with a first degree in law from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The second route is to complete a law office study/clerkship, which involves studying law in a law office under the supervision of an attorney. The third route is to graduate from a non-ABA-approved law school in the United States with a Juris Doctor degree and actively practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction for five of the seven years preceding the application. The fourth route is to complete a law degree outside the United States or at an unapproved university in the U.S. and have five years of practice.

For the second route, New York Bar Admission Rules require applicants to complete one year of law school and three years of study in a law office under the supervision of an attorney. This route is known as an apprenticeship, and applicants must work at least 32 hours a week and pay $2000 per year while in the program.

After passing the bar exam, there are several more steps to complete before a law school graduate can practice law in New York. Applicants must take and complete an online course in New York-specific law, known as the New York Law Course (NYLC), and pass the New York Law Exam (NYLE). They must also comply with the 50-hour pro bono service requirement, pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), and satisfy the character and fitness requirements.

Law school alternatives

To practice law in New York, you must pass the New York Bar Examination. While there are no specific undergraduate degree requirements to sit for the New York Bar, there are four routes to qualify for the exam, all of which require at least some form of classroom study in a law school.

One route is to obtain a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law school. This route requires graduation from a law school approved by the ABA during all periods of the applicant's attendance, and the school must be located in the United States or its territories.

Another route is through Law Office Study/Clerkship. In New York, an applicant must complete one year of law school and three years of study in a law office under the supervision of an attorney. After completing the four-year program, the applicant may take the New York Bar.

Some states offer apprenticeships in place of law school, but these states still require some completion of law school. For example, in Vermont, applicants can participate in a law office study program as an alternative to attending law school. They must have a bachelor's degree and study law for 25 hours a week for four years under the supervision of a lawyer or judge.

While it is possible to become a lawyer in New York without a law degree, it is essential to carefully research and understand the specific requirements and routes to qualification, as outlined by the New York Bar Examination rules and regulations.

New York Law Course

To become a lawyer in New York, you must pass the New York Bar Examination. While you can take the exam without a law degree, you will need to meet certain requirements. These include a combination of study in a law school and an apprenticeship in a law office.

In New York, you need a total of four years of studying, including a minimum of one year in law school and the remaining years in an apprenticeship in a law office. The law school must be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). During the apprenticeship, you will need to be supervised by an attorney admitted to practice law in New York State.

After passing the bar exam, there are several more steps before you can practice law in New York. You must complete an online course in New York-specific law, known as the New York Law Course (NYLC). Following this, you must take and pass an online examination, known as the New York Law Exam (NYLE).

In addition to the NYLC and NYLE, applicants must also complete a 50-hour pro bono service requirement and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). They must also satisfy character and fitness requirements by appearing before the committee. If you have a felony conviction, this will be a disqualifier.

Character and fitness requirements

To practice law in New York, an applicant must meet the state's character and fitness requirements. This involves appearing before the committee on character and fitness. Applicants with a felony conviction are disqualified from practicing law in New York.

The New York Judiciary Law § 478 makes it unlawful for anyone to practice, appear, or hold themselves out to be an attorney, lawyer, or counselor-at-law without first being duly authorized. To become an attorney, the law school graduate must decide in which state(s) he/she wishes to practice law and submit to a professional qualifying test known as the Bar Exam in that state/those states.

There are four routes for an applicant to qualify to take the New York bar examination, and all of them require at least some form of classroom study in a law school. The first route is to graduate with a first degree in law from a law school or law schools approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The second route is to complete a law office study/clerkship. The third route is to graduate from a non-ABA-approved law school in the United States with a Juris Doctor degree and practice in a jurisdiction where the applicant has been admitted for 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding application to the New York bar examination. The fourth route is to complete a program of study at a law school outside of the United States that is both durationally and substantively equivalent to a program of study at an approved law school in the United States.

In addition to the above, applicants must also take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) and comply with the 50-hour pro bono service requirement.

Frequently asked questions