What are the Educational Requirements to Becoming a Lawyer in the US and Abroad?
Typically, four years of college and three years of law school education are required for prospective lawyers in the United States. In college, there is no particular pre-law major. However, prospective lawyers must develop logic, reading, writing, speaking, research, and analytical skills. Prospective lawyers are encouraged to take English, public speaking, government, history, and philosophy courses. Math, economics, computer science, and foreign language courses may be helpful as well. Graduating laws students are granted the Juris Doctor degree. In addition to required education, each state sets its own requirements for becoming a lawyer. Each state requires prospective lawyers to be licensed or admitted to the bar. The highest court in the jurisdiction establishes rules for lawyer licensing and bar admittance. In all states, a prospective lawyer must take and pass a written bar examination to gain admittance to the bar. In some states, lawyer candidates are also required to pass w
