What Degree Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

Key takeaways

To become a lawyer in the United States, you must earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and pass your state's bar exam.

• A JD typically takes three years to complete full-time.

• Law schools accept applicants from many majors, giving you flexibility to pursue an undergraduate degree in an area that interests you.

• You can strengthen your law school application by choosing an undergraduate major that builds critical thinking, research, and communication skills. 

Learn more about the degree you need to be a lawyer, how long it takes to earn a JD, and other common requirements to enter the field. 

What degree do you need to become a lawyer?

In the United States, you need to earn a Juris Doctor, often shortened to JD or referred to as a law degree, in order to become a lawyer.

It takes about three years to complete a JD when you're able to go full-time; however, there are dual degree and accelerated JD degree options.

Other requirements to apply to law school

If you're interested in attending law school, you often must first have a bachelor's degree and submit your LSAT or GRE scores as part of your application.

1. Complete a bachelor's degree

A JD is a postgraduate degree, so you must earn a bachelor's degree before entering law school. As you take courses to earn an undergraduate degree, you have opportunities to develop important skills you will use in law school, such as research, writing, problem-solving, and communication.

Typically, law schools do not specify what you should major in as an undergraduate. This allows you to choose a major relevant to your interests and the type of legal work you want to do. Some of the more popular majors for pre-law students include legal studies, history, and English.

2. Take the LSATs

Before entering law school, you must earn an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This two-part exam measures reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and writing skills. Your score on this exam is usually an important part of the admission process for law school.

Learn more: Getting Your JD Degree: What to Expect from Law School

Is a pre-law degree necessary for a career as a lawyer?

Although law and legal studies are popular undergraduate majors for pre-law students, law schools generally do not require you to have a pre-law degree to be admitted to their program. Many law schools recommend prospective students choose an area that challenges them and provides opportunities to build critical thinking, communication, and research skills.

Other requirements to become a lawyer

Once you've earned your JD degree, you will also need to pass your state's bar exam before you can begin practicing law. (Or, if you plan on practicing law in a different state, you will need to pass that state's exam.)

The bar is an exam held over two days. The first day focuses on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which is a 200-question standardized test covering seven areas: civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, and torts. The second day of testing focuses on essay pulled from different subjects.

In some states, you must take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) to qualify for admission to the bar. Wisconsin and Puerto Rico do not have this requirement, and Connecticut and New Jersey will allow you to substitute a law school course on professional responsibility in place of the MPRE.

What undergraduate degree do you need to be a lawyer? 7 majors to consider

Law schools typically accept students with bachelor's degrees from a variety of majors; however, they often look for applicants who have developed skills in problem-solving, research, reading, logic, and communication. The following pre-law majors tend to be popular options for building those skills.

1. Business

As a business major, you should have opportunities to learn about business theory and how it applies to the daily operations of a company. If you plan to work in corporate law or specialize in banking, health care administration, or risk management, earning a business degree can be helpful.

2. Communications

As a lawyer, you spend a lot of time researching, writing, speaking, and negotiating, which are skills you can practice as a communications major. Related topics like organizational and crisis management, critical thinking, and navigating conflict are typically included in your coursework.

3. Criminal justice

If you plan to practice criminal law or want to serve as a judge in the future, you may want a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Through your coursework, you'll likely study theories of criminal behavior, the structure of the legal system, criminal procedures, and the function of the courts. 

4. Economics

Economics is an interesting major for pre-law students because of the effects of economics on social issues and legal reform. The coursework typically includes both quantitative and qualitative courses, which can be useful if you plan to practice corporate law and tax law or if you want to deepen your knowledge of financial regulations.

5. English

The classes you take as an English major require a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking, which explains why this has been a popular major for law students for years. You'll typically learn to research topics, develop arguments, and defend your positions. As a bonus, you should learn about culture and society through reading texts.

6. History

History is another classic major for pre-law students because of the course research and writing required. Studying history also helps you understand the events that led to landmark court decisions and legislation. You have opportunities to analyze historical documents, which is useful for developing your critical thinking skills to interpret legal texts.

7. Political science

As a political science major, you study systems of government and how people create and carry out laws within those systems. Understanding how these institutions work is essential for lawyers because they affect the legal system you work within, especially if you plan to transition into politics. About one-third of the members of Congress have a law degree [1].

8. Psychology

In psychology courses, you study human behavior and topics like discrimination, stereotypes, and human development, concepts many lawyers find useful in their work. You'll also have opportunities to explore factors that influence behavior, human development, and research methods used to understand them. 

No-fluff help for when you're stuck

Explore the collection of aptitude quizzes, career planning tools, glossaries, and more in our Career Resources Hub. And check out these free resources as you consider your learning and career paths.

• Read this article: How to Strengthen Your Critical Thinking Skills

• Watch on YouTube: What Should I Major In?

• Find practical tips: How to Stay Motivated

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