Did You Know?
A single Supreme Court opinion can run longer than 200 pages and will be read, cited, and debated in courtrooms and law schools for generations after it is written.
The Numbers Behind the Career
The 2024 median annual salary for judges and hearing officers was $135,160.
There were about 44,800 jobs for judges and hearing officers in the U.S. in 2024.
About 1,500 judge and hearing officer job openings are projected annually over the next decade.
Where This Career Is Headed
The role of judges is evolving as courts adopt new technology and respond to shifting demands on the justice system. Courts across the country are expanding the use of virtual hearings and digital case management systems, enabling proceedings to move faster and reaching people who previously struggled to access courthouses in person. Growing public attention to fairness in sentencing, bail reform, and access to legal representation is reshaping how judges approach their work on the bench. As legal questions involving artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technology become more common, judges will increasingly need to understand complex technical issues alongside the law.
Increasing complexity in cases involving technology, intellectual property, and digital rights will create a need for judges with expertise in emerging fields of law.
The growth of international and cross-border legal disputes as digital commerce and remote work blur jurisdictional lines will create demand for judges who can navigate complex multi-jurisdictional cases.
Expansion of restorative justice models that move beyond traditional sentencing toward repairing harm will necessitate new judicial roles focused on community-centered outcomes.
Education & Certification
Becoming a judge requires extensive legal education and professional experience. Judges must hold a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, which typically takes three years of full-time study after earning a bachelor's degree.
After law school, aspiring judges must pass the bar exam in their state to become licensed attorneys. Most judges spend years practicing law before reaching the bench, gaining experience as trial attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, or legal scholars. Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, while state and local judges are either elected by voters or appointed by governors, depending on the jurisdiction.
To Prepare…
Take classes in government, history, English, debate, and public speaking to build the analytical writing, research, and oral advocacy skills that are central to legal work.
Participate in a mock trial, debate club, or Model United Nations to practice building arguments, weighing evidence, and presenting a position clearly and persuasively.
Consider pursuing a college major in political science, history, philosophy, or criminal justice, as these disciplines build the analytical and research skills that law schools value in applicants.
Spotlight: Explore the Life of a Judge
Explore more resources for a future Judge
Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality
Brown-Nagin, Tomiko
Why We Picked It
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Judges shape law and precedent through the decisions they write, and Motley's career from NAACP litigator to federal judge shows how a commitment to equal justice under law can transform both individual cases and the legal system as a whole.
Equal Justice Under Law: An Autobiography
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Why We Picked It
Career Connection
Judges interpret law and write opinions that shape society for generations, and Motley's journey from civil rights litigator to federal judge shows how a career built on equal justice can transform the courts themselves from within.
First: Sandra Day O'Connor
Thomas, Evan
Why We Picked It
Career Connection
Judges build a body of work through the opinions they write, opinions that interpret law, establish precedent, and shape the rights of millions, and O'Connor's judicial career is one of the most instructive examples available of how a single judge's principled thinking can move the law.