Becoming a lawyer requires significant education and training. After earning a four-year bachelor's degree, aspiring lawyers must complete three years of law school to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Law school coursework covers constitutional law, contracts, civil procedure, criminal law, legal writing, and more. After graduating, candidates must pass the bar exam in the state where they plan to practice. Some lawyers also pursue additional credentials, such as board certification in a specialty area, such as family law, criminal trial law, or immigration law, to demonstrate advanced expertise.

To Prepare:
Develop strong reading, writing, and public speaking skills through English, history, and social studies courses, and seek out debate teams, mock trials, or Model United Nations programs.

Explore different areas of law by taking government, civics, and economics courses that explain how laws are made, interpreted, and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels.

Build research and analytical skills through Advanced Placement (AP) or honors courses in U.S. History, U.S. Government, or English Language and Composition, which emphasize the kind of close reading and persuasive writing central to legal work.