. how was he able to become a lawyer without going to law school?

by Yvette Reilly 4 min read

That’s because a handful of states have their own little-known alternate route to be eligible to take the bar exam. After a candidate has served an apprenticeship with a licensed and practicing attorney or judge, it’s possible that he or she can become a licensed attorney without ever having set foot in a law school.

Full Answer

Can you become a lawyer without going to Law School?

Now before dumping your LSAT books, you must understand that becoming a lawyer without going to law school is not for the faint of heart. It may mean relocating to a state that allows for this option and completing many requirements before you can sit for the bar.

How long do you have to study law to become a lawyer?

They must have studied law in a law office or judges’ chambers for 18 hours each week for at least 48 weeks to receive credit for one year of study in law school; or for 18 hours each week for 24 weeks to receive credit for a half-year of study in law school.

Can you take the bar exam without going to Law School?

There are just a few states that allow people to take the bar exam without going to law school. Instead, these bar exam applicants have studied the law with the assistance of a lawyer, doing something called “reading the law.” Four states currently allow this:

Is it difficult to become a lawyer through a legal apprentice?

This exam is quite difficult, has a very low pass rate, and is a formidable obstacle. The most obvious benefit of becoming a lawyer through a legal apprentice program is avoiding the high cost of a traditional legal education, which most students finance with student loans.

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Can you become a lawyer in the US without going to law school?

Only four states—California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington—allow potential law students to skip law school entirely. Three others—Maine, New York, and Wyoming—require some law school experience, but they allow an apprenticeship to substitute for one or two years of law school.

How can Kim Kardashian become a lawyer without college?

So first, what is “reading the law?” Basically, it's a JD via apprenticeship but without the actual degree. In her case, Kardashian will need to spend at least four years studying with a practicing lawyer or judge to be eligible to take the California bar exam in 2022.

How can Kim Kardashian be a lawyer?

The reality television star and entrepreneur said Monday on Twitter that she passed California's First-Year Law Students' Examination—a daylong test required of aspiring lawyers in the state who are not taking the traditional path of attending an accredited law school.

How many times did Kim fail the baby bar?

"You are only allowed to take the baby bar a certain amount of times," she continued. "This was the last time I could ever take it, so if I don't [pass] then this law school journey is over for me." Kim had previously failed the test three times, but the fourth time proved to be the charm.

Did Kim Kardashian write the LSAT?

Did Kim Kardashian take the LSAT? Kim arriving at her law exam in Los Angeles, CA yesterday. If you're wondering if Kim Kardashian is eligible enough to be a lawyer and if she even passed her LSAT, the answer is – no, she didn't.

Does the baby bar make you a lawyer?

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has passed the “baby bar” exam required for would-be California lawyers who opt to learn the law through apprenticeship instead of law school. Kardiashian said in an Instagram post on Monday she passed the exam on the fourth try, report CNN, Law.com, USA Today, Reuters and Above the Law.

What happens if you pass the baby bar?

A student who passes the First-Year Law Students Examination within three administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed.

Are you a lawyer after passing the baby bar?

After completing the legal apprenticeship and the baby bar, students can then take their actual bar exam and become practicing lawyers upon successfully passing it.

Do You Need a Law Degree to Take the Bar Exam?

In most states and U.S. jurisdictions, you will need a law degree before you are eligible to take the bar exam. That being said, the states that offer alternatives to law school do not require a law degree before you sit for the bar.

States Offering Legal Apprenticeships

The states we discuss below do not require any type of law school or law degree before you are allowed to take the bar exam. The requirements for each state are different, so make sure you understand what an apprenticeship in that jurisdiction would entail before enrolling in one.

States That Require Some Law School

If you don't mind taking some law school classes before going a non-traditional route to your legal career, there are a couple of states that will allow an apprenticeship experience alongside some law school before you are able to take the bar and become a lawyer.

How Do You Obtain an Apprenticeship?

If you think that an apprenticeship would be a great solution for you, you may also be wondering about how to successfully obtain one and start your journey to becoming a lawyer.

The Pros and Cons of Apprenticeship

Even though an apprenticeship might be the right choice for some people, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of such a decision. This will help you evaluate whether or not undertaking an apprenticeship is the right choice for you and your personal goals.

The Best Legal Education for Your Life

Deciding how to obtain a legal education can be a major decision and is not something to take lightly. If you are unable to attend law school full time or take on the potential financial burden of a traditional law school route, it is possible to become a lawyer without first attending law school.

How many hours of law school do you need to be a Virginia attorney?

Virginia only requires three years of study in a law office. However, law readers must complete at least 40 weeks of study each year, a minimum of 25 hours of study each week, 18 of which must take place in a supervising attorney’s office. The supervising attorney must provide at least three hours of direct supervision and must have ...

What states do you need to live in to become a law reader?

If you don’t already live in California, Vermont, Virginia or Washington, you may need to relocate to one of these states. These four states provide “law reader” or apprenticeship programs for students who opt to bypass law school.

How long does it take to become a California law reader?

California requires “law readers” to complete four years of study in a law office or Judge’s Chambers under the supervision of an attorney who must have five years of active law practice within the state. Study time must equate to at least 18 hours per week, 5 hours of which the reader must be under the direct supervision of their supervising attorney. California law readers are also required to take monthly exams, complete a Baby Bar Exam after their first year of study and also submit progress reports to the CA State Bar every six months. California also requires an initial fee of $158 as well as a $105 fee which must be submitted along with the progress reports every six months.

Does Washington State have a law clerk program?

This program is codified under Rule 6 of the Washington Supreme Court’s Admission and Practice Rule. It requires law clerks to be employed for four years in a law office. They must complete 30 hours of work/study each week, 3 hours of which the clerk must be directly supervised by a supervising attorney who has at least 10 years of experience. The clerk must also pay a $1500 annual fee.

Is it hard to get a job with a JD?

Jobs are already extremely difficult to come by for students with a JD from a top law school. Therefore, due to the unpopularity of this option and the lack of knowledge, nationwide, firms may be apprehensive to hire students who take this route. Good luck as you make your decision!

Did Kim Kardashian go to law school?

What was more shocking, was the fact that she is doing this without going to law school. Yes, you heard me right. Kim Kardashian, wife of Kanye, mother to North, Saint, Chicago and now Psalm West, found a pathway to become an attorney, through which she can avoid the dreaded cold call in front of hundreds of people and extensive class lectures ...

ANCIENT TO MODERN TIMELINE OF BECOMING A LAWYER WITHOUT LAW SCHOOL

Law schools were not even a thought. Clergy were the closest thing England had to lawyers by the time of Alfred the Great. Lay people or “commoners” were generally not law practitioners. Hence, there was no “common law” yet.

Rank Structure Of The Temple Inns

The masters became known as benchers while the students were classified into three categories:

The New Non-Clergy Law Student

The UK’s new legal system presented many opportunities for non-clergy and other men of the cloth to read for and practice law during the 14th century.

Becoming a lawyer without law school

The reason you are here is simple – you want to become a lawyer and you don’t want to, or, for whatever reason, can’t go to law school and spend 8+ years preparing for this vocation. Is it possible? The answer is yes, though some limitations may apply. Let us explain.

How does one go about doing this?

There is a little known way to become a lawyer without going to law school. You can do it by being self-taught and reading the law. The process itself is longer, and potentially more strenuous. However, it doesn’t end there. You need to go through an apprenticeship program, which differs depending on the location.

Why should you do it?

There are several famous people who did not, in fact, go to law school. One of them was Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father who is considered to be the main author of the Declaration of Independence. Another famous example is Abraham Lincoln.

The Option is Limited by Geography

Only California, Washington, Virginia and Vermont offer the option of taking the bar exam without ever having set foot in a law school class. Wyoming, New York and Maine also consider apprenticeships, but they do require at least some law school classwork.

Passing the Bar Exam

After satisfying the apprenticeship requirements for one of the above states, an individual must still pass the bar exam and get sworn in before he or she can put Esq. after their name. More than 38,000 individuals sat for the bar exam last fall.

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Where Can I Pass The Bar Exam Without Going to Law School?

  • Four states currently allow an aspiring attorney to take the bar exam without attending any law school: 1. California, 2. Virginia, 3. Vermont, and 4. Washington Instead, the aspiring attorney participates in an apprenticeship with a licensed attorney or judge. Each state’s apprenticeship requirements are different and have varying lengths of study...
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California

  • Under Rule 4.29(A) of the state bar’s legal code, all candidates seeking to become attorneys must: 1. Sit in a practicing attorney’s office or judge’s chambers for 18 hours per week for a period of four continuous years; 2. Pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (also known as the “baby bar”); 3. Have a positive moral character determination; 4. Pass the Multi-state Professional Res…
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Virginia

  • The Virginia Board of Bar Examinershas a similar program called the law readers program. To be admitted to the apprenticeship program, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree. The program requires the following of aspiring attorneys: 1. Study for at least 25 hours per week in the supervising attorney’s office for 3 years, with at least 18 weekly hours studying directly with the …
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Vermont

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Washington

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Is This Common? Who Chooses This Path?

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What Are The Pros and Cons of This Approach?

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Take A Bar Prep Courses!

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