What Degree Do You Need to Become a Lawyer?

In order to become a lawyer, you must first earn a Juris Doctor degree—also called a law degree or JD—before practicing law. Once you successfully finish law school, you must also pass a bar exam in the state where you'd like to practice law.

In this article, we'll discuss the degree you need to become a lawyer. You can also build in-demand GenAI law skills with Vanderbilt University's Prompt Engineering for Law Specialization. Over three courses, you'll gain proficiency in crafting targeted prompts to leverage AI in augmenting your legal practice efficiently.

What degree do you need to become a lawyer?

In the United States, you need to earn a Juris Doctor—often shorted 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. Read what to expect from law school for more details about those programs.

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 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 pass the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This two-part exam measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, logical reading, and writing skills. Your score on this exam is usually an important part of the admission process for 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 practice 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 six areas: constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, 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.

Thinking about studying law but not sure it's the right subject for you? Gain a handle on the subject with the University of Pennsylvania's course An Introduction to American Law.

7 top undergraduate majors that can prepare you for law school

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

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—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 helps you understand the events that lead to landmark court decisions and legislation. You also 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 decide to transition into politics. About one-third of the members of Congress have a law degree [5].

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. 

Build your skills in the legal field on Coursera

There are a number of ways to build foundational knowledge in the field of law or to strengthen your skills. Consider the following options on Coursera:

• Learn about the fundamentals with An Introduction to American Law from the University of Pennsylvania. In this eight-module course, you'll learn about six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure.

• Gain specialized knowledge with the University of Pennsylvania's Intellectual Property Specialization. Over four courses, you'll come to understand why intellectual property is now the currency of the tech world and how to develop a trademark strategy for a company.

• Accelerate your GenAI abilities in law with Vanderbilt University's Prompt Engineering for Law Specialization. Over three courses, you'll learn how to use GenAI in ways that can be leveraged for streamlining legal research, drafting documents, and enhancing due diligence efforts.