is it possible to pass the bar exam for law simply by reading law books and apprenticeship with a lawyer?

Answer 1

There are a very few states where this is possible. According to this article, as of 1994 that included New York, Maine, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington. California permitted correspondence school study. New York required at least one year of law school.

Laws may have changed since then, but I am reasonably sure Vermont still permits it.

http://www.slate.com/id/2108397

Answer 2

Law schools exist for a purpose. They teach law students to think, to analyze and to reason.

Simply reading case law is not enough. Sure you can probably pull the rule and holding of the case out of it, but you need to be able to tie it all together and to understand where it falls into the big picture.

Yes, it's possible to pass a bar exam simply by reading law books and with an apprenticeship. Anything is possible.

However, the better question is "Is it probable that you can pass the bar exam by simply reading law books and with an apprenticeship?" Answer, probably not.

Assuming that the state will even let you sit for the bar exam, most states require a JD, your chances of actually passing are severly diminished without having attended law school.

As for other posts, they are correct, there are a few states which will let you come to the exam without a law degree, there are not many though.

Answer 3

I wonder if every state does require a law degree. It used to be possible to "apprentice the bar." You cannot do that in my state any more, and the first answerer was probably right, but it's possible that option could remain in a few states. If you want to practice in your state, call your state bar office and ask. No particular undergraduate degree is necessary to get into law school, btw.

Answer 4

You need a Juris Doctorate to sit for the bar.

Answer 5

Buy your way like Ted Kennedy !

Answer 6

they don't let you take the test unless you have a degree first.