Would it take me a full 7 years to get a law degree?

Question

Hello everyone, I wanted to be a lawyer when i grew up, and as of now I'm a sophomore in Hs with excellent grades (unweighted never less than a 4.0) and great athletics. However, I feel that it may take a long time before I actually became a lawyer. If i took the LSAT's early or something (senior year) do you think i could skip undergrad altogether and mebbe go to graduate school straight from high school? I'm not talking about harvard here but even a small university like Golden Gate University. How can one minimize their schooling to go into a field like this where there are no undergrad classes offered for the field you are going into. "Pre-law" is not classified as a major, but a selection of random classes that has nothing to do with the actual study and practice of law. So has anyone done or heard of such and idea and can I do this? How do you do it? THANKS EVERYONE :)

Thank you everyone...future lawywer mentioned the 3+3 program....WHERE IS THIS AVAILABLE? what universities? thanks

Answer 1

What you suggested is only possible if you are able to take the bar exam and pass it. You don't need to go to college. You don't need to go to law school. You don't need to go to graduate school. All you have to do to get your law license is to pass the bar exam.

Of course, you'll have a much better chance of passing your test the more education you have.

Answer 2

There is a way to due this in 5 years, but it would likely be both academic and job placement suicide!! There exists programs at universities that also have there own law schools called 3+3 programs. Essentially they way they work is you get accepted by both the university and the 3+3 program (which is preliminary approval to law school); then complete your first three years (undergrad) in 2 1/2--meaning you attend during the summers as well.

After you have finished your junior year, you then transfer into law school, provided you have the minimum GPA & LSAT score. You will finish your senior year of undergrad during your first year of law school. Then take classes during both summers and you will graduate in five years with both your undergrad and your law degree.

Now for the bad news-- you should know that no program will admit you if they know you are going to attempt to do this!!! None of the programs that I interveiwed have ever had a single person do this and succeed--everyone had a 100% washout rate! Second, your summers should be spent on internships with law firms, both as an undergrad and as a law student. That is how most students get job offers. If you are going to school during the summer, you will not be able to work the 70-80 hours a week that most firms are going to demand of you.

So it is up to you. If I were your age, I would try to get into a 3+3 program. Good luck.

Answer 3

The short answer is No.

To be a lawyer, you have to pass your state's Bar exam. I'm guessing you're in CA. The CA Bar has educational requirements. Technically, you don't have to go to school to meet those educational requirements. You can theoretically test in to avoid the college requirements. However, the legal studies requirement is where you run into problems. Even if you don't go to law school, they want so many hours, you'll realistically only save a couple years overall.

To save time, you're better off taking a bunch of AP courses and some community college classes. That way, you can get as many of your GE requirements out of the way. Maybe you can finish college in a couple of years or so. Law school takes 3 years in a day program, so you might be able to get out in 5 years instead of the normal 7 or 8.

No legit accredited law school is going to take you straight out of high school. Even a bad one like Golden Gate.

I've included the link to the CA Bar's rules regarding education.

Answer 4

You can't skip undergrad and go to law school. Plus the maturity level that law schools look for wouldn't be there either.
A bachelors and LSAT is required to attend law school.
If you do a full load (18 hours) every semester and go over the summer, then you can finish undergrad in 3 years rather than the 4.

Answer 5

You will not get to law school by skipping undergrad. What you can do is finish undergrad in 3 years if you bust your butt, then go to law school for the 3.

Some law schools are talking about dropping the 3rd year, maybe some already are?

Answer 6

Get a 4 year degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Philosophy, or Political Science and you'll spend 3 years in law school so yes you will spend 7 years in school and if you do a dual MBA and law degree you could be looking at 8 years.

Answer 7

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