Can one become an attorney without a law degree?

Question

Can one become an attorney without a law degree in the United States, such as by passing the state bar exam? Which States in the U.S. allow this?

This depends on the state/country. There is no single answer. — MSalters, Commented Feb 25, 2020 at 15:31
It is also worth noting that it is possible to be a judge without being a lawyer in many states where it is not possible to be a lawyer without passing the bar exam. For example, New York and Colorado, where I am admitted to practice, are among them. — ohwilleke, Commented Feb 26, 2020 at 1:37
For what it is worth, well under 1% of U.S. lawyers are admitted to practice in this manner. — ohwilleke, Commented Oct 25, 2022 at 21:26

user6726 · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-25 17:17:46Z

7

California, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington allow a person to substitute a pattern of study in a judges or lawyer's office. In California, this is per rule 4.29 of the California Bar, and rule 6 of the Washington Supreme Court. These states require the candidate to be supervised and tutored by a practicing attorney or judge, which makes it challenging to actually satisfy the requirement. There are also provisions whereby one might substitute the fact of being a practicing lawyer in a common law jurisdiction (which opens the theoretical possibility that one might not have attended law school in that country).

answered Feb 25, 2020 at 17:17

user6726

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My grandfather "read the law" in North Carolina (in the early 20th century, so it's likely that this is no longer possible in North Carolina) and served as a county judge in addition to his private law practice, so I presume that being supervised by a practicing judge or lawyer only applies before being admitted to the bar.
– phoog
Commented Feb 25, 2020 at 17:32
@phoog Many states allow someone who is not a lawyer to serve as a judge. Colorado has 3-4 of them, but New York State, for example, has a great many.
– ohwilleke
Commented Dec 13, 2022 at 22:06
Are those the only states?
– Geremia
Commented May 6 at 20:59

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Rick Colosimo · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-24 22:52:46Z

3

New York allows a person to take the bar exam after "study in a law office" and not just after law school.

See Rule 520.4 (https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/520rules10.htm#2).

The current version of the rule (my recollection is that it didn't always require this) requires essentially that the 1L curriculum has been taken at a law school, successfully, followed by ~3 years of law office study.

answered Oct 24, 2022 at 22:52