# Any ways to become an Attorney without a Juris Doctor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483 "2006-08-12T20:33:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483/1 "2006-08-12T20:33:10Z")
Are there any states where you can become a practicing/licensed lawyer without obtaining a Juris Doctor/law degree from a law school? Say I taught myself Patent & Trademark Law in a few years at a law library and felt I could pass the Bar. What state, if any, could I take the exam? Also, in Louisiana and Washington, can you become a Lawyer without taking Multistate Bar Examination? What’s with those two states? ---
**Author:** ![psychloan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@psychloan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychloan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483/2 "2006-08-12T20:36:09Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Are there any states where you can become a practicing/licensed lawyer without obtaining a Juris Doctor/law degree from a law school? \*\* [/quote] I believe that New York and Vermont allow you to “apprentice” for 4 years and then sit for the bar. I believe that California allows you to study at an unaccredited school if you take an extra exam. Perhaps correspondence school qualifies? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483/3 "2006-08-12T20:56:53Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Are there any states where you can become a practicing/licensed lawyer without obtaining a Juris Doctor/law degree from a law school? [/QUOTE] In this [Summary of Requirements for Admission to Practice Law in California](http://calbar.xap.com/Applications/CalBar/California_Bar_Exam/default.asp), towards the bottom of the page, under ‘Legal Education’, it looks like you can avoid law school: > [@](#): > > Pursuant to Rule VII, Section 2 of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California, in order to establish eligibility every general applicant must have > > ``` > (a) Graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by Committee of Bar Examiners; or > > (b) Completed at least four years of law study in any of the following manners > > 1. In a law school that is authorized by the State of California to confer professional degrees; is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners; and which requires classroom attendance of its students for a minimum of 270 hours a year; or > > 2. In a law office in the State of California and under the personal supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California for at least five years; or > > 3. In the chambers and under the personal supervision of a judge of a court of record of this state; or > > 4. In a correspondence law school registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners, and requires no less than 864 hours of preparation and study per year; or > > 5. By any combination of the methods referred to in this subsection (b). > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483/4 "2006-08-12T21:42:56Z")
In New York, you may take and pass the first year of law school and train for 4 years under a licensed attorney and be qualified to sit for the bar exam and be admitted if you pass. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ways-to-become-an-attorney-without-a-juris-doctor/368483/5 "2006-08-13T00:07:07Z")
Ah ha ! Thanks !