What is the straight dope on bypassing law school to become a lawyer in California?

From what I remember, California is the only state where it’s possible to sit for the bar and become an attorney without attending law school. Is that correct?

Other questions:

  1. If it’s not strictly true that you don’t have to go to law school, what are the educational requirements? (Are there correspondence schools, etc.?)

  2. Does anybody actually do this?

  3. If people do this, is it ever worth it? Presumably you wouldn’t be able to get a job with a good firm, but could you still conceivably work as a lawyer?

  4. Once you are certified in California, would that allow you to take the bar in other states?

  5. Is this just another example of the California “nuttiness,” or is there a practical reason for this state of affairs?

(Note: I am not personally considering this, as I don’t live in California. This information is for my sister.)

Thanks in advance.

This Google Answers webpage mentions the states that allow one to be an apprentice to an attorney or judge prior to taking the bar exam.

http://calbar.xap.com/Applications/CalBar/California_Bar_Exam/default.asp

It appears that CA requires you to either be in/have graduated from law school or be an attorney in another state already.

I thought there was one state left that allowed you to “read” the law rather than attend law school - maybe Wisconsin? - but there’s a required format for reading the law. It’s kind of an apprenticeship with a practicing attorney. You can’t just read a bunch of law books on your own and take the bar.

Knowing the laws firms I know, I doubt any of them would hire someone who passed the bar but never attended law school (or completed an approved reading process). I suppose if it is possible to just take the bar, you could start your own firm if nobody else would hire you.

According to this Bar Exam prep site, that’s true.

[QUOTE]

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).
    {/quote]

So graduating law school is not a requirement per se, but some form of legal education is required.

You can still “read” law in Vermont, that is, to apprentice yourself to a working attorney and study law independently. The Bar exam in Vermont is reputed to be very tough, but I know a number of practicing lawyers who went this route.

You can read the law in Virginia, too.

AFAIK, in every state that allows people to take the Bar without having first graduated from law school, you must first complete some number of years as an apprentice or in some similar situation, meaning that it would usually be faster to go to law school if you can swing it.

–Cliffy

The American Bar Association has published a Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements (2003). Chart III PDF File indicates the states which permit Bar admission based on “Law Office Study” rather than study at a law school (either ABA approved or not). Some of these states require some law school along with law office study.

According to the chart and accompanying notes, one can be admitted to the bar without attending any law school in Vemont, Virgina, and Washington. If you’re interested in this option, you should check the law and regulations of the particular jurisdiction.