If I have an associates degree as a paralegal, do i have to study 2 more years to be a lawyer?

Different states have different requirements. For example in the state of VA, you do not need a degree to practice law. One of my wife's friends is a lawyer, passed the bar but does not have a college degree. Other than VA there are a few other states that do not require a degree to be a lawyer (ie CA) however the bar is a very hard exam so it helps to have a lot of training before pursuing it.

pearlmar

No, you have to go to law school and study for at least 4 more years.

Mike

Bachelor degree, then Masters, then J.D. You've got at least six years ahead of you.

Buster Hymen

You still need a Bachelor's degree, then law school. If your credits are transferrable, you'll need 2 more years to get your B.A., then 3 or 4 more years in law school.

Shane

Law school is a 3 year program.

cardo1111

I just want to say that mailaccount 's answer was extremely comprehensive and informative and to advocate for him if I may (although he seems quite capable of advocating for himself) he clearly deserves the ten points for this question. Additionally I loved the disclosure at the end of his informative answer written like a true lawyer. Good luck in your chosen field of study!

leslie

You need 2 years to get your degree and then you need to go to Law School another 2 - 4 years.

Judy

A lot more than 2 - 2 more to get your undergrad degree, then law school.

Charlie

No...you need to finish 2 more years of undergraduate work to get a Bachelors degree. Then you will need to attend 3 years of law school to get your law degree, then pass the bar exam to become a lawyer.

Bomfy

You would have 5 more years. 2 years to finish your undergrad classes and then 3 years of law school.

Mary

Assuming you are in the US, you need to complete your bachelor's degree and then go to law school. Law school is 3 full academic years. Finally, you have to pass the bar exam.

mailaccount63

In the USA, to become a Lawyer, IF you go to school full-time:
1) Bachelor's degree - FOUR years from a traditional college/university.
2) Study for LSAT. Take LSAT.
3) Law school - three MORE years.
4) Study for Bar Exam. Take Bar Exam in the state where you want to practice.
5) Pass the Character and Fitness Evaluation. Then you can practice Law.
BUT........
6) You still have to take additional classes/seminars/legal training etc. each year to obtain CEUs to keep your license to practice Law. (You aren't done with school!!)
7) In many states there are even laws requiring a certain percentage of your legal work to be "pro bono" (free of charge) for some charitable purpose.

We simply already have way too many Legal Professionals. AND the legal profession is dramatically changing: it is in absolute CRISIS! Job searching in this vocational field has changed >>DRAMATICALLY<< in the last five years. And, every year, more and more people graduate from law school, but there are fewer and fewer jobs. Even the largest and most reputable law firms are experiencing unprecedented cutbacks. I don't expect the situation to improve in the coming years.....

Be aware of what you are proposing on getting yourself into. Please do more research first. Reminder: We are STILL in a World-wide Recession. Obviously, economic conditions affect the number of jobs available. Consider career paths that have available JOBS.<< Even in a Recovery, there are some jobs that just won't return - the field of Law won't make a comeback. Too many things have changed in this vocational field.

Warning> Jobs in the field of Law are drying up fast!! This no longer is a good field to invest time and/or money into. This is a SHRINKING, crumbling, and dying vocational field. Many, many reasons: We now have computers. So, many people today (mistakenly) think they can do their own legal work, thanks to the Internet and legal books. Also, there are a lot of companies out there making very efficient legal software for the field of Law. Today's graduating lawyers tend to be very computer savvy, so they just do the work themselves to save themselves the cost of overhead - they aren't hiring legal staff. Also, the "Public" buys this legal software/law books in order to get legal work done without the expense of an Attorney. Also, we simply already have way too many Legal Professionals - we just have an absolute glut!! ("Legal Professionals" includes, but is not limited to: Attorneys/Lawyers, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, etc) For example: Sites like legalzoom.com have taken away work that many small-time attorneys/lawyers would do/used to do.

Now... the law schools know this, but they won't tell you the truth >that the job market/economy is just SATURATED with way too many Legal Professionals. Instead the schools will feed you a fairytale and will LIE to you. The root of the problem is we already have too many law schools. We are STILL in a Recession, and the schools are fighting for their own survival - they will tell students anything to get to the students' money. (Which is why they won't tell you the truth about the job market for the field of Law.) And these schools continue to recruit and churn out even more graduates.............Remember>>> law schools are BUSINESSES - their TOP concern is making money for themselves.

>>>>>THE #1 MOST IMPORTANT THING (and I can't stress this enough>>>): You ESPECIALLY have to beware of the BOGUS, INFLATED law school salary/job stats given out by >law schools< (AND by the U.S. Bureau of Labor)!!***<<<<<

If you want a JOB when you are done with your studies, consider and look into the fields of: >>>Healthcare, Information Technology, Law ENFORCEMENT, environmentalism, emergency planning, accounting, education, entertainment, utilities, home-car-commercial-industrial repairs, vice industries, clergy, and/or debt collection. I spoke to a career counselor from Jobs and Family Services, and HE told me that these areas are where the jobs are, and future job opportunities/availability....and scholarships.

There are MANY issues of working in the vocational field of Law. My answer is an attempt to give you a realistic way of looking at this career, and I have told you things that most will not tell you about the profession - at first. Be careful, do your research, and have your eyes open wide.

Good luck.

(This is based on my current knowledge, information, belief, and life experiences. This was intended as personal opinion, and not intended to be used as legal advice. Please be careful and do your research.<<< You DID ask the question here on Y/A. I am just trying to help you.)

Mary

What country do you live in???

IN the US, you have an Associates as a paralegal, you get a Bachelor's in another 2 - 3 years, and THEN you go to LAW SCHOOL for ANOTHER three years or so, to become a lawyer.

No, you can't go to Law School with only an Associate's Degree. You MUST have a Bachelor's. They won't even consider you.

If you are a paralegal, don't you work in a law office? Couldn't you have asked the people you work with?

Conservative Grandma

law school is typically a three year course of study. being a paralegal has nothing to do with law school. (personal experience).

I have an associates degree in paralegal studies and a BA in business. I also sat for the nation certification exam. It would take be 3 years in a law school be become a lawyer and I would still have to pas the bar.

Nas

@CONSERVATIVE GRANDMA ... actually my dear being a paralegal and having a few years of experience on that field would definitely help getting into law school I'm from Canada and it's very competitive her for law school so as a paralegal it gives you a better chance getting in to law school compared to students trying to get in thank you very much :)

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