How long does it take to become a lawyer?

Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do lawyers make?

The US median is $159,670 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a lawyer?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become a lawyer?

232 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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How to become a lawyer

Legal · SOC 23-1011

$159,670US median pay, 2025

+4.7%Projected growth, 2025–35

28,700Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Doctoral or professional degree
Work as a lawyer

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Law	CIP 22.0101	209
Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General	CIP 22.0201	74
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other	CIP 22.0299	45
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence	CIP 22.0203	41
Programs for Foreign Lawyers	CIP 22.0202	33
Tax Law/Taxation	CIP 22.0211	28
Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law	CIP 22.0207	25
Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law	CIP 22.0205	23
International Law and Legal Studies	CIP 22.0209	23
Health Law	CIP 22.0208	22
International Business, Trade, and Tax Law	CIP 22.0210	16
Intellectual Property Law	CIP 22.0212	12
Comparative Law	CIP 22.0206	8
Tribal/Indigenous Law	CIP 22.0224	5
Human Resources Law	CIP 22.0220	4
Criminal Law and Procedure	CIP 22.0217	3
Real Estate and Land Development Law	CIP 22.0222	2
Agriculture Law	CIP 22.0214	1
Arts and Entertainment Law	CIP 22.0215	1
Compliance Law	CIP 22.0216	1
Canadian Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence	CIP 22.0204	0
Patent Law	CIP 22.0213	0
Entrepreneurship Law	CIP 22.0218	0
Family/Child/Elder Law	CIP 22.0219	0
Insurance Law	CIP 22.0221	0

…and 1 more related programs.

See the 232 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a lawyer?: Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do lawyers make?: The US median is $159,670 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a lawyer?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become a lawyer?: 232 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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