Become an Attorney Without Law School

Several states in the USA and some locations in Canada will allow you to become an attorney without law school, trading basic intelligence, apprenticeship and mentoring to help you pass the bar exam. Those who choose this route claim how wonderful it is to have become an attorney with no law school debt, and to choose their own hours for study, and to actually get paid by a law firm instead of spending money on tuition.

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Step 1

Find out if your state or location allows this alternative. Go to your state's bar association online and discover if you can become an attorney through an alternative self-study route.
Step 2

Make an outline of the steps your state requires. Some states do want you to have some college education to become an attorney, you just don't have to go to law school. Others want you to at least pass an intelligence test as a first step. Make your list of their requirements.
Step 3

Start with their education or intelligence requirements. Either finish their college requirements or study for and take their specified intelligence exam.
Step 4

Find a qualified attorney to be your mentor. Each state usually makes you have a practicing attorney whom you study under if you want to become an attorney yourself without law school. In some cases, for example, the attorney has to have five years' experience, but doesn't have to be involved in the same specialty you may hope to specialize in.
Step 5

Find and apply for the work experience they require. Most states want you to be working for a law firm, such as being a legal clerk, as part of your alternative plan to become an attorney.
Step 6

Pass the bar exam. After enough required years of study and work experience, you'll be allowed to take the bar exam. If you don't pass, you can usually try again, multiple times. Once passed, congratulations, you have become an attorney and didn't have to go to law school.