Law School Basics

Juris Doctor (JD) Degree
  • The JD degree will typically take 3 years to complete. There are both full-time and part-time programs available. Many law schools also offer dual degree programs such as JD/MSW or JD/MBA, which may take additional time. Generally speaking, dual-degrees take less time to complete compared to if students were to work on those degrees at separate times.
  • You can still work in the legal field without a JD degree, depending on the career you are looking for. You may also want to consider a Master’s program or a Certificate program depending on your career goals. Click here to learn more about types of law programs.
The LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)
  • LSAT is accepted by all ABA (American Bar Association)-accredited law schools and Canadian common-law law schools. Some law schools will accept other tests (such as the GRE) for admission. LSAT scores range from 120-180, and it is a factor in determining your chances of what law schools you could be offered admission in addition to merit-based scholarships that schools may offer.
  • The test is 3.5 hours long and includes the following sections (as of August 2024): two logical reasoning sections, one reading comprehension, and one unscored section of either Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension. Click here to learn more.
The Bar Exam

After graduating law school, you must take the Bar Exam to practice law. Passing the Bar Exam allows you to practice law in a specific state and you can get licensed to practice in more than one state. Most law schools will assist you in preparing for the Bar Exam through prep courses and study sessions.

Is Law School Right for me?

This is a common discussion that we have with students in our prelaw appointments. Only you can answer this question. In order to answer this question, it is important for you to take some time to do the work to help you decide if law school is the right path for you.

Why are you thinking about law school? 

Everyone has different motivations to pursue law school at various points in their lives. You need to take the time to think about why you want to attend law school and what you want to do with a law degree. You also need to think about what interests you about the legal profession. We often hear “I want to help people” or “I am good at arguing” when we ask students why they are considering law school. This is a good start! Now, take that initial thought as a starting point for your exploration into the the legal field. 

Digging deeper. Now that you are beginning to think about law school as a career option, take some time to explore and research to help you get a better sense of what you want to do with your career and make sure that this is the career you want to pursue.

 

Ways to explore and research
  • Connect with current law students and people who practice law. Talk to them about how they decided to attend law school. Ask them about their law school experience and their current experiences as someone who is practicing law. You can also connect with folks via LinkedIn. UO Law is a great resource that we have on campus that you can reach out to as well.
  • Sit in on a law class by reaching out to the law school’s admissions office. Tour the law school if you can. UO Law is a great place to start especially because it is right on campus!
  • Gain experience. Shadow or serve as an intern in a legal setting or a related field. Getting experience in a legal field is helpful in gaining exposure to the field, however, you can always consider interning/volunteering/shadowing at any organization that does interesting work. For example, if someone is interested in environmental law, they can choose to intern/volunteer/work at a local nonprofit that does environmental work.
Topics to research and ask about
  • What skills do lawyers (and law school applicants) needs?
  • Where do lawyers work? What do they do?
  • How much do lawyers make?
  • What do you study in law school?
  • What legal careers are available?
  • What does the day-to-day look like for a person serving in a position that I am interested in pursuing?
  • Is law school a good investment?
  • How much does lawyers earn realistically? Does it depend on location? Type of law?
  • What is the actual cost of my law degree? How will my debt affect my life goals (ie. Ability to secure loans for a car/home or save for retirement)? Things to consider in relation to cost of law school vs. debt from law school vs. income after law school vs. life goals.
  • What do the job opportunities look like for the type of law I am interested in?
  • Check our More Resources page to find articles, websites, forums, podcasts, and more that can help you with your research and learning process as you begin to consider law school.

Check our More Resources page to find articles, websites, forums, podcasts, and more that can help you with your research and learning process as you begin to consider law school.