How to become a Lawyer

Official title: Lawyers

Also called: Attorney, Attorney at Law, Attorney General, Counsel, County Attorney, District Attorney, General Counsel, Lawyer, Prosecuting Attorney, Prosecutor

Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Main tasks

• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
• Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
• Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
• Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
• Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
• Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
• Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
• Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.

How to become one

Lawyers typically need a law degree and a state license, which usually requires passing a bar examination.

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $159,670 a year The middle half earn $102,990 to $221,370.
• About 863,700 people work in this job now, and about 904,300 are projected by 2035. (+4.7%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Judicial Law Clerks
• Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
• Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
• Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Lawyer?

Lawyers typically need a law degree and a state license, which usually requires passing a bar examination.

How much does a Lawyer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $159,670 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $102,990 to $221,370.

Is a Lawyer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 863,700 to about 904,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Lawyer?

Usually. 98% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Lawyer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.