Did you know you can become a lawyer without going to law school?
I did it – without finishing high school or college!
You can do it too.
Here's how... 🧵
I did it – without finishing high school or college!
You can do it too.
Here's how... 🧵
Law school is actually a very modern invention.
Lawyers were originally trained through apprenticeship.
They got practical, hands-on training from an experienced mentor.
Lawyers were originally trained through apprenticeship.
They got practical, hands-on training from an experienced mentor.
The key to understanding the law is *reading it* – not sitting in a lecture hall.
Abe Lincoln got his legal education in a log cabin, reading court decisions.
I did the same thing, just in an air-conditioned office.
Abe Lincoln got his legal education in a log cabin, reading court decisions.
I did the same thing, just in an air-conditioned office.
The problem with apprenticeship wasn't that it made bad lawyers.
It was that it didn't make *enough* lawyers, since each trainee required personal supervision.
Law school was created to crank out MORE lawyers, FASTER. It's an assembly-line approach to legal education.
It was that it didn't make *enough* lawyers, since each trainee required personal supervision.
Law school was created to crank out MORE lawyers, FASTER. It's an assembly-line approach to legal education.
That might be fine if law school were free.
But top schools are now charging $69,000+ a year.
That's more than $200,000 in total to get your J.D.!
But top schools are now charging $69,000+ a year.
That's more than $200,000 in total to get your J.D.!
Fortunately, there's a way to become a lawyer without going into crippling debt.
Four states – California, Vermont, Virginia & Washington – still let you become a lawyer through apprenticeship.
And three more – Maine, New York, & Wyoming – let you partially skip law school.
Four states – California, Vermont, Virginia & Washington – still let you become a lawyer through apprenticeship.
And three more – Maine, New York, & Wyoming – let you partially skip law school.
The program I completed in California is called the "Law Office Study Program."
It's administered by the State Bar, and it takes four years.
Your mentor gets approval for a proposed curriculum from the State Bar, and submits semi-annual reports.
It's administered by the State Bar, and it takes four years.
Your mentor gets approval for a proposed curriculum from the State Bar, and submits semi-annual reports.
If you haven't finished high-school or college, that's not a problem.
You can still become a lawyer, all without ever setting foot in a classroom.
I quit high school after my junior year – and I had no problem becoming an attorney.
You can still become a lawyer, all without ever setting foot in a classroom.
I quit high school after my junior year – and I had no problem becoming an attorney.
First, you'll need to get your GED.
In California, the test you take is called the CHSPE ("California High School Proficiency Exam").
If you are a smart person, you will pass it easily without studying.
In California, the test you take is called the CHSPE ("California High School Proficiency Exam").
If you are a smart person, you will pass it easily without studying.
Then, you can skip college by taking "College Level Proficiency Examination" (CLEP) tests.
They were created for GIs, but they're now available to everyone.
I took a bunch of them in a row and got my undergrad equivalency in a couple months.
clep.collegeboard.org
They were created for GIs, but they're now available to everyone.
I took a bunch of them in a row and got my undergrad equivalency in a couple months.
clep.collegeboard.org
The hardest part is finding a lawyer or judge who will be willing to supervise you.
I was blessed to study under my Dad, but if you don't have that option, I advise getting involved in legal aid.
Public-interest lawyers are always looking for help, including from students.
I was blessed to study under my Dad, but if you don't have that option, I advise getting involved in legal aid.
Public-interest lawyers are always looking for help, including from students.
Don't be discouraged by the low bar-passage rates for people who take this unconventional route.
Today, it doesn't attract the most capable people.
I passed the Bar on the first try, without law school, because I'm smart.
If you're smart too, you can do the same thing.
Today, it doesn't attract the most capable people.
I passed the Bar on the first try, without law school, because I'm smart.
If you're smart too, you can do the same thing.
I know that because my younger brother followed the same path.
Like me, he studied under my Dad, and then passed the California Bar Exam – the hardest in the country – on his first try.
We're both lawyers now, without setting foot in a law school!
Like me, he studied under my Dad, and then passed the California Bar Exam – the hardest in the country – on his first try.
We're both lawyers now, without setting foot in a law school!
https://twitter.com/ClintEhrlich/status/1347737513641693185?s=20
Most important, don't let anyone claim you can't become an elite lawyer this way.
I used my skills as a legal apprentice to free an innocent man serving life in prison for murder.
Who knows what you'll accomplish?
I used my skills as a legal apprentice to free an innocent man serving life in prison for murder.
Who knows what you'll accomplish?
https://twitter.com/ClintEhrlich/status/1467730398952058881?s=20
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