Which states allow reading the law?

Asked by: Mrs. Jackie Kuhn  |  Last update: January 23, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (31 votes)

Four jurisdictions, namely California, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, allow applicants to study under a judge or practicing attorney for an extended period of time rather than attending any law school. This method is known as "reading law" or "reading the law".

Where is reading the law legal?

A few U.S. states, namely California, Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, still permit people to become lawyers by reading law instead of attending some or all of law school, although the practice is rare.

What states do not require the bar exam?

In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.

Does Kim Kardashian have a real law degree?

Kardashian's path to lawyerdom is sometimes called “reading the law,” which, while exceptionally rare today, was once the norm. WHAT IS READING THE LAW? So first, what is “reading the law?” Basically, it's a JD via apprenticeship but without the actual degree.

Can a paralegal become a lawyer without going to law school?

No, paralegals do not have to go to law school - many community colleges (2-year) and even some vocational schools offer paralegal certificate programs.

How to Read a Case: And Understand What it Means

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What is the easiest state to become a lawyer in?

Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass. However, we don't really get the full picture by just looking at the passing rates. Each state's bar exam can differ in difficulty and content.

What is the highest paid paralegal?

Here are the 30 highest paying paralegal jobs:
  1. Paralegal Manager. $104,775. ...
  2. Legal Project Manager. $87,375. ...
  3. Intellectual Property Paralegal. $86,800. ...
  4. Nurse Paralegal. $82,687. ...
  5. Employment and Labor Law Paralegal. $80,685. ...
  6. Government Paralegal. $78,478. ...
  7. Senior Paralegal. $69,995. ...
  8. Corporate Paralegal. $66,134.

Is the baby bar harder than the bar?

Passing the Baby Bar

The baby bar has a much lower pass rate than most other bar exams. Around 27% of first-time test takers passed in 2020. But this doesn't mean the exam is harder than the actual bar exam in California or any other state.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

She failed it 3 times before finally passing in 2021 (which apparently is pretty common for people who take this path). A few years later, I have not heard anything about her attempting the real bar exam.

Where did Robert Kardashian get his law degree?

Personal life, education, and careers

His family, which lived in the Baldwin Hills area, owned a meatpacking business. Kardashian attended college at the University of Southern California (USC), graduating in 1966. He finished his law degree at the University of San Diego in 1969.

Which state has easiest bar exam?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

What does bar stand for?

Some people claim the term bar is an acronym for “British Accredited Registry.” Aside from making little sense, this assertion is patently false. In reality, the word “bar” refers to the railing that separates the working area of the court from the spectator area.

Is 295 a good bar score?

In order to pass the Uniform Bar Exam, examinees must earn a score of at least 260 on the MBE and MEE. However, a score of 280 is generally considered to be a good score, and a score of 300 to 330 (highest score on bar exam) is considered to be excellent.

Which states allow you to read the law?

Four jurisdictions, namely California, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, allow applicants to study under a judge or practicing attorney for an extended period of time rather than attending any law school. This method is known as "reading law" or "reading the law".

Can you self study to become a lawyer?

In four states, you can still take this non-law-school route to becoming a lawyer. Vermont, Washington, California, and Virginia all allow people to become lawyers by “reading the law,” which, simply put, means studying and apprenticing in the office of a practicing attorney or judge.

What states do not require law school?

Before you can practice law, you will need to choose a state that will allow you to take the bar exam without completing law school. Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process.

What LSAT score did Obama get?

During his time, the median LSAT scores for Harvard Law were generally between 170 and 175. This suggests that the Obama LSAT scores were within this range, placing him in the top percentiles of test-takers.

How is Kim Kardashian going to law school without a bachelor's degree?

Kim Kardashian cleared the baby bar exam

After completing one year of apprenticeship one is eligible to appear for the First-Year Law Students' Examination, commonly known as the baby bar exam. After clearing this exam, applicants are allowed to complete their studies for three years.

Did Kim Kardashian get a BBL?

Kim Kardashian, perhaps the most dominant Kardashian figure of all, has openly admitted that her BBL was painful and not worth it. Thus, she then got a BBL reduction. Renowned for the stunning curves she takes pride in, Kim may have as well put an end to the BBL trend just by getting hers removed.

Are you a real lawyer if you pass the baby bar?

Are you a lawyer if you pass the baby bar? You do not become a lawyer upon passing the baby bar. You must still pass the bar exam and be accepted by your jurisdiction's board of bar examiners.

What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?

California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

Which state has the highest bar exam pass rate?

Bar Exam Pass Rates by State: Highest to Lowest
  • Missouri: 86.3%
  • New Mexico: 85.71%
  • New York: 83.92%
  • Montana: 82.61%
  • Utah: 82.61%
  • Oregon: 82.55%
  • Nebraska: 81.67%
  • Kansas: 81.51%

What is higher than a paralegal?

Lawyers are licensed to practice law and represent clients, whereas paralegals are not. This means that lawyers are typically more highly trained and better compensated than paralegals.

What degree do most paralegals have?

According to a 2021 Zippia survey, 29% of paralegals have an associate degree while 51% hold a bachelor's. In some employment markets, an associate degree may be the appropriate level of paralegal training to enter the field.

What states pay paralegals the most?

Geographic area can also have a major impact on salary. According to the BLS, the states with the highest average annual salaries for paralegals in 2022 were Washington DC at $91,880, California at $76,080, Washington at $72,590, Massachusetts at $71,670, and New York at $69,860.