High School

Most judges have a law degree and prior experience working as a lawyer. A high school diploma, a college degree, and three years of law school are minimum requirements for a law degree. To prepare for a career as a judge, courses such as government, history, social studies, and economics provide a solid background for entering college-level courses. Speech courses are also helpful to build strong communication skills necessary for the profession. Also take advantage of any computer-related classes or experience you can get, because judges often use technology to research and interpret the law, from surfing the Internet to searching legal databases.

Postsecondary Training

To enter any law school approved by the American Bar Association, you must satisfactorily complete at least three, and usually four, years of college work. Most law schools do not specify any particular courses for prelaw education. Usually a liberal arts track is most advisable, with courses in English, history, economics, social sciences, logic, and public speaking. A college student planning on specialization in a particular area of law, however, might also take courses significantly related to that area, such as economics, agriculture, or political science. Those interested should contact several law schools to learn more about any requirements and to see if they will accept credits from the college the student is planning to attend.

Currently, 200 law schools in the United States are approved by the American Bar Association; others, many of them night schools, are approved by state authorities only. Most of the approved law schools, however, do have night sessions to accommodate part-time students. Part-time courses of study usually take four years.

Law school training consists of required courses such as legal writing and research, contracts, criminal law, constitutional law, torts, and property. The second and third years may be devoted to specialized courses of interest to the student, such as evidence, business transactions and corporations, or admiralty. The study of cases and decisions is of basic importance to the law student, who will be required to read and study thousands of these cases. A degree of juris doctor (J.D.) or bachelor of laws (LL.B.) is usually granted upon graduation.

Most law schools require that applicants take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), where prospective law students are tested on their critical thinking, writing, and reasoning abilities.

Certification or Licensing

Most judges must have a law license. They must also maintain their law license and good standing with their state bar association while working as a judge.

Other Education or Training

The American Bar Association, Federal Judicial Center, National Center for State Courts, and National Judicial College provide education and training for judges. More than half of all states and also Puerto Rico require judges to take continuing education courses while on the job.

Certification or Licensing

Most judges have working experience as lawyers, and every state requires that lawyers be admitted to the bar of that state before they can practice. They require that applicants graduate from an approved law school and that they pass a written examination in the state in which they intend to practice. In a few states, graduates of law schools within the state are excused from these written examinations. After lawyers have been admitted to the bar in one state, they can practice in another state without taking a written examination if the states have reciprocity agreements; however, they will be required to meet certain state standards of good character and legal experience and pay any applicable fees.

Federal courts and agencies have their own rules regulating admission to practice. Other requirements vary among the states. A few states accept the study of law by correspondence. Some states require that newly graduated lawyers serve a period of clerkship in an established law firm before they are eligible to take the bar examination.

Almost all judges appointed or elected to any court must be lawyers and members of the bar, usually with many years of experience.

As an undergraduate student, try to participate in an internship at a courthouse, law firm, or other legal employer. Additionally, many private public defense organizations offer internships. While in law school, its a good idea to participate in a judicial clerkship. A clerkship with a judge will provide you with a behind-the-scenes look at the court system and the issues judges and lawyers deal with daily. Participation in school-sponsored legal clinics, in practice trials under the supervision of experienced attorneys, and in your school’s moot court competitions also provide excellent experience.

Successful judges have excellent critical-thinking and decision-making skills. They are able to pay close attention to legal proceedings and be able to apply the rules of law without any biases. They have strong reading and writing skills. They should have a strong, clear speaking voice so as to convey confidence in courtroom and other legal settings. Other important traits include good listening skills; a detail-oriented personality; strong ethics; and good reasoning abilities.