Law school in California typically takes three years to complete if attending full-time, leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Part-time programs generally take about four years, and some accelerated programs can allow completion in as little as two and a half years
. The length can vary depending on the type of law school attended:
- ABA-accredited law schools require three to four years of study.
- California State Bar-accredited law schools require three to seven years.
- State Bar-registered fixed-facility law schools require four years.
- Registered unaccredited distance-learning or correspondence law schools require four years with a minimum of 864 hours of preparation
Before law school, a four-year bachelor's degree is required, so the minimum total time to become a lawyer in California is about seven years (four years undergraduate + three years law school)
. In summary:
- Full-time law school: 3 years
- Part-time law school: 4 years
- Accelerated programs: as short as 2.5 years
- Total minimum education (including undergraduate degree): about 7 years
This timeline may extend depending on individual circumstances such as exam timing and program choice.
