Attorney Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an attorney. Attorneys usually study law, political science, or business. 48% of attorneys hold a doctoral degree, and 40% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 49,359 real attorney resumes to see exactly what attorney education sections show.

The most common colleges for attorneys are the New York Law School and the New York Law School.

There are also many online attorney courses to help get the education required to be an attorney.

There are certain attorney certifications that you should consider. These attorney certifications include MEDIC First Aid BasicPlus - G2010 and Certified International Trade Law Specialist (CITLS).

What education do you need to become an attorney?

What degree do you need to be an attorney?

The most common degree for attorneys is doctoral degree, with 48% of attorneys earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 40% and bachelor's degree degree at 5%.
  • Doctorate, 48%
  • Bachelor's, 40%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Associate, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an attorney?

You should major in law to become an attorney. 52% of attorneys major in law. Other common majors for an attorney include political science and business.

Most common colleges for attorneys

Attorneys often get their degrees at New York Law School, University of Florida, and Southwestern Law School. Here are the most common colleges for attorneys in the US based on their resumes.
Attorney Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
New York Law School12.12%
University of Florida6.47%
Southwestern Law School6.25%
University of Miami5.36%
University of Houston5.17%

Best majors for attorneys

Best colleges for attorneys

The best colleges for attorneys are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

An attorney with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for attorneys. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become attorneys.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Law
Economics
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law
Economics
History

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Law
Psychology
Political Science

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Finance
Business
Law
Economics

5. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

Website

https://www.yale.edu

Address

105 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06520

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,800 per year

Net Price: $18,770 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.35%
SAT Average - 1517
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Law
Political Science
History

20 best online courses for attorneys

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1. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague

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International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...

2. Introduction to Intellectual Property

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Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world, with the world’s most valuable intellectual property assets dwarfing the value of their real-world counterparts. Apple’ trademarked brand was valued at over $100 billion as of 2017. J.K. Rowling’s Harry potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date. But how did the law come to create such enormous value in intangible assets? This course will introduce the various types of U.S. intellectual property: patents, which cover...

3. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy

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4.7
(1,575)

A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...

4. Effective Legal Office Administration

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4.5
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Effective Legal Office Administration...

5. Intellectual Property Law

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Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world. The pharmaceutical patent for Lipitor generated over $100 billion in revenue, the copyright for the Harry Potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date, and the trademarked brands of the world’s largest tech companies now eclipse $100 billion in value. But what makes these intangible assets so valuable?\n\nThrough the courses in this specialization, you will learn the differences between the various forms of U.S. intellectual...

6. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out

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Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...

7. Intellectual Property Security Awareness

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How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...

8. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace

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Regulatory and Case Law Considerations for Employers' Social Media Policy Development...

9. Privacy Law and HIPAA

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What does it take to comply with privacy laws? In this course, we’ll look at the practical aspects of navigating the complex landscape of privacy requirements. Better understanding privacy laws and data protection will enable you to protect your organization and the constituents that depend on your organization to safeguard their personal information. First, we will examine the historical context that drove the creation of laws, best practices, and other standards for protecting personal...

10. Cross-border road transport in EU law context

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Have you ever wondered which legal rules are applicable to cross-border EU road transport? Are you interested in the issues revolving around EU employment law in the international road transport sector? Then, on behalf of the University of Antwerp, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Gdańsk, University of Luxembourg and Tilburg University, we would like to welcome you to this MOOC on Cross-border Road Transport in EU law context. This MOOC is a part of the Erasmus + Project funded by...

Top 10 most affordable universities for attorneys

The most affordable schools for attorneys are Brigham Young University, florida state university, and university of florida.

If the best universities for attorneys are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for attorneys.

1. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Education
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Economics

2. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Liberal Arts
Finance
Education

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Political Science
Liberal Arts

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Liberal Arts
Education

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Cost of Attendance

25,527

Website

www.unc.edu

Address

103 South Bldg Campus Box 9100, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,900 per year

Net Price: $13,918 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.71%
SAT Average - 1398
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Psychology
Economics
Political Science

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for attorneys

The hardest universities for attorneys to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for attorneys are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for attorneys based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Law
Economics
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Journalism
Law
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

Website

www.vanderbilt.edu

Address

2101 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37240

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,900 per year

Net Price: $20,253 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 9.61%
SAT Average - 1514
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Economics
Law
Business
History

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law
Economics
History

5. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,517

Website

https://www.yale.edu

Address

105 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06520

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,800 per year

Net Price: $18,770 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.35%
SAT Average - 1517
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Law
Political Science
History

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for attorneys

The easiest schools for attorneys to get into are University of Southern Maine, cleveland state university, and western new england university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an attorney without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for attorneys.

1. University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Private

Admissions Rate

85%

SAT Average

1,050

Website

www.usm.maine.edu

Address

96 Falmouth St, Portland, ME 04104

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $35,600 per year

Net Price: $12,180 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.43%
SAT Average - 1050
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law
Communication
Liberal Arts

2. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,111

Website

www.csuohio.edu/

Address

2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,200 per year

Net Price: $15,124 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 88.34%
SAT Average - 1111
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Accounting
Law

3. Western New England University

Springfield, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

85%

SAT Average

1,160

Website

www1.wne.edu

Address

1215 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield, MA 01119-2684

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,800 per year

Net Price: $29,941 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.37%
SAT Average - 1160
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Accounting
Law
Criminal Justice
Psychology

4. Saint Thomas University

Miami Gardens, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

52%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

www.stu.edu

Address

16401 NW 37th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33054-6459

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,600 per year

Net Price: $16,833 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.50%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Law
Education
Business
Criminal Justice
Accounting

5. Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

79%

SAT Average

1,196

Website

www.nova.edu

Address

3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,800 per year

Net Price: $25,816 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 78.54%
SAT Average - 1196
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Law
Accounting
Criminal Justice

Average attorney salary by education level

Attorney education level
ascdesc
Attorney salary
ascdesc
Doctorate Degree$112,682

Attorney Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.