In nearly every state, but not all, graduation from an ABA-approved law school is required for admission to the bar. Most law schools require three years of full-time attendance, or four years of part-time study, if a part-time program is offered.

Although each law schools is different, almost all law schools have similarities. For example, most law schools feature courses in criminal law, contracts, constitutional law, civil procedure, property law, torts, and legal research and writing during the first year. Often, law schools have some program that assigns first year students to small groups that are supervised or mentored by a second or third year mentor or teaching assistant to help with the transition to law school and to build support groups among students.

The first year of law school is generally the toughest because you are learning a new way of thinking and are in classes that often require you to be prepared to analyze and discuss cases and problems at a moments notice. But, the first year is also the year that you will form new friendships and develop relationships that will help you to succeed in law school.

First year law school classes generally consist of students reviewing case law in case books and interactive and challenging discussions between the professor and students, with every student having to be prepared to discuss cases and to answer questions when called upon by the professor. The amount of studying required between classes is generally more extensive in law school than in college. Another large difference between undergraduate work and law school is that your grade for an entire year in a law school course may be determined by your performance on one or two tests.

In the second year of law school, you generally continue to have some required courses, but you are also able to enroll in some elective courses. The third year of law school consists primarily of elective courses, but some law schools do require that specific courses be completed during the third year.

Although law school can be difficult, many individuals look back on it as a rewarding experience where they were challenged intellectually for the first time and where they developed reasoning skills that will benefit them during their entire lives.

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