1. Bachelor's Degree: First, you need a bachelor's degree (undergraduate degree) in *any* subject. While there's no required major, some pre-law courses (e.g., political science, history, philosophy) are beneficial. The bachelor's degree itself doesn't qualify you to practice law.
2. Juris Doctor (J.D.): This is the professional degree required to practice law. It's a three-year program at an accredited law school. This degree focuses on legal studies, including torts, contracts, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law.
3. Bar Exam: After graduating law school, you must pass the bar exam in the jurisdiction (state or province) where you wish to practice law. This rigorous exam tests your knowledge of legal rules and principles.
4. Optional, but often beneficial: Some lawyers pursue additional degrees like an LL.M. (Master of Laws) to specialize in a particular area of law or an SJD (Doctor of Juridical Science) for advanced research and scholarship.
Therefore, the essential degrees are a Bachelor's degree (any subject) followed by a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and successful completion of the bar exam.