1. Law School: Attend an accredited law school to obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, which usually takes three years.
2. Bar Examination: After completing law school, pass the bar examination in the state where you wish to practice law. The bar exam typically involves multiple days of testing and requires a thorough understanding of legal concepts, professional responsibility, and state-specific laws.
3. Character and Fitness Review: In parallel with preparing for the bar exam, candidates must also undergo a character and fitness review by the state bar association. This process involves verifying personal and professional references, criminal background checks, and evaluations of ethical fitness to practice law.
4. Licensing: Once the bar exam and character review are successfully completed, candidates become licensed as attorneys in the relevant jurisdiction and receive their attorney license.
5. Employment: Newly licensed attorneys may then begin practicing law by joining a law firm, starting their own private practice, or pursuing legal careers in government, non-profit organizations, or corporate settings.
The timeline to become an attorney after having a bachelor's degree can vary based on factors such as the speed of law school completion, the bar exam and character review process in each state, and the job search for employment opportunities. However, it generally takes around 7 years from the start of law school to becoming a fully licensed attorney.