How long do you have to attend law school?

Answer 1

It depends on the country where you're trying to study.

There are two ways to answer your question:

1) those countries that allow the study of law only after a previous bachelor's degree has been obtained, for instance most common law countries. Here, before entering to study law, students are required to have at least 3 or 4 years of study in a career which may or may not be related to law (many people choose criminal justice, literature, social studies). After an interview process and an exam the school may accept the student. A previous career means 3 or 4 years of study. Once approved to study law, it takes 3 years to obtain a JD degree. So total time in most common law countries: 6 to 7 years.

Degree obtained: JD

2) civil law countries allow the study of law directly without a previous degree. Just right out of high school. The study course is very rigorous and it contains the theoretical law concepts derived from Roman law and Napoleonic code, and the actual practice within the legal frame of the particular country. So, no mathematics, physics or general information curricula. Just law and very concentrated. Some even require a thesis in order to graduate. Others require an additional language.

Degree obtained: depending on the country it could be Lawyer, or Bachelor of Law, or Doctor of Law, or Licensed in Law.

Answer 2

If you attend law school full time, you can finish in three years. There is a maximum time in some states, usually five years.