Legal Careers

How to Become a Judge

Most judges first earn a bachelor's degree, finish a three-year law degree (J.D.), pass the bar exam, and then practice law for years before they are elected or appointed to the bench. Expect about 7 years of school plus roughly 5–15 years of legal experience, and law school alone often costs well over $100,000. Some lower courts, such as certain magistrate or justice-of-the-peace positions, do not require a law degree, so check your state's rules.

Updated October 2026Salary data: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage data; projections 2025–35How we research

Time to start: 12–20+ years after high school
Typical cost: $100,000–$300,000+ (mostly law school)
Median pay: $153,990 per year (judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates)
Education: Bachelor's degree + Juris Doctor (J.D.) for most judgeships
License / certification: State bar admission; years of practice set by each state or court
Job outlook: +3% (2025–35) for judges and magistrates; +2% for all judges and hearing officers

Steps to become a judge

Earn a bachelor's degree with strong grades
Law schools accept any major, but courses in political science, history, English, philosophy, and economics build the reading and writing skills you will need. Your GPA matters a lot for law school admission. Join debate, mock trial, or student government to practice arguing and public speaking.
Time: 4 yearsCost: $40,000–$200,000+
Take the LSAT and apply to law school
Most ABA-approved law schools require the LSAT, and some also accept the GRE. Study for two to four months and take official practice tests. Apply to a range of schools and compare scholarship offers, since debt will shape your career options later.
Time: 3–12 monthsCost: $500–$3,000 (test, prep, applications)
Earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.)
A full-time J.D. takes three years. Aim for law review, moot court, and a judicial externship, because judges and selection committees look for these. A clerkship with a judge after graduation is one of the best ways to see how courts work from the inside.
Time: 3 yearsCost: $60,000–$250,000+
Pass the bar exam and the MPRE
Every state requires you to pass a bar exam to practice law, and most also require the MPRE ethics exam and a character and fitness review. Many states use the Uniform Bar Exam, and some are moving to the NextGen bar exam starting in 2026. Plan for 8–10 weeks of full-time study after graduation.
Time: 2–6 monthsCost: $2,000–$5,000 (fees and prep course)
Practice law and build a record
Most states require a minimum number of years as a licensed attorney before you can serve, often 5–10 years for trial and appellate courts. Trial work as a prosecutor, public defender, or litigator is a common path because it puts you in court every week. Keep your record clean; your discipline history and reputation will be checked.
Time: 5–15+ years
Build a reputation in your legal community
Join your state and local bar associations, serve on committees, and volunteer as a mediator, arbitrator, or pro tem judge if your court allows it. Write, teach CLE classes, and get to know the judges and lawyers in your county. Selection commissions, governors, and voters all rely on what your peers say about you.
Time: Ongoing
Seek election or appointment
States choose judges in different ways: partisan or nonpartisan elections, appointment by the governor, or appointment from a list made by a nominating commission. Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Learn your state's method, then apply to the commission or run a campaign, which can mean raising money and getting endorsements.
Time: 1–3 years per attemptCost: $0–$100,000+ for an election campaign
Complete judicial training
New judges usually attend orientation run by their state court system or a national program such as the National Judicial College. Expect ongoing judicial education each year. If you were elected, plan for future reelection or retention elections.
Time: 1–4 weeks, then yearly

Find a law school or pre-law program

No school trains you to be a judge directly; the realistic path is a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school, then years of practice.

ABA-approved J.D. program (full-time)
Part-time or evening J.D. program
Pre-law bachelor's degree (political science, criminal justice, history)
LSAT prep course
Bar review course
Judicial education programs for new judges

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Requirements

EducationA J.D. from an accredited law school for most judgeships. Some magistrate, municipal, and justice-of-the-peace positions do not require a law degree; this varies by state.

Bar admissionActive, good-standing membership in the state bar for most state judgeships. Federal magistrate judges must have been bar members for at least 5 years.

Legal experienceSet by each state constitution or statute; often 5–10 years of practice for general jurisdiction and appellate courts. Federal Article III judgeships have no written minimum, but nominees usually have long careers.

Residency and citizenshipUS citizenship and residency in the state, county, or district you will serve are typical requirements.

Age limitsSome states set a minimum age (often 25–35) and many set a mandatory retirement age, commonly around 70–75.

Character and recordA clean disciplinary record and a background review. Selection commissions and bar associations often rate candidates.

SelectionElection, governor appointment, commission-based appointment, or legislative election, depending on the state and court. Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

How much it costs and how long it takes

Expense	Low	High	Note
Bachelor's degree	$40,000	$200,000	In-state public vs. private, tuition only
LSAT, prep, and applications	$500	$3,000	Free official prep is available from LSAC; courses cost more
Law school (J.D.) tuition	$60,000	$250,000	Three years; scholarships can cut this sharply
Bar exam fees and prep course	$2,000	$5,000	Fees vary widely by state
Bar dues and CLE	$300	$1,500	Per year while you practice
Judicial campaign (election states only)	$0	$100,000	Trial court races are often far cheaper than supreme court races
Total	$102,800	$559,500	Timeline: 12–20+ years after high school

Exams and how to prepare

LSAT

Law school admission test covering reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and a writing sample.

How to prepare: 2–4 months of practice with official LSAC tests; many people use LawHub.

Bar exam (UBE, state exam, or NextGen)

Two-day licensing exam with multiple-choice, essay, and performance sections, required in every state to practice law.

How to prepare: 8–10 weeks of full-time study, usually with a commercial bar review course.

MPRE

Two-hour multiple-choice exam on legal ethics, required for admission in almost all jurisdictions.

How to prepare: 2–4 weeks of study; many students take it during law school.

Prepare for the LSAT and the bar exam

Your LSAT score drives law school admission and scholarships, and passing the bar is required before any legal or judicial career.

LSAT
Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) / NextGen bar exam
MPRE

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Judge salary and job outlook

Less than $46,950

Lowest 10% earn less than

$153,990 per year (judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates)

Median pay

More than $221,710

Highest 10% earn more than

Employment of judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035; all judges and hearing officers, 2%, slower than average. BLS expects about 1,300 openings a year, mostly from retirements. Competition for judgeships is strong.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage data; projections 2025–35

Printable PDF

Judge Career Kit: 90-Day Action Plan

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90-day action plan with checkboxes
Documents checklist
12 interview questions with tips
Resume lines, common mistakes, 13-week tracker

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a judge?

Plan on about 7 years of school after high school (4 years of college and 3 years of law school). Most judges then practice law for 5–15 years or more before they are elected or appointed. Many people take the bench in their 40s or 50s.

Can you become a judge without a law degree?

For most state trial and appellate courts and all federal courts in practice, no. Some states still allow non-lawyers to serve as magistrates, justices of the peace, or in certain municipal and probate courts. Check your state's court rules for the position you want.

How much do judges make?

BLS reports a median of $153,990 a year for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $46,950 and the top 10% more than $221,710. State court judges had a higher median than local court judges.

How do you become a federal judge?

Article III federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they serve for life. The Constitution sets no formal qualifications, but nominees are usually experienced lawyers, prosecutors, or state judges, often with strong ties to their senators. Federal magistrate judges are appointed by district judges for 8-year terms.

Are judges elected or appointed?

Both, depending on the state and the court. Some states hold partisan or nonpartisan elections, some let the governor appoint judges, and many use a nominating commission followed by retention elections. Federal judges are always appointed.

Is there an age limit to become a judge?

Many states set a minimum age, often between 25 and 35, and many set a mandatory retirement age around 70–75. Federal Article III judges have no age limits. Rules vary, so check your state constitution.

What is the hardest part of becoming a judge?

The selection step is usually harder than the schooling. There are few openings, and you need a strong reputation, political or commission support, and sometimes a successful campaign. Building that record takes years of visible courtroom work.

How do you become an administrative law judge?

Administrative law judges hear cases for government agencies, such as Social Security disability appeals. BLS notes that federal ALJs typically need a law degree and at least 7 years of experience as a licensed attorney. State ALJ requirements vary.

Sources

Requirements vary by state and employer and can change. Confirm details with the official sources above before you spend money on training.

Steps to become a judge

Earn a bachelor's degree with strong grades

Take the LSAT and apply to law school

Earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Pass the bar exam and the MPRE

Practice law and build a record

Build a reputation in your legal community

Seek election or appointment

Complete judicial training