How to become a judge

1. 1Earn a bachelor's degree

   Time: 4 yearsCost: Varies by schoolSources 1

   Law schools accept any major, so pick one that builds heavy reading, writing and argument skills, such as history, political science, philosophy, English or economics. Grades matter a great deal for admission to strong law schools, which in turn affects access to clerkships later. Debate, moot court and work in a courthouse or legal aid office give you an early look at how courts actually work.

2. 2Take the LSAT and complete law school

   Time: 3 yearsCost: $18,651 to $42,831 a year at one public law schoolSources 1, 5, 4

   Most law schools require the LSAT, which costs $253, and applications go through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service for $219. A full-time J.D. takes 3 years and covers constitutional law, civil procedure, contracts, evidence and legal writing. Choose an ABA-approved school and confirm your state's bar accepts its graduates. Future judges benefit from law review, moot court and courses in trial advocacy.

3. 3Pass the bar exam and the MPRE

   Time: 2 to 3 months of study after graduationCost: $185 MPRE plus state bar feesSources 6, 7

   You need a state law license to practice and, for most judgeships, to serve. Many states use the Uniform Bar Exam. NCBE's new NextGen Uniform Bar Exam was first given in July 2026 in 10 jurisdictions, including Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon and Washington, and 13 more join in July 2027; the current UBE runs through February 2028. Many jurisdictions also require the MPRE ethics exam, which costs $185.

4. 4Clerk for a judge (optional but common)

   Time: 1 to 2 yearsSources 1

   BLS notes that some law graduates aiming for the bench start with a judicial clerkship, typically a one- or two-year term, before practicing law. Clerks research legal questions, draft opinions and watch how a judge manages a courtroom and docket. Federal and state appellate clerkships are the most competitive. A clerkship also builds relationships with judges, who often recommend candidates for later judicial openings.

5. 5Practice law and build a reputation

   Time: 5 to 15+ yearsSources 1

   BLS lists five or more years of related experience as typical, and judges learn most of their skills as practicing lawyers. Trial work as a prosecutor, public defender or litigator is the most common background for trial judges. Lawyers who want the bench often serve on bar committees, as part-time magistrates or hearing officers, or as pro tem judges to show their temperament and judgment.

6. 6Get elected or appointed

   Time: Months to yearsCost: Campaign costs if electedSources 1, 3

   Depending on the court, you run in an election, apply to a nominating commission, are appointed by a governor, or for federal posts are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Federal magistrate judges are chosen by the district judges of their court. New judges often attend judicial training on courtroom management and ethics, and many must take continuing legal education.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Legal analysis

Judges have to apply statutes and earlier decisions to new facts quickly and in ways that hold up on appeal.

Impartiality

Litigants and the public must believe the judge decided on the law and evidence, not on sympathy or politics.

Clear writing

Written opinions and orders explain to the parties, appellate courts and the public why a case came out as it did.

Courtroom control

Judges keep hearings orderly with angry parties, unprepared lawyers and self-represented litigants in the same room.

Decisiveness

Busy trial courts hear many matters a day, and rulings on bail, evidence and objections often must be made on the spot.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing, speaking.

Training cost

$56.6K–$129K

Before financial aid

Time

15 to 25 years

Typical path

Median pay

$153,990

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

0.5–1.3 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Law school and testing only, using one public law school's posted 2026-27 rates. Low: University of Nebraska College of Law resident tuition and fees for a full-time year, $18,651.10, x 3 years = $55,953, plus the LSAT ($253), Credential Assembly Service ($219) and MPRE ($185). High: the same school's nonresident rate, $42,831.10 x 3 = $128,493, plus the same $657 in fees. Private law schools often cost more. College Scorecard's median federal loan debt for law graduates is $111,029. Not included: the bachelor's degree, bar exam and admission fees, bar prep and living costs. Running for an elected judgeship can add campaign costs.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Appellate judge or state supreme court justice

  Trial judges move up to an appeals court or a state's highest court through a new appointment or election; BLS describes this step to a court with wider jurisdiction as the usual advancement.

• Federal judge

  Federal district and appeals judgeships require nomination by the President and Senate confirmation; experienced state judges and federal magistrate judges are among the lawyers considered.

• Lawyer, mediator or arbitrator$159,670 median

  Judges who leave the bench often return to private practice or work as mediators and arbitrators, drawing on their courtroom experience.