School of Law / Students / Becoming a Lawyer

Becoming a Lawyer at UW Law

Discover your future

Discover what being a lawyer can mean to you. Enjoy experience-based opportunities. Pursue public policy development through legislation, regulations and lawsuits. Solve the current and emerging legal needs in Washington and beyond.

Where To Begin?

Review your values, interests, talents, and personal characteristics and the skills lawyers need
Explore practice areas for lawyers and which ones might suit you
Seek help from your assigned attorney mentor and our accomplished faculty
Design your education around the knowledge, skills and real lawyering experience you will need.

Find Your Path

Prepare yourself for your future by choosing courses with a mix of knowledge, skills, and real-life lawyering practice.

Knowledge: Build Your Foundation

Build fundamental knowledge through the first year curricula and upper level classes
Learn lawyers' roles in the legal system and how lawyers apply legal rules
Explore legal history, theory and interdisciplinary perspectives to strengthen your ability to "think out of the box"

Skills: Develop Your Professional Tools

Acquire legal analysis, research & writing skills through advanced courses.
Practice research and writing skills in Moot Court competitions and on student-edited journals.
Develop client interviewing and counseling and negotiations skills useful in all law practices
Gain professionalism and leadership skills

Lawyering: Explore Real Life Practice

Participate in our volunteer client representation projects
Satisfy the law school's public service requirement, while exploring a lawyering context:
- Enroll in one of the law school's clinic offerings
- Explore a real world setting through the externship program, which offers placements in Seattle, around the country or abroad

Take It Into the World!

Your UW Law degree prepares you to be a lawyer who:

J.D. Admissions

How to Apply

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