Lawyer's Apprentice: Reading the Law in Vermont

Vermont is one of the few remaining states in which residents can become lawyers without attending law school. The practice, called "reading the law," leads people to spend hundreds of hours reading and working alongside a member of the state bar.

If they pass the bar exam, they can practice law in the state. Legal apprenticeships are still recognized in seven states, but the requirements vary greatly.

In Vermont, participants don't need a college degree, but they must have completed three-quarters of their undergraduate course work.

Then they have to spend 25 hours a week for four years studying alongside a licensed attorney.