How to become a defense attorney?

To pursue a career as a defense attorney, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in a related field and then continue to law school to earn a Juris Doctor degree, totaling seven years of education. To earn admission to law school, you must pass the Law School Admission Test. Qualifications for the J.D. degree are three years of study in criminal defense law education. The job requires a state license, which you acquire by taking the bar examination. Examinations vary by state, but you must pass both a written and ethics component to become a lawyer.