Law school in California typically takes three years to complete if attending full-time, leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Part-time programs generally take about four years, and some accelerated programs can allow completion in as little as two and a half years

. The length can vary depending on the type of law school attended:

• ABA-accredited law schools require three to four years of study.
• California State Bar-accredited law schools require three to seven years.
• State Bar-registered fixed-facility law schools require four years.
• Registered unaccredited distance-learning or correspondence law schools require four years with a minimum of 864 hours of preparation

Before law school, a four-year bachelor's degree is required, so the minimum total time to become a lawyer in California is about seven years (four years undergraduate + three years law school)

. In summary:

• Full-time law school: 3 years
• Part-time law school: 4 years
• Accelerated programs: as short as 2.5 years
• Total minimum education (including undergraduate degree): about 7 years

This timeline may extend depending on individual circumstances such as exam timing and program choice.