Why does it take so long to become a lawyer? Why do laywers have a monopoly?

[James]

I figured I would post this because people have been asking lawyer questions and this gives some of the existing rules set in both a historical context and within the framework of a free market.

In most states lawyers need to have passed the State Barm, which is a state licensing organization, to practice. To qualify to take the state bar, they had to have completed law school and some minimum of undergrad.

Of course to get into law school, they had to have completed four years of undergrad.

I don't understand why someone can't take the bar and if they pass it , practice law.

But I guess the monopoly protects itself.