How Many U.S. Senators Are Lawyers?

Introduction

Lawyers have long been viewed as a major force in the United States government. Many of our nation’s presidents, Supreme Court justices, and other high-ranking officials have been attorneys. But how many U.S. senators are lawyers? This is a question that has been asked for many years and the answer is not easily determined.

Table of Contents

• How Many U.S. Senators Went to Law School?
• How Many Lawyers Does the U.S. Government Have?
• Do Most Politicians Go to Law School?
• How Many Presidents Have Been Lawyers?

How Many U.S. Senators Went to Law School?

The exact number of U.S. senators who are lawyers is not easily known because senators are not required to disclose this information. However, the Senate Historical Office does keep records of the educational background of senators, which shows that about one-third of senators since 1789 have had some legal training. Of those, about two-thirds were lawyers and one-third were non-lawyers (such as judges and legislators). According to this data, it is estimated that there are currently about 30 lawyers among the 100 sitting U.S. senators.

How Many Lawyers Does the U.S. Government Have?

The U.S. government has many lawyers, although it is difficult to determine an exact number. According to the Congressional Research Service, there are approximately 53,000 lawyers employed by the federal government, including judges, lawyers in the Department of Justice, lawyers in Congress, and lawyers in the executive branch departments and agencies. This number does not include lawyers in the military or state governments.

Do Most Politicians Go to Law School?

Most politicians in the United States do not become lawyers, but many do and there is a long history of lawyers in politics. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, about one-third of state legislators are lawyers. However, the number of lawyers in Congress has declined in recent years. In 1967, nearly half of Congress had some legal training, whereas today, it is less than a third.

How Many Presidents Have Been Lawyers?

Of the 45 presidents of the United States, 13 have been lawyers. This includes John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, and Barack Obama. However, the majority of presidents have not been attorneys. The most common profession among presidents has been military service, followed by business, politics, and farming.

Conclusion

It is estimated that there are currently about 30 lawyers among the 100 sitting U.S. senators. The U.S. government has many lawyers, although it is difficult to determine an exact number. Most politicians in the United States do not become lawyers, but many do nonetheless. Of the 45 presidents of the United States, 13 have been lawyers.