First, complete undergraduate college [usually 4 years] and take any and all classes your advisor suggests for a pre-law program, to get ready for step 2….law school, which is one of the graduate school programs out there. Getting INTO law school requires a run-up of aptitude testing [special exams designed for law school applicants] and STAYING in law school requires a lot of studying, concentration, etc. After graduating, you’ll need to take the bar examination [professional qualifying to get a license to practice law]. If you’re interested in defense work primarily, a lot of people start their careers by working in the public defender’s office [low pay, tons of cases, great experience] and then start applying to good firms whose style of practice and people have attracted you. Some firms and some public defenders’ offices will let you start working for them before you pass your bar exams, with the understanding that you’ll take AND pass the exam as soon as possible [often within a stated period, contingent on your doing good hard work for them while you prepare].

Cost-wise? As an ex-GI you’ll get some breaks and may float to the top of the applicants’ list as a veteran…each college and law school vary in this regard. The first persons you want to see on your new or proposed college campus will be the Financial Aids folks – there’s every kind of scholarship out there, but you have to be aggressive about applying…not shy, step up & fill out the paperwork as much as you can so you can get some extra to flesh out your GI Bill basics.

At public universities in your home state, that might just barely be enough. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree (4 years), then law school (3 years). Law students can often earn enough money as interns in the summer to make back much or all of their costs of attendance. You should certainly be able to get loans to cover whatever your $105,000 doesn’t, and they shouldn’t be too much, if anything.