Doogie Howser, J.D.

Reuters, Law School as a Teen? These Aspiring Lawyers Are on the Fast Track:

Haley Taylor Schlitz is on track to graduate from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in May. But she won't be able to celebrate at the bar with her classmates—at least not legally.

Schlitz started college at 13, entered law school at 16 and will be 19 when she gets her J.D., placing her among the small group of ultra-young law students who graduate as teens.

Journalist Ronan Farrow—the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen—enrolled at Yale Law School at 16 and graduated in 2009. Seth Harding graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law last year at 19. Braxton Moral, also 19, will get his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law later this month. And Charmaine Chui, 16, is in her first semester at Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law on a full-ride scholarship.

These teens encounter skepticism and surprise from some lawyers and classmates about their age. And they make career decisions and may take on significant student debt before their peers have even applied to college. But several who recently spoke to Reuters said they have no regrets, and that their unusual path can open doors in the legal profession.