There is a fair bit more nuance to the law than just memorizing some stuff and passing a test. I have a couple close family members that are lawyers and their general thought is law school is:
1.) shaping a person's mind to be critical of presented facts and evidence.
2.) develop good skills in the art of arguing.
3.) develop good skills for legal research and dealing with changing laws.
Personally, I am skeptical someone who has not gone to law school is going to be good at those things and that's why I think law school sets a high baseline and is a good thing even if it is expensive.
1.) shaping a person's mind to be critical of presented facts and evidence.
2.) develop good skills in the art of arguing.
3.) develop good skills for legal research and dealing with changing laws.
Personally, I am skeptical someone who has not gone to law school is going to be good at those things and that's why I think law school sets a high baseline and is a good thing even if it is expensive.