Technically, no. However, there _are_ requirements before you can take the bar exam. Unlike other states, California doesn't require that you attended an ABA-approved law school. However, instead you have to do 'Four years of study, with a minimum of 864 hours of preparation and study per year, at an unaccredited distance-learning or correspondence law school registered with the Committee;'.

So, you _do_ need to 'attend' law school, even if it's over the internet. (Unless you "study in a law office or judge’s chambers", which I guess is a type of apprenticeship.)

Actually, I wonder...I'm pretty sure the number of people who go the apprenticeship route is in the single digits (though feel free to prove me wrong). It could be a good way to set oneself apart from the pack when applying for a job. Goodness knows its a shitty job market for lawyers, and if you don't have a top tier law degree, strategically it could be a way to set yourself apart from the pack (especially at the level where you're competing against sorta middle of the road-ish ABA certified schools-like Santa Clara and USF).

In order to be hired (by a top-tier firm) you'll likely need that top-tier law degree.

Though there are successful independent lawyers. And an awful lot of unsuccessful ones.

The number of people who go the apprenticeship route in CA is very miniscule. There are lots of law schools that are certified by the CA Bar and not the ABA, but you'd be a fool to go to one, unless you like being an unemployable lawyer with 200K+ in debt.