Lincoln read law books supplied by Bowling Green, the justice of the peace in New Salem, Illinois. He traveled to hear celebrated defense attorney John A. Brackenridge defend a person convicted of murder. Lincoln studied law diligently and eventually was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836.

In 1837, he moved to Springfield and practiced law for several years with John Stuart. He then practiced law with Stephen T. Logan, a former judge. Lincoln left practicing with Logan in 1844 to enter a law partnership with William Herndon, who once had clerked for Lincoln.