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What can you major in to become a lawyer?

I was wondering what other majors I could pursue rather than pre-law. #college #college-major #law #lawyer

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Matt’s Answer

You can major in almost anything for law school. Seriously. I was a US Government Major with Philosophy and Theology Minors.


If you want to be a patent attorney, then you have to major in a science, engineering or math.


for all others, typical majors would be english, government, philosophy, rhetoric, sociology, business. but, pretty much any degree works so long as you get good grades and do well on the LSAT (similar to SAT or ACT for getting into law schools).


good luck!


matt

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Bruce’s Answer

You have one opportunity to make the most of your college career. . Choose courses you like. Bear in mind that law schools use a formula for admission. Good grades and good board scores get you in no matter what the courses

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Kris’s Answer

There's no defined path you have to take to get into law school (unlike some other post-grad programs, like medical school, for example). So technically, you can major in anything you want, as long as you excel academically and ace your LSAT. You'll definitely want to hone your writing, research, and analytical skills, so it's worth looking into majors like History, English, Business, etc. that can help you build up those key skills.

Also, if you're already interested in a specific area of law, you might want to major/minor in something that complements that interest (ie. pursue environmental studies if you're interested in environmental law).

Of course, whatever major you choose, you should try to take as many Criminal Justice & Law courses as you can, so that you're at least familiar with some of the material you'll encounter at law school.

Overall, I wouldn't worry about it too much- my friend double majored in Global Business & Spanish, and she's already been accepted to several law schools. There's really hundreds of options you can choose. If you want, check out this article for some suggested pre-law majors: https://www.discover.com/student-loans/college-planning/majors/become-a-lawyer.html
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Layne’s Answer

There is no specific major necessary when applying to law school. You will be evaluated on overall performance in your undergrad, as well as performance on the LSAT. The LSAT is a test designed to evaluate how you think, and it is a timed test. You will prepare specifically to take the LSAT and it does not require a specific major. However, the LSAT does test logical thinking. Because of that, philosophy majors often perform well based on study and application of logic. However, logic is used in many majors, so those transferrable skills can come from any of your programs. I have seen successful lawyers come from theater majors, math majors, english majors, political science, etc.

Layne recommends the following next steps:

Don't feel you need a specific major; pursue a major where you will apply yourself
Plan to study for the LSAT and prepare for that specific style of test
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Ken’s Answer

Hi Amy!


This is a very important question! Here are some sites that will help you to understand more about entering that field:


http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/so-you-think-you-want-to-be-a-lawyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvARy0lBLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM7K0LtkAvs
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/gpsolo/resources/solosez/popular_threads_2010/062010Thread2.html


Hope this helps! Please keep me posted. I would like to follow your progress!
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Lauren’s Answer

There is not a defined path or major that is necessary for law school. You have the opportunity to make the most of your undergraduate career. Take courses that interest you and focus on doing well in those courses. Additionally, take the opportunity to make connections with your professors and classmates. Ultimately doing well in your courses and building connections with your professors for letters of recommendation with be one of the most important aspects of your law school application process.

Good luck with the law school process!
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Estelle’s Answer

Your major is not as important as your undergraduate grades, your LSAT score, your letters of reference, and your personal statements on your law school application. For now, just focus on finding a college that fits you and your budget and a major that really interests you in college so that you will make great grades and get strong letters of recommendation from professors that recognize your potential.
Good luck!
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Dave’s Answer

The field of Law is multifaceted, making virtually any college major a suitable foundation for future law school studies. Whether you major in art history, engineering, philosophy, or any other discipline, you can effectively prepare for the demanding nature of law school.

While a pre-law undergraduate major might give you a taste of what law school is like, I don't believe it offers any significant advantages over other majors in terms of preparing for law school. If you already have an idea about the type of law you'd like to practice in the future, it might be more beneficial to choose a major related to that area, rather than a pre-law undergraduate major.

For instance, if corporate law piques your interest, a business major would be a logical choice. If you're drawn to criminal law, consider majoring in criminal justice or psychology. It's also worth noting that your undergraduate studies might reveal career opportunities outside of law that you find equally rewarding. Best of luck, and thank you for your question.
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Richard’s Answer

Pre-law is typically not a degree in and of itself. Law schools do not require a certain degree or even courses. Choose a major that interests you. My wife is an attorney, and she majored in history. She thought all of the reading and writing required for that major were an asset to her in law school.
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