how can psychology help with a lawyer degree

The benefits of psychology combined with a law degree makes for a strong program opportunity that provides students with a deep knowledge and understanding of their fields of study. From enhanced career possibilities to innovative programs, here are three reasons why a dual-degree program pairing law and psychology may be right for you:

Full Answer

Is there a job for a lawyer with a psychology degree?

As the scope of mental health input in the legal arena continues to expand, so too do the opportunities for trained workers. In fact, the number of psychology and law jobs exceeds the number of workers, therefore, job opportunities are much more prevalent in this specialty area than for other specialties of psychology.

What is the relevance of psychology to the legal profession?

The book details psychological research relevant to such key aspects of legal practice as persuasion, ethical lapses, judgment, decision-making, communication and the need to use empirical methods to inform practice rather than intuition or trial and error as many lawyers do.

Do law students need Psychology degrees?

Given that lawyers deal so much with human behavior in their daily work, you'd think law students would be required to have a strong grounding in psychology. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

What can you do with a dual degree in psychology and law?

Fields like criminal justice, criminal law, and forensic psychology deal with both psychology and law, and a dual degree allows you to gain an education in both areas.

Is psychology useful for lawyers?

Psychologists can use their knowledge and skills to help lawyers prepare witnesses for depositions — helping witnesses tell their stories effectively, helping them overcome habits of poor communication and manage their anxiety or overconfidence, and so on.

How is psychology helpful in law?

“Law is about the regulation of human behavior; psychology is the study of human behavior.” Understanding how humans think and behave should help you in all facets of law. Consequently, if you're aiming to write laws that will prevent bad behaviors, psychology helps you predict which rules will be effective.

How do psychology and the law work together?

Law and psychology are two separate disciplines, but have much in common. While psychology's goal is to understand behavior and law's goal to regulate it, both fields make assumptions about what causes people to act the way they do. Many psychologists research how to improve the legal system.

What is the difference between legal and criminal studies?

Psychologists might focus on criminal behavior, decision making, clinical psychology, and mental health, while legal studies covers criminal law, legal systems in the United States, and law enforcement. Having a foundational knowledge of both builds a bridge between the two and allows for a holistic overview when studying either area.

Is a dual degree in psychology useful?

Law intersects with a variety of different fields but combining a law degree with a dual degree in psychology could be particularly useful to advance your career. The study of law and psychology are not so different from one another. Both intersect our daily lives; both seek to grasp the complexities of human behavior—and influence it for ...

Why is psychology important in law?

According to Michael, his psychology knowledge is particularly useful because “the better an attorney is able to understand and effectively deal with people, the more successful he/she will be in the legal profession.”. Human behavior is the defining component of both psychology and the law. Psychology tries to understand human behavior ...

What is the difference between psychology and law?

Psychology seeks to understand and explain human behavior while law seeks to regulate human behavior. This means those interested in the study of human behavior should not restrict themselves to considering careers that, at first glance, do not appear to be relevant to psychology.

Why do lawyers use psychological research?

At the same time, psychological research can also help lawyers understand the ways in which they can use emotions — their own emotions or their clients' — as a source of information or motivation, as a way to communicate with others, or as a window into different ways of approaching an issue.

What makes a good lawyer?

Good lawyers are also effective at developing relationships with clients, staff, colleagues and others. And they are skilled at perspective taking, engaged and passionate about what they do, good at managing stress and able to act with a high degree of integrity.

How can psychologists help lawyers prepare witnesses for depositions?

Psychologists can use their knowledge and skills to help lawyers prepare witnesses for depositions — helping witnesses tell their stories effectively, helping them overcome habits of poor communication and manage their anxiety or overconfidence, and so on.

What is the book Psychological Research relevant to?

The book details psychological research relevant to such key aspects of legal practice as persuasion, ethical lapses, judgment, decision-making, communication and the need to use empirical methods to inform practice rather than intuition or trial and error as many lawyers do.

What are lawyers and legal educators concerned about?

Some lawyers and legal educators are concerned about dissatisfaction in the legal profession and what might be done about it. Psychologists can inform those discussions with research on subjective well-being, the notion of "grit," the ways people can choke under pressure and how we manage our time.

How effective is being aware of emotional triggers?

Research finds that being aware of emotional triggers, using distraction or trying to reappraise the situation can be more effective at managing emotions than suppression, venting or rumination. Your book also discusses the balance between lawyers' productivity and well-being.

Can psychologists be witnesses?

Yes. Already, many psychologists serve as expert witnesses on substantive issues in litigation or as experts with regard to various aspects of the legal process — such as eyewitness identification.

What is the closest field of work to legal psychology?

However, likely the closest field of work to legal psychology is forensic psychology . This is the case because legal and forensic psychology share a number of characteristics, not the least of which are similar job duties in similar work settings. This specialty of psychology is not only concerned with criminal behavior.

What is the primary function of a legal psychologist?

A primary function of legal psychologists is to evaluate and assess individuals for various court systems and legal bodies. In this context, a legal psychologist may evaluate a wide variety of people, from a parent seeking custody of a minor child to an inmate scheduled to go to trial for murder. Regardless of the individual being evaluated, legal ...

How much will legal psychologists grow?

The job outlook for legal psychologists appears to be strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that psychology jobs, in general, will grow by 14% over the next 10 years. Some psychology specialties are expected to experience enormous growth.

What is legal psychology?

Legal psychology is one of a number of disciplines that applies the psychological insights of human behavior to matters regarding the law. Developmental psychology, community psychology, social psychology, and cognitive psychology are all subspecialties within the realm of psychology and the law. However, likely the closest field ...

Where do forensic lawyers work?

They may work with a civil or probate court. Other venues are correctional facilities, or juvenile detention centers. They may have to appear in court, and travel throughout their state or nationwide if they are licensed for practice in multiple states.

How much does a forensic psychologist make?

Conversely, forensic psychologists can also make far above the median wage, upwards of $100,000 per year. Like most occupations, a worker’s level of experience in the field heavily influences the amount of money they make.

What are the two psychology courses?

Many other psychology courses are beneficial to those who hope to engage in the study and practice of law. Two courses relate directly: PSYCH 340-Psychology and Law and PSYCH 381-Children and the Law.

Is psychology a prerequisite for law school?

Psychology and Law. Admission to law school requires no specific major and no specific prerequisite courses. Psychology is one of many undergraduate majors chosen by pre-law students. Northwestern students considering a career in law should read the Pre-Law information prepared by the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Did you know that psychology ranks as one of the most popular pre-law majors? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, psychology is among the top five majors overall, in addition to being a popular choice for pre-law students.

Is Psychology a Good Pre-Law Major?

The American Bar Association (ABA) does not recommend any particular major or coursework for pre-law students. As such, law school students come from various undergraduate backgrounds.

Psychology Classes for Pre-Law Students

Psychology pre-law teaches students about human behavior and judgment. This research-based degree also focuses on interpreting and analyzing research findings. Specific lessons vary with each program, but many psychology degrees cover cognitive, behavioral, personality, social, and clinical psychology.

Applying for Law School

Can I get into law school without a pre-law major? Students do not need to study pre-law to get into law school, but they need to meet other requirements. Undergraduates need high GPAs and LSAT scores. The LSAT, which has been the standardized test for law school since 1948, serves as a good indicator of who will succeed in law school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Some schools offer psychology degrees with pre-law concentrations. These programs appeal to students who want to pursue a legal education and career as a lawyer, lobbyist, or nonprofit advocate. Courses in this program may include psychology, political science, communication, and human behavior.