if your a lawyer what classes should i take

• English Literature and Composition. A legal education will build on writing and analytical thinking, so courses that showcase a candidate's ability to excel in these areas will look good on ...
• Business. Students who are hoping to practice law in business-related areas, such as corporate law, real estate law, and tax law, will greatly benefit from early exposure to business studies.
• History, Government, and Politics. The legal profession requires basic knowledge of the government, as well as its history and processes.
• Economics. Students who study economics will be required to apply logical thinking to their studies, as well as to interpret and analyze complex data.
Political Science. This is one of the more popular degrees for pre-law students. Political science degrees are designed to expose students to the intricate nature of a complex judicial system.
Public Speaking. Students who are not political science majors need to seek out courses that emphasize public speaking skills.
Additional Courses. Disciplines that study human behavior can also be useful, including both psychology and sociology. They involve critical thinking and analysis, two valuable legal skills.

Full Answer

What classes do you need to take to become a lawyer?

Aug 11, 2016 · If you are sitting for the exam in a UBE jurisdiction, some of the classes that are most helpful are the following: Constitutional Law Contracts and Sales Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Civil Procedure Evidence Real Property Torts

How much school is needed to become a lawyer?

Sep 30, 2021 · You are not required to take any specific amount of bar classes to graduate from law school, but it’s a good idea to take some. We recommend taking at least three or four bar courses, but that decision is completely up to you. Some students take as many as possible, other students take only a few. Some students prefer to take one bar class each semester, while …

What colleges offer classes to become a lawyer?

Social studies courses covering social issues, world history, government, and criminal law are all recommended for future legal workers. View Course List English Courses

What are the subjects needed to become a lawyer?

Oct 15, 2019 · Take classes that require reading and synthesizing large volumes of material — philosophy, literature and history — both American and international, among others. Take classes that force you to write frequently (requiring a Table of Content, introductions, transitions, proper grammar and punctuation). Take classes that require presentations.

How long does it take to get a masters in law?

Once you’re in law school, you’re looking at a minimum of 3 years to complete your Juris Doctor program. A Master of Laws degree only takes one year but limits your job opportunities after graduation. eAchieve Academy graduates have been accepted into colleges and universities across the United States.

Is it too early to start law school in Wisconsin?

The legal field is full of job opportunities for bright students. It’s never too early to start preparing for law school. Wisconsin students who want to become lawyers or judges should start now with the right online high school classes through eAchieve Academy.

What do you need to know to work in law?

The law keeps the world running in order. If you want to work in law, you’ll need to understand why we have the laws we do. Social studies courses covering social issues, world history, government, and criminal law are all recommended for future legal workers. Critical thinking is the cornerstone of law.

What is critical thinking in law?

English Courses. Critical thinking is the cornerstone of law. You need to know how to interpret the intent and letter of the law if you want to have a successful legal career. eAchieve English classes cover more than just writing and reading comprehension.

What is business education?

Business education classes are a smart choice for high school students interested in working as a business lawyer. Business lawyers can work at law firms or be employed as in-house counsel in a wide variety of business types. View Course List. Types of Law Careers.

What is the most important thing to do in law school?

What is most important in your undergraduate education is that you take classes that will prepare you for the rigors of law school and the challenge of a professional school curriculum. You will be challenged greatly and having a strong academic foundation is critical to success in law school.

Who is Brooke Bowman?

Brooke Bowman, Professor of Legal Skills at Stetson University College of Law, currently ranked #3 in the nation in Legal Research and Writing, shared some thoughts on what classes would be best for law school-bound students, and she emphasized the following:

Can you change the past?

You can’t change the past! Don’t burn your bridges. The beauty of earning a professional law degree is knowing that as a candidate you can declare any major and you can take any classes that you would like to secure your undergraduate degree, a requirement to matriculate law school.

How to develop leadership skills?

Take classes that require presentations. Participate in group projects that encourage teamwork and develop leadership skills. Take classes that require significant research and evaluation of sources, including proper citation of sources within written documents.

What is tort law?

A tort is a claim like battery, assault, trespass, or negligence. Torts tends to be most law students’ favorite class in law school. The cases are interesting and the law is interesting. (In fact, it is really hard to make Torts boring!)

Is tort a class?

Torts is a fun class! This is a law school class that you will likely take your first year of law school. Many people have no idea what a “tort” is walking into law school, but it is not complicated. A tort is a claim like battery, assault, trespass, or negligence. Torts tends to be most law students’ favorite class in law school. The cases are interesting and the law is interesting. (In fact, it is really hard to make Torts boring!)

What is criminal law?

Criminal Law is a fun class for many students (though you may have to learn two sets of laws—common law and model penal code law—for every crime, which makes things complicated!). Criminal Law tells you what is required of a crime and covers crimes like murder in detail.

What is the Socratic method?

The Socratic method is the teaching style in law schools. Teachers ask questions to students and call on students. Do not be too afraid! Here are some tips for surviving the S ocratic method!

What is a civil procedure class?

1. Civil Procedure. Civil Procedure (Civ Pro) is a class that you will have one or even two semesters of! It goes through the basics of how a lawsuit is filed in federal court, when federal courts have the power to hear a case, where to file a lawsuit, etc.

Uniquely Important Courses

I would like to mention a few courses that I have found to be exceptionally helpful in and out of law school.

Consider A Skills Course

A skills course can be a clinic, mock trial, negotiations or any course that involves applying legal theory to a fundamental lawyer task. A certain number of skills credits are generally required now at every law school, and they are also extremely helpful in helping most students get an idea of what they want to do.

Get the MPRE Out of the Way

I always recommend that students take the professional ethics course and get the MPRE out of the way their 2L year. I took my professional ethics course in two weekends during the Spring semester of my 2L year.

Choose Professors Wisely

I have had some of the very best professors in law school and I have had some of the very worst. My 2L year was a turning point for me because up until then I selected courses based on my interest level without strongly considering the professor reviews.

Take Some Classes That Really Interest You

Trying to raise your grades after 1L year? Don’t make it any harder by filling up your schedule with “check the box classes” that you have no interest in. Trust me when I tell you that it’s a lot harder to get an A in a class when you can hardly keep your eyes open past five pages.

Conclusion

As you can see there are tons of things to consider when determining a 2L course schedule. Follow these tips, take the time to create your schedule, and you will make the most out of your 2L courses!

Why is social science important?

Social science classes are more important to the law than ever, from the economics used in antitrust cases to the political science used in election law to psychology disputes over rules of evidence. Understanding the wide range of methods that social scientists draw from to make arguments will serve you well in law school.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

Communications. Advocacy skills are essential to law school. Through writing, public speaking, rhetoric, theater or other communications classes, you can hone your ability to articulate ideas persuasively. Those skills will come in handy for your personal statement and other written materials on your application.

What is the American legal system?

American History and Government. The American legal system is based on precedent, a deference for settled cases. It is also a patchwork of federal, state and local laws, norms and institutions.

How many hours do lawyers work?

Working 60-80+ hours a week is typical here (especially at larger firms), but most lawyers can expect to work long hours no matter what field. Most law school graduates work in law firms when first starting out, to get the specialized experience necessary before going into other fields later on.

Is pre law a major?

Again: pre-law is not a major. You can apply to law school with any major, so study what you want while developing skills that will benefit you in law school and beyond. These include critical thinking, strong writing ability, research, analytical skills, and more.

Is the LSAT the same as the GRE?

In terms of other academic requirements, the LSAT is the universal standardized test for law school entrance, while the GRE is the exam taken by those applying to graduate school. Some schools have begun accepting it in lieu of the LSAT to offer greater flexibility to applicants.

Why is summer associate important?

These internships are important because summer associates are usually asked to return to their firm, after they graduate and pass the Bar. Securing a good summer associate position and excelling in it can mean that the first years of your career are set early on.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers play a role in many aspects of our everyday lives, including mortgages and leases, patented items , and the court cases we most often associate with the law. These different aspects, among others, are part of the many different specialties a lawyer can pursue.

How much do lawyers make?

Lawyers make a median salary of $129,910, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But there is a large amount of variation between different specializations and the public and private sectors. According to Salary.com as of October 20, 2019, the average salary for the below specializations are as follows:

Can a lawyer become a judge?

Clerking for a judge is also a government position available to lawyers; becoming a judge is also a possibility, but only a small percentage of lawyers go on to become judges, as it requires gaining much experience and being appointed or elected to the position.

What to do when you don't have room in your class?

If the thought of a public speaking or debate class bores you to tears or you don’t have room in your class schedule, consider performing in a talent show or college play. It’s a more relaxed setting, but still helps prepare you for being the center of attention.

What is the last suggested course?

The last suggested courses have to do with the US government itself. History is the suggested department, but these classes vary by university in terms of which department offers them. A class identifying how the government operates is fairly important to understand how laws are passed and the interactions between the Supreme Court and the other branches of government.

What are the skills required for law school?

Law schools look for a set of skills that you can begin developing at any point in your academic work. These skills include: 1 Problem-solving. 2 Reading comprehension. 3 Spoken and written communication. 4 Research. 5 Organization and time management. 6 Critical thinking. 7 Community involvement and public service.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

These skills include: Problem-solving. Reading comprehension. Spoken and written communication. Research. Organization and time management. Critical thinking.

How to improve your chances of getting into college?

These steps will also improve your college admissions chances and prepare you for doing well in undergraduate classes. Look for hands-on experience. Even as a high school student, you might be able to gain hands-on experience in the legal profession. Whether it’s a summer job or an internship for course credit ...

Who is Alison Monahan?

Alison Monahan wrote about legal careers for The Balance Careers. She is a lawyer and founder of The Girl's Guide to Law School. If you’re sure you want to be a lawyer, but you’re still in high school, you still have many years before law school applications. However, it doesn't hurt to plan ahead.

Do law schools matter?

However, most law schools state that undergraduate major doesn't matter.

What are the skills that high schoolers need?

Critical thinking. Community involvement and public service. As early as high school, you can begin pursuing classes and extracurriculars that help you improve and grow these skills. 1 .

How to prepare for law school?

1 . Take advanced classes. College is difficult, and law school is even harder.

Civil Procedure

Contracts

Torts

Real Property

Criminal Law

Constitutional Law

Legal Research and Writing

• This is one of the classes you will take your first year of law school, for most likely two semesters. It is a relatively new class for law students. You will likely be expected to write a memo and a brief, learn the basics of researching, and perhaps present an oral argument to a panel of volunteer judges. Most practicing attorneys say that this w...

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A Few Other Notes on Your First Year of Law School

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