what bachelor's degree for lawyer

by Raphael Gislason 7 min read

What Bachelor Degree to Get If You Want to Be a Lawyer

  • Prelaw and Criminal Justice. An undergraduate degree in criminal justice or prelaw can prepare a student for the...
  • English. An English degree requires a large focus on critical reading and writing skills, which the American Bar...
  • Philosophy. Philosophy majors receive training in critical thinking, logic and...

Common undergraduate majors for prelaw students include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism. There's no correct major to pursue to get into law school. But according to legal educators, prospective J.D. students who take classes they enjoy report better GPA scores.Feb 17, 2022

Full Answer

What does it take to become a lawyer?

How to become a lawyer. Lawyers need to complete extensive testing and education requirements to practice law. Here are the basic steps to become a lawyer: 1. Earn a bachelor's degree. You'll need to have a bachelor's degree to apply for law school. Law schools accept students with a wide range of degrees.

How do you get a bachelor's degree in law?

How do I get a law degree?

  1. Earn your bachelor's degree. You will need to earn your bachelor's degree before being able to earn a law degree. ...
  2. Take the LSAT exam. The LSAT exam is a standardized test administered to prospective law school candidates. ...
  3. Get accepted into law school. Once your LSAT scores have posted, you'll want to get accepted into law school. ...
  4. Pass the bar exam. Once you have graduated from law school, you'll have a law degree, but you must pass the bar exam in your jurisdiction to practice law ...

What degrees prepare you for Law School?

  • Important Facts About Law School Graduates
  • Political Science. A bachelor's degree program in political science can help aspiring law school students learn about the conflicts in societies, interpersonal interaction and political ideas throughout history.
  • Philosophy. ...
  • History. ...
  • English. ...

What are the education requirements for an attorney?

  • Undergraduate Requirements. Individuals interested in working as law attorneys must earn a 4-year undergraduate degree in any subject, reports the U.S. ...
  • Law School Admission Test (LSAT) As an undergraduate, you should prepare to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). ...
  • Law School Info. ...
  • Licensure Info. ...

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Which bachelor degree is best for law?

As you select your undergraduate major with the intent to apply to law school in the future, these are some of the leading majors to consider.History. ... Business. ... English. ... Philosophy. ... Political Science. ... Economics. ... Arts and Humanities. ... Psychology.More items...

What degree do most lawyers have?

Juris Doctor degreeA Juris Doctor degree is the required legal degree for professionals who are pursuing a career as a practicing attorney.

What do lawyers study in college?

Key SkillsKnowledge of legal matters, policy, theories and case studies.Understanding of contemporary business, politics, sociology and ethics/morality.Professional expertise in law, including command of technical language.Experience and skills in mooting.Ability to draft legal documents.More items...

What should I major in before law school?

“You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business,” their website says, “or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer ...

What Degree Does A Lawyer Need?

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To become a lawyer, individuals need to spend seven years in school. Initially, students get their bachelor’s degree from a college or a university. Afterward, they must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The student’s university grades and LSAT score will determine whether they get into the top law schoolof their ch…
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What Happens After Law School?

  • Once the student successfully graduates from law school, their work is still not done. Every person who wants to become a lawyer must take a test known as the bar exam. If the student passes this test, people say that they have been admitted to the bar. The exact rules for getting a license from the bar vary from state to state. In general, most states require students to have n…
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What Kind of Bachelor’s Degree Should Students get?

  • Technically, students can get into law school with any kind of bachelor’s degree. While there is no required major, it will be easier for students to get accepted into law school if they take courses like public speaking, history, mathematics, English, government and economics. Some schools have a pre-law program that helps to prepare students for going to law school after they graduat…
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Is Law School Required?

  • While some states offer alternative ways to become a lawyer, law school is required in most states. Even when a state allows students to take the bar exam without a law degree, there are potential problems that students should watch out for. In the state of Washington, students can technically study and work for a lawyer for a set amount of time instead of going to law school. …
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History

Business

  • Majoring in business, such as in business administration or corporate business, may be a smart path for some pre-law students to follow. Business degree plans are often rigorous, which may make business majors more appealing to law schools. However, because the coursework can be more challenging, it may be more difficult to maintain a high GPA throughout all four years of sc…
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English

  • If you thrived in high school English classes, majoring in English may enable you to earn a higher GPA in college than you may earn in other areas of study. This major may provide other substantial benefits as you prepare for the future. Consider that 3,549 law school applicants held a degree in English in 2016 and 2017. The average LSAT score for these applicants was 154.4, a…
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Philosophy

  • Philosophy is not a major that may immediately come to mind when pursuing a pre-law path. However, law is heavily based on philosophical aspects, such as human nature, ethics and other topics that are thoroughly covered in college-level philosophy courses. In addition to this essential link between law and philosophy, some law schools have higher admissions ratings for liberal ar…
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Political Science

  • Studying political science at the undergraduate level is a natural choice because of how closely it is linked to the legal system. Generally, pre-law students should select a major based on their personal interests and passion rather than what they believe would most likely bolster their chance of admission to law school. However, many students who...
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Economics

  • Economics is a solid major to select if you are interested in delving into the corporate law niche. It may also be relevant to intellectual property law and other specializations. More than 2,700 students applying to law school between 2016 and 2017 majored in economics, and 85 percent of these applicants gained admission to at least one law school program. The average LSAT score …
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Arts and Humanities

  • Depending on the college or university, a broad degree in arts and humanities may be available, or you may be required to select a niche area of study that falls under this umbrella. Arts and humanities seemingly have little to do with an interested in the legal system and a desire to pursue a career in law. However, this type of degree is logical for several reasons. First, law scho…
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Psychology

  • Psychology is the study of the human mind, and it encompasses behaviors and general experiences. While there is a scientific aspect of psychology, this applied science also branches into principles of human behavior. Because the law impacts and moderates human behavior, law and psychology are intertwined. This is a popular major for pre-law students, with 3,778 law sch…
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Math

  • Fewer than 800 law school applicants majored in math, but more than 87 percent of those applicants were admitted to law school. Their average LSAT score was higher than 161, and their average GPA was 3.54. Notably, this group of applicants had the highest average LSAT scores than students with any other major. While the American Bar Association does not recommend t…
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Science

  • Several dozen specialized areas of study fall under the science umbrella. These include biology, ecology, chemistry and more. These areas of study provide students with a strong background that can be essential for success in various legal niches. For example, chemistry studies may be essential for a successful career in pharmaceutical law. Ecology coursework is beneficial for pr…
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