High School Classes to Become a Lawyer
- English. The College Board recommends that high school students complete advanced placement courses in English language and literature.
- Social Studies. Courses in history, government, politics and economics will give you a broad understanding of the forces that influence society.
- Speech. Classes in public speaking can enhance your verbal skills and self-confidence. Also look for opportunities to give class presentations and speeches.
- Mathematics. Mathematics teaches problem-solving skills, useful to many aspects of law. ...
- Science. High school science classes can introduce you to the scientific method and research techniques. Through experimentation, you learn to observe, record and interpret data in the laboratory.
What to Know About Prelaw Majors
- American history and government.
- Social science.
- Statistics and data science.
- Close reading and reasoning.
- Communications.
Aug 10, 2020
What college courses do you need to become a lawyer?
- College Composition and two 6-semester courses or 4 3-semester courses from the following:
- Business
- Science and Mathematics
- History and Social Science
- Foreign Language
- Composition and Literature (Humanities only)
- If you wish to register for the CLEP tests, you may do so online. Each exam costs $87, which may be paid online. ...
What education and training is required to become a lawyer?
Training to be a lawyer entails earning a bachelor's degree followed by a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Lawyers must also obtain licensure in their practicing state by taking and passing a state bar exam. Prior to admission to law school, an applicant typically must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
What to know before becoming a lawyer?
The woman told Arthur she had uterine cancer. Before long, they were discussing what her funeral could look like, the family she'd leave behind, and all the things she wanted to do before she died.
What degree do you need to be a lawyer?
Many unrepresented parties cannot afford a lawyer to provide full-time legal assistance for their case.
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.
What is the closest thing to law school?
Political Science. Of all majors, this may be the closest to a "law school" curriculum as you can get. In this major, you'll study political systems, public policy, international relations and the relationship between government, the law, and individual rights, among other things.
What do philosophy majors study?
Philosophy majors delve deep into the study of logic, ethics, and morality —areas of thought that also happen to be the cornerstones of law. You'll debate with classmates, present arguments and do a lot of research to support your case, which is not all that different from what lawyers do to prepare for court.
What do history majors learn?
From a practical standpoint, history majors are also tasked with lots of research and writing and must learn to draw conclusions based on historical documents, a great precursor to the work you'll do in law school.
Does it matter what you study as an undergraduate?
If you have your heart set on landing a legal gig, it's important to know that it doesn't necessarily matter what you study as an undergraduate. This is truly a profession suited to those coming from vast educational backgrounds.
Is business a good major?
A business major is a good option for those who plan to go into corporate law. That said, be sure to supplement business fundamentals with humanities and liberal arts electives so you can train your analytical and critical thinking muscles, as well as practice research and writing, too.
What do first year law students study?
First-year law students usually study civil procedure, property, constitutional, tort and contract law. They also take legal research and writing courses. Upper-level course requirements ease a bit. Second- and third-year students call more of their own shots by choosing elective classes.
How long does it take to become an attorney?
Law students are tied up full-time in law school for three years after undergraduate studies. Some lawyers go on to earn advanced law degrees, which gobble up another one to five years in study time.
What is the average grade point average for law school?
For example, incoming law students at Michigan State University College of Law have median grade point averages of 3.5.
What is a bar review course?
Bar review courses are the ultimate cram sessions. They are comprehensive reviews of the core classes required in law school. They give students a last-ditch refresher on topics tested on state bar exams, such as contract, property, criminal, tort and civil procedure laws.
How many years of college do I need to become a lawyer?
After four years in a bachelor’s degree program, students will spend another three years in law school. With a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor degree, students can take their bar exam and become a practicing lawyer.
What is the test to become a lawyer?
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.
How long does it take to become a lawyer?
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 law school of their choice.
Why do I get disqualified from law school?
Applicants may be disqualified if they have committed some kind of academic misconduct during their years of schooling. In addition, students need to graduate from an ABA-accredited law school and pass their bar exam to be admitted to the bar.
What does a lawyer do in court?
Got it! Lawyers work in the legal system to represent their clients. For criminal justice cases, the lawyer may be prosecuting the case or defending a client in the courtroom. Meanwhile, civil cases can involve anything from property disputes to class action settlements.
Is criminal justice a good option for law school?
Criminal justice is also a popular option for students who are preparing for law school . In general, students should pick a major that matches their future goals. If the undergraduate college does not have a pre-law program, students should take courses that match the law school’s admission requirements.
Can I take the bar exam without a law degree?
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. Then, they are allowed to take the bar exam.
What majors are common for pre-law students?
With that in mind, certain majors do seem somewhat common among pre-law students including Political Science, History, Philosophy and Business. If one is interested in a particular aspect of law (which you stated you are but did not specify which aspect) then they may find related courses helpful.
Is law practice competitive?
If you are skilled in these areas, you may succeed well. Law practice is highly competitive, and success tends to be merit-based and also somewhat "political.". You may also wish to think seriously about what it means to you to envy or admire "top" performers.
Is international law a small part of law school?
International law coursework will inevitably be a relatively small proportion of your curriculum in law school. Upon graduating, your career prospects will probably not be greatly enhanced by your language skills, but instead will have much more to do with the quality of the law school you attended and your class rank.
Is an accounting degree good for law?
A: An accounting degree is really a good background for almost any type of law practice. Any type of corporate or securities law and tax law are definitely good choices. Also, large accounting firms hire lawyers with accounting backgrounds, and often send them back to school while they are working to get an LLM in tax.
Don't slack during your freshman year
If I could share one piece of advice with a college-bound student it would be the following — do not lose focus on your grades or your judgment in your freshman year of college and then have to spend the following three years trying to fix your freshman year grades and missteps.
Take these types of classes before law school
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:
Avoid easy courses before law school
Steer clear of a senior year filled with easy 'A' classes, like 'Intro-to' classes. Sometimes the path of least resistance is not always beneficial — we’ve seen that first-hand. Don't waste your law school opportunity by being ill-prepared. Otherwise it could cost you greatly.
History
English
- Having a strong command of written and verbal skills will take you far as an attorney whether you're writing, researching or speaking in court. Analyzing great works of literature and historical texts from various cultures and time periods is great practice for the hours you'll spend in the law library.
Philosophy
- Philosophy majors delve deep into the study of logic, ethics, and morality—areas of thought that also happen to be the cornerstones of law. You'll debate with classmates, present arguments and do a lot of research to support your case, which is not all that different from what lawyers do to prepare for court.
Political Science
- Of all majors, this may be the closest to a "law school" curriculum as you can get. In this major, you'll study political systems, public policy, international relations and the relationship between government, the law, and individual rights, among other things. You're required to analyze various written documents and data sets (think ancient texts to social media posts) and will learn to thin…
Economics
- Not only are economics majors trained to think logically and analytically, but economic policies and procedures, as well as how resources are distributed and managed, are topics closely connected to the legal issues you'll encounter as a lawyer. Any major that has you summarizing qualitative and quantitative data to solve problems is good training ...
Business
- General business knowledge can be applied in almost any industry, and that holds true for aspiring attorneys as well. A business major is a good option for those who plan to go into corporate law. That said, be sure to supplement business fundamentals with humanities and liberal arts electives so you can train your analytical and critical thinking muscles, as well as pra…
General Tips
- Consider majoring in a discipline that is related to the type of law you want to practice. Since you don't have to declare a specialty during law school, building a background as an undergraduate i...
- Choose a major or take electives that are heavy on research and writing. As mentioned earlier, those are the critical skills that will help you most in law school.
- Consider majoring in a discipline that is related to the type of law you want to practice. Since you don't have to declare a specialty during law school, building a background as an undergraduate i...
- Choose a major or take electives that are heavy on research and writing. As mentioned earlier, those are the critical skills that will help you most in law school.
- Whichever academic route you take, maintaining a strong GPA is essential if you aim to attend a selective law school program.
Undergraduate Studies
- Law schools usually aren't picky about what you study as an undergraduate in college. You can have a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. And, you can have majors and minors in English, math, chemistry, engineering, art or social studies. A law school applicant must have decent grades to get the nod for admission. For example, incoming law students at Michigan St…
Law School Courses
- Law degrees are comprised of a potpourri of legal studies. First-year law students usually study civil procedure, property, constitutional, tort and contract law. They also take legal research and writing courses. Upper-level course requirements ease a bit. Second- and third-year students call more of their own shots by choosing elective classes. They can dive into studies such as interna…
Master's Degrees
- Some lawyers keep hitting the books after law school to obtain specialized Master of Law, or LLM, degrees. LLMs target specific areas, such as taxation, business, real estate and finance law. Some lawyers pursue Doctor of Juridical Science degrees, called SJDs, after they wrap up their LLMs. SJDs are only offered by a handful of law colleges. SJDs ...
Bar Review Courses
- Law colleges encourage law students to take bar review courses at the end of their three-year stints. Bar review courses are the ultimate cram sessions. They are comprehensive reviews of the core classes required in law school. They give students a last-ditch refresher on topics tested on state bar exams, such as contract, property, criminal, tort and civil procedure laws.
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