what degree to pursue as a freshman if wanting to be a lawyer

by Ms. Emma Glover 8 min read

Economics is an excellent major for aspiring lawyers, especially for those intending to work in corporate law, intellectual property, or another niche where an understanding of economic theory and the levers that drive capitalism can be useful.

A bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement for admission to law school. No singular field of study is recommended by the American Bar Association at this level.Feb 17, 2022

Full Answer

What degree do you need to become a lawyer?

Oct 09, 2021 · A bachelor’s degree in business administration is well suited for law school, especially those applicants considering a corporate law track where knowing business fundamentals is helpful. The coursework is rigorous in reading, writing, and quantitative analysis, which is also helpful in preparing for the LSAT.

What undergraduate major should I major in to prepare for Law School?

Feb 14, 2022 · You earn a bachelor’s degree, complete the required testing to apply to law school, and earn a degree called a Juris Doctor (J.D.). However, aspiring attorneys have a number of decisions to make, including what subject to major in as an undergraduate and what types of law you may wish to specialize in during law school.

Can you go to law school with a prelaw degree?

If Law in your place can be studied at the undergraduate level, then clearly it’s the qualifying law degree that should be done. For instance, that would be the LL.B. (Hons) degree (3–4 years) in the UK. Update:— If Law in your place is done in a ‘single-cycle’ …

What can you do with a degree in law school?

Apr 30, 2019 · Not only does a humanities degree gives you no advantage when applying to law school, but in some ways it's an advantage to have majored in the sciences, because it makes you look like a more...

What should my major be if I want to go to 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 is the best degree to become a lawyer?

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 majors make the best lawyers?

The Best Majors for Aspiring LawyersBusiness. A business major is a great option for those who are entrepreneurial-minded. ... Criminal Justice / Criminology. Criminal justice is the identification and explanation of criminal behavior patterns. ... Economics. ... English. ... Philosophy. ... Political Science. ... Psychology.Jan 3, 2022

What degree do most lawyers have?

Juris Doctor1. Juris Doctor. Most individuals who are lawyers in the United States have the Juris Doctor (JD) degree. The Juris Doctor degree is not only considered the first law degree in the United States but is also the most well-known and one that's offered through the American Bar Association.

What does "pre-law" mean?

When people say “pre-law,” they simply mean that they approached college with the plan that, after graduating, they would one day apply to law school. While there is no pre-law major or set of required classes, you can still prepare for law school while in college. Here are just a few ways you can do that:

Where does Veronica live?

in History and Classics. After graduating, she joined CollegeVine serving as the Curriculum Development Manager. She currently lives in Cambridge, MA and is writing her debut novel.

Is there a law school major?

Beyond taking these steps, there is no single best major for law school. You can major in absolutely anything and apply to law school. However, there are schools and programs that do a better job of preparing you for graduate study.

Is it easy to get into law school?

Graduates go on to be judges, prosecutors, professors, legislators, mediators, and so much more. But getting into law school is no easy matter.

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.

What is an economics major?

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.

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 are the requirements to become an attorney?

Regardless of which major aspiring attorneys choose during their undergraduate educational careers, there are two absolute requirements for entering law school. Students must earn top grades to gain admission to an accredited program. They must also get an acceptable score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

What is the path to becoming a lawyer?

Though the path to becoming a lawyer isn’t simple, it ultimately leads to a career that is rewarding financially and professionally. From the first class a freshman student takes, a lawyer’s education is primarily about developing the core capabilities that make a person an analytical thinker and a compelling, persuasive communicator.

How much do lawyers make in 2020?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for lawyers is $126,930, as of May 2020. The bottom 10% of lawyers earn $61,490, with the top 10% bringing in $208,000. As with other occupations, industry matters.

Where do lawyers work?

The Work Environment of a Lawyer. Lawyers mostly work in office settings, with occasional travel to meet with clients or to conduct work at outside agencies and organization s like hospitals, prisons, courthouses, and individual homes.

What do you learn in law school?

During their law school education, students will learn how to write legal documents and how civil procedures are conducted. They will also learn various types of law, including tax law, constitutional law, corporate law, property law, and labor law. They must then pass their state’s bar exam, a written test, to be admitted to ...

Do lawyers have to pass the bar exam?

They must then pass their state’s bar exam, a written test, to be admitted to the bar and begin practicing law. Throughout their professional careers, lawyers must either uphold certain ethical obligations or risk being disbarred from practicing law.

What is the difference between a magistrate and a judge?

The main differences are that magistrates do not have as much authority as judges, and they do not work with juries.

What is a prelaw degree?

An undergraduate degree in criminal justice or prelaw can prepare a student for the practical effects and implications of the legal system. Prelaw degrees, which focus exclusively on law school requirements and preparation, are uncommon but are still offered by some schools, such as Washington State University.

What is a philosophy major?

Philosophy majors receive training in critical thinking, logic and problem-solving skills. Lawyers use these skills to craft or refute legal arguments and to understand and use case studies as evidence. A philosophy degree also demands a high quantity of critical reading across various texts, and critical reading and understanding is a large component of a law school workload.

How to become a lawyer in high school?

Because much of a lawyer’s practice involves communicating, courses that build vocabulary help. Students also should take classes that look at how human behavior interacts with institutions. That includes sociology, political science, psychology and history. Science and math classes sharpen analytical thinking. Coursework that trains students to read large amounts of information is vital. Stick with honors or advanced placement courses and read as much as possible to prepare for the rigors of law school. It's also important to keep your grade-point average high so that you have your choice of colleges and eventually law school.

Does the Department of Justice offer internships?

The U.S. Department of Justice offers high school students both paid and unpaid internships, through which students can learn about legal careers with the federal government.

Why is there no prescribed path to law school acceptance?

Because there is no prescribed path to law school acceptance, you have a little more liberty in your choices for summer activities. Essentially, anything that builds relevant skills, creates a stronger college application, or allows you to explore your possible career path is a great fit.

Is it too early to take the LSAT?

High school is admittedly way too early to begin preparing for the LSAT explicitly, but it’s not too early to begin becoming a standardized test master.

Is law a competitive career?

Law is an extremely competitive career path with top law schools being among the most competitive programs of any academic path.

Is there a requirement for law school?

There is no pre-determined path or prescribed prerequisite undergrad work for law school acceptance, which means there is certainly no requirement for high school extracurriculars, which will be so distant by the time you submit your law school applications that they are unlikely to figure much in your admissions decision.

Is law school competitive?

Law school is not only exceptionally competitive. It’s exceptionally expensive too, and there is no guarantee that you will come out of law school with a job. For that reason, you’ll need to be ready to hit the ground running when you finish your law degree.

What is a service project?

Service projects are always a great choice of summer activity, regardless of your intended career path. These types of community-oriented activities demonstrate your commitment to selfless causes and, when chosen mindfully, can fit seamlessly into your academic profile.

What do I need to do to get a BA in creative writing?

Earning a BA in creative writing will give you the two things you need most as a writer: practice and feedback. Although creative writing may be the domain of aspiring authors, freelance writers can also make a living by writing creatively. This is a writing major that is readily available nationwide.

What can I learn from an undergrad in linguistics?

You'll learn to manipulate words and syntax in a very thorough and specific way, which will bolster your writing.

Why do I need to major in English?

A major in English forces you to write, and then rewrite. That constant practice can hone your writing skills, and expose your writing weaknesses. The editing requirement will also help any freelance writer. A major in English will also teach you to read critically and research thoroughly.

What is the craft of writing?

The craft of writing encompasses many disciplines, and there are many related college majors to choose from. Potential writing majors should keep in mind the conventional advice about selecting a college and program. Issues like geography and size are important. But the most critical characteristic to consider after that is what kind ...

Who is Allena Tapia?

Allena Tapia wrote about freelance writing The Balance Careers and The Balance SMB. She is a freelance marketing and communications consultant. The craft of writing encompasses many disciplines, and there are many related college majors to choose from. Potential writing majors should keep in mind the conventional advice about selecting ...

What is a general writing major?

A general writing major offers a variety of writing classes in different genres and prepares you for many different specialties within your writing career. Some allow you to customize your experience by selecting a module that lets you concentrate on a specific niche or specialty.

Is marketing a good major?

Marketing is a fairly safe choice for writers hoping to concentrate on copy generation, copywriting, or some types of media/new media. It's also a great choice for writers who prefer to work within a corporate environment. For freelance writers, this major will set you up to nab some lucrative clients.

How We Made This List

Sociology

Arts & Humanities

Philosophy

Criminal Justice

Economics

English

  • Admitted Students:2,564 Average LSAT Score:155.3 English is another famous choice for pre-law students, since so much reading and writing is required to perform well in this field. Learning to synthesize a lot of content and becoming sensitive to careful word choice will make you a stronger applicant and a better lawyer.
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History

Miscellaneous

Psychology

History

English

Philosophy

Political Science

Economics

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 ...
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