Oct 20, 2021 · Pre-law majors combine a handful of legal studies courses with a liberal arts core that's designed to help students develop the skills required for success in law school. For applicants, schools require a high school diploma for undergraduate degree program and LSAT scores for doctoral programs.
Feb 08, 2020 · Top 10 Most Popular Undergraduate Majors for Prospective Law Students 1. Political Science. So much of politics is high-quality legislation that it is no wonder this field tops our list of... 2. Psychology. Psychology is the third social science to make an appearance on this list, and that is no ...
8 rows · Dec 21, 2020 · According to LSAC, who tracks these things, only 52% of criminal justice majors and 61% pre-law ...
Feb 03, 2021 · Top 8 Majors for Future Law Students Political Science. Political science is the most popular major for those planning to head to law school for good reason. Psychology. As a psychology major, you’ll learn to understand how and why people act and think as they do. You’ll gain... Criminal Justice. ...
Top 10 Best Pre-law Majors (see also: what did most law school students major in?)Political Science - 9,612 admitted. ... Other - 2,917 admitted. ... Psychology - 2,960 admitted. ... Criminal Justice - 2,220 admitted. ... English - 2,564 admitted. ... History - 2,657 admitted. ... Economics - 2,373 admitted. ... Philosophy - 1,858 admitted.More items...•Jun 23, 2018
The most popular major of law school candidates is political science. There's a reason why many successful politicians are lawyers—the link between law and political theory is very strong. Political science is the study of government systems, political behavior, and how the judicial system works.
The Juris Doctor degree (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Law or Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D. Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees.
Here are the most useful high school subjects for future lawyers:English. ... Public speaking. ... Social studies. ... Science. ... Mathematics. ... Statistics and data science. ... American history and government. ... Communication.More items...•Oct 5, 2021
Prepare for Law School and Careers in Criminal Justice Criminology is one of the most appropriate majors for those planning to pursue a career handling criminal cases as a lawyer or judge.
Types of law degrees In most countries, law degrees take the form of an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) which allows you to go on to take the national Bar or Law Society qualifying examinations, in order to becoming a practicing lawyer.
Aquinas distinguishes four kinds of law: (1) eternal law; (2) natural law; (3) human law; and (4) divine law.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In addition to earning specific degrees, the process includes passing your state's bar exam in order to become a practicing attorney. Understanding the many educational opportunities for becoming a lawyer can help you determine which path is best for you. In this article, we discuss education requirements to become a lawyer and the different degrees to pursue, including those for individuals who want to work in the legal field without going to law school.
A Master of Laws is a postgraduate degree to expand knowledge in law and specialize in a specific area of law. This degree is for those with an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree or an undergraduate degree in a related subject.
A Master of Legal Studies is a master's degree offered at some law schools for those who wish to study law but do not want to become an attorney. This degree is fairly new and is also known as a Master of Science and Law (MSL), Juris Master (JM) and Master of Jurisprudence (MJ).
A Master of Dispute Resolution is a master's degree that teaches students conflict resolution and negotiation skills. The degree covers courses in conflict management, arbitration practice, negotiation and meditation theory.
When deciding what degree to pursue, consider what your priorities are, such as gaining the most knowledge possible or gaining experience right away. Consider the time and financial requirements for each degree as you evaluate how well each option aligns with your career goals.
This degree is a requirement for those interested in becoming a lawyer. A JD is a graduate degree in law that teaches students about civil procedures, contracts, constitutional law, criminal law, property and administrative or regulatory law. Courses focus on how to research cases, prosecute or defend, argue on behalf of both individual clients and businesses and prepare for the state bar exam. Graduates become licensed attorneys after passing their state bar exam.
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:
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.
Graduates go on to be judges, prosecutors, professors, legislators, mediators, and so much more. But getting into law school is no easy matter.
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.
Political science is the most popular major for those planning to head to law school for good reason. As a political science major, you’ll study the theory and practice of government and its link to the legal system. Whether you earn your political science bachelor’s degree online or on-campus, your coursework will cover how laws are created and executed and you’ll learn about the history behind each law’s formation. You’ll also gain a strong understanding of topics such as political theory, international relations, and political methodology. Depending on your school, you can graduate with either a B.A. or B.S. in political science .
Philosophy students study human thought and debate on age-old topics such as knowledge, existence, ethics, and truth. Your coursework can include subjects like ancient and modern philosophy, ethics, theory and logic, and metaphysics. You’ll likely take deep dives into the works of renowned philosophers like Plato, Kant, Descartes, and Nietzsche. Most schools will offer a B.A. in philosophy, but B.S. options may also exist.
Like political science, criminal justice is a natural undergraduate major for those applying to law school. As a criminal justice major, you will develop an understanding of the American justice system’s three main branches: the courts, the police, and prisons. You’ll likely be required to take courses in administration, constitutional law, criminal justice, evidence, forensics, law, criminal profiling, and judicial process. Most programs are interdisciplinary and require you to take some courses that fall under the political science, sociology, psychology, and philosophy departments. You can earn a B.A. or a B.S. in criminal justice and both online criminal justice degrees and in-person programs exist.
As an economics major, you’ll learn about concepts ranging from supply and demand to taxation, inflation, unemployment, and more. You’ll gain an understanding of how our markets work along with international markets and you’ll get insight into how the economy impacts government policies. Your studies will teach you how to think like an economist by developing your critical thinking and reasoning skills and you’ll discover how to apply this skillset to various professions. While other options may be available, most schools will over a B.S. for economics majors.
While the official definition of sociology is the study of institutions, those who choose this major will quickly find that it entails much more. As a sociology major, you’ll discover how societies interact, how groups work together, and how human behavior influences it all. You’ll learn how different systems and structures govern humans and communities and you’ll walk away with knowledge running the gamut from anthropology and psychology to philosophy and political science.
Environmental science is a relatively new field that combines biology, chemistry, and earth sciences such as geography with the social sciences such as law and economics. Majoring in environmental science will mean learning how physical and biological processes work together to shape the world. Your courses are likely to include environmental science, economics, conservation, geoscience, forestry, statistics, and law. This major will allow you to see issues from different perspectives, something that will be a huge asset in the law world. There’s also an emphasis on reading, writing, and analyzing data, all skills that will be valuable to you as a law student. If you’re interested in using your law degree to pursue a career in environmental policy, this may be the ideal major for you.