what major should i choose to be a corporate lawyer

by Ben O'Conner 9 min read

  1. Earn a bachelor's degree. One of the first steps to becoming a corporate attorney is to earn your bachelor's degree in a related discipline, which can include business, finance, ...
  2. Complete an internship. Explore your internship opportunities at local law firms, government offices or legal clinics. ...
  3. Apply for law school. The next step in becoming a corporate lawyer is to apply for attendance at an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
  4. Earn your juris doctor degree. Law school prepares you to earn your juris doctor (J.D.) degree, the degree you must hold to become an attorney.
  5. Pass the bar exam. Even if you do well in law school, you'll still need to pass the American Bar Association's (ABA) bar exam.
  6. Get licensure in your state. Upon passing the bar exam, you can apply for licensing in your state. ...
  7. Meet with professionals in the field. When searching for a position as a corporate lawyer, you may find more success if you've taken the time to connect with current ...
  8. Develop your resume. A strong resume can convince a hiring manager that you're the best candidate for the open position, or at least that they should interview with you ...

One of the first steps to becoming a corporate attorney is to earn your bachelor's degree in a related discipline, which can include business, finance, political science, legal studies, government and economics, from an accredited college or university.Jul 23, 2021

Full Answer

Is a business major a good option for a corporate lawyer?

Oct 20, 2021 · As such, those who wish to practice corporate law might benefit from a bachelor's degree in business. The business major may be offered as Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs or as Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science programs.

What should I major in to become a lawyer?

Feb 12, 2022 · Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a business, finance, political science, legal studies, government, or economics discipline from an accredited university or college is the first step toward becoming a corporate attorney.

Can I become a lawyer with a science degree?

Dec 21, 2021 · In New Delhi only, the Corporate Lawyers earn an average of 60% more than the national average. ... 10 – 12 lakh per year, going up to between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 15 lakh per year. What do lawyers usually major in? Common undergraduate majors for prelaw students include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism.

What is the most popular major in law school?

Oct 20, 2021 · Students who want to pursue corporate law programs may opt to focus in finance, accounting, marketing, or management. Bachelor of Business Administration Program Business, management or business administration are common majors offered at many 4-year colleges and universities. Students can find programs that are offered fully or partially online.

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What is the best major for a corporate lawyer?

A business major is a great option for those who are entrepreneurial-minded. Students interested in corporate law might find that classes in management and economics are well-suited to their postgraduation career needs.Jan 3, 2022

What majors do lawyers most?

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.

What major should I choose if I wanna be a lawyer?

Common undergraduate majors for prelaw students include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism.Feb 17, 2022

Is a BA or BS better for law school?

Well, the short answer is that your major doesn't have much of an impact on whether or not you gain admission to law school. The type of undergrad degree you earn (BA, BS, etc.) doesn't matter either.Jun 13, 2021

What is a psych major?

Becoming a Psychology Major. A psychology major examines the science of human behavior and mental processes. This includes the study of the mind, the brain, and human and animal social interactions. The major touches on many different areas of psychology like social, cognitive, abnormal, personality and developmental.Jul 16, 2019

Is Psychology a good major for law school?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, psychology is among the top five majors overall, in addition to being a popular choice for pre-law students. Psychology provides the research and writing skills, analytical competency, and fundamental education in human behavior needed for law school.Feb 10, 2022

Can I become a lawyer with a business degree?

While a business degree may be well-suited for many potential law school applicants, the coursework may be most relevant for those who intend to pursue a career in corporate law or other similar areas. The specialized business degree obtained may make this major more or less relevant.

What is a corporate lawyer?

A corporate lawyer is an attorney who represents the company they work for. It's common for a larger business, and small companies too, to hire corporate attorneys to make sure it's in compliance for its industry and following all rules and regulations.

Corporate lawyer salary

The national average salary for a corporate lawyer in the United States is $130,857 per year, although your years of experience, education, skill set and geographical location can affect your salary.

Skills for a corporate lawyer

Here are some skills that corporate attorneys possess that help them find success in their career:

Jobs for a corporate lawyer

If working in the law field is something you're passionate about, there are many jobs to consider. Here are 10 jobs similar to a corporate lawyer:

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:

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.

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.

Good majors for Corporate Law?

I'm majoring in Political Science right now, but I was wondering how to gear myself towards a career in corporate law? I was thinking about minoring in Economics as well. Any information would greatly help.

Re: Good majors for Corporate Law?

Theserjo wrote: I'm majoring in Political Science right now, but I was wondering how to gear myself towards a career in corporate law? I was thinking about minoring in Economics as well. Any information would greatly help.

What majors are challenging?

An ecology major might take up residence in environmental law. Science majors are challenging and require students to learn complex subject matter, analyze data, and arrive at provable conclusions.

What is legal studies?

Legal studies focus on topics that are rooted in economic analysis—torts, contracts, property rights, antitrust, business organizations, and regulations. In short, a study of economics is a study in the financial impact of the law. Because of this, economics is a great area of specialization for many potential law students because it remains ...

What is the LSAT test?

The LSAT tests for critical thinking skills rather than subject matter expertise. Law schools look for candidates with abstract thinking skills, the ability to interpret written texts, and high reading comprehension. They want candidates that have fine reasoning abilities, the ability to think logically. Notice how all majors have students that ...

What is political science?

Political science is the study of government systems, political behavior, and how the judicial system works. This is where a political science degree shows its advantage in law school. Students in this field often have a better understanding of how laws are created and executed as well as the history behind them.

Is philosophy a good major?

The granddaddy of all mind-stretching mental exercises, philosophy is a fantastic major that builds a student’s ability to think critically and argue. Law is heavily based on philosophical elements like ethics, and human nature—subjects that are commonly taught in a philosophy major. Philosophy is a difficult major. It requires students to think analytically and form logical arguments. It also examines moral, political, and legal issues with no clear right or wrong while asking students to render judgment. Because of the difficulty level, some law schools may look more favorably at a degree in philosophy than a degree in a field like Criminal Justice.

What are the skills required for an English major?

In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students.

What is psychology major?

Through the psychology major’s coursework, students develop a solid understanding of how people can make correct or incorrect judgments that can lead to things like stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination. Psychology courses also teach students how to network and prepare for negotiations.

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History

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Examining how the past has helped to shape and define our present—here in the United States and around the world—will help you put into context our current justice system and laws. From a practical standpoint, history majors are also tasked with lots of research and writing and must learn to draw conclusions base…
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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 for your brain to seek out evi…
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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…
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General Tips

  1. 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...
  2. 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.
  1. 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...
  2. 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.
  3. Whichever academic route you take, maintaining a strong GPA is essential if you aim to attend a selective law school program.