what major to be a business lawyer

by Emery Klocko 5 min read

The Best Majors for Aspiring Lawyers

  • Business. A business major is a great option for those who are entrepreneurial-minded. Students interested in corporate...
  • Criminal Justice / Criminology. Criminal justice is the identification and explanation of criminal behavior patterns.
  • Economics. An economics major spends a lot of time summarizing large amounts of quantitative...

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 choice for a lawyer?

Jan 03, 2022 · The Best Majors for Aspiring Lawyers Business. A business major is a great option for those who are entrepreneurial-minded. Students interested in corporate... Criminal Justice / Criminology. Criminal justice is the identification and explanation of criminal behavior patterns. Economics. An ...

What classes do you need to take to become a lawyer?

Oct 20, 2021 · Majors for Aspiring Corporate Lawyers: Degree Program Options. Essential Information. The education for a corporate lawyer includes both undergraduate and graduate studies. Because the field of corporate law ... Bachelor's Degree in Business. Joint Degree in Law and Graduate Business Administration. ...

Is a bachelor’s in Business Administration good for Law School?

Accounting, business administration and finance are just a few possibilities for relevant majors. If you've completed your degree, then you need to take the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, prior to applying to law school.

What are the top 10 best degrees for future lawyers?

Oct 29, 2020 · The first step to becoming a business lawyer is earning an undergraduate degree. Most law schools have a mandatory requirement of the applicant having a bachelor's degree before applying. While there isn't a particular major that is needed, most tend to get them in a related field such as government, history, or economics.

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Which business major is best for law school?

While other options may be available, most schools will over a B.S. for economics majors. Majoring in economics can be a smart choice if you're aiming for law school, especially if you're interested in corporate law.Feb 3, 2021

Which subject is best for business lawyer?

Some popular PG level courses in Corporate Law are – LLM in Corporate Law, LLM in Business and Corporate Law, LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law, LLM in Corporate and Securities Laws, LLM in Corporate and Banking Law, LLM in Corporate and Business Law and the likes.Nov 16, 2021

Is Business Law a good career?

This is a very reputed and respected field of law and needs the candidate to be hardworking, competitive and thorough with Business Law and related areas such as Financial Law, Compliance, Diligence, Human Rights, Environmental Law, Investment Law, Insurance Law, IP Laws, Constitutional Law and International Trade Law.Jun 16, 2020

Which lawyers earn the most?

10 Types of Lawyers That Make The Most Money
  • 1: Immigration Lawyer. ...
  • 2: Civil Rights Lawyer. ...
  • 3: Family and Divorce Lawyers. ...
  • 4: Personal Injury. ...
  • 5: Criminal Defense Lawyers. ...
  • 6: Corporate Lawyers. ...
  • 7: Bankruptcy Lawyers. ...
  • 8: Real Estate Lawyers.

Essential Information

The education for a corporate lawyer includes both undergraduate and graduate studies. Because the field of corporate law combines both legal and business concepts, many students complete a bachelor's degree in business followed by a joint degree in law and business administration.

Bachelor's Degree in Business

Law schools do not require admissions applicants to have degrees in a specific major, and aspiring lawyers can generally major in any subject they wish; however, a student's undergrad major may provide a good background for the type of law they eventually practice.

Joint Degree in Law and Graduate Business Administration

The joint degree in law and graduate business administration is the union of Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) degree programs and takes 3-4 years to complete. Courses prepare students to take the bar examination, a requirement to practice law.

What Types of Companies Hire Business Lawyers?

Before entering law school, you may want to consider which business sector appeals to you. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lawyers may work in a variety of industries, including construction, intellectual property, insurance, mortgage and waste disposal ( www.bls.gov ).

What Education and Training Do I Need?

The BLS states that there isn't a preferred or recommended pre-law degree; however, you may want to consider a multi-disciplinary program. Accounting, business administration and finance are just a few possibilities for relevant majors.

What Happens After I Complete My Juris Doctor?

Once you've earned a J.D. from an American Bar Association-approved institution, you will need to take and pass the Bar exam. In general, you will take the Bar in the state where you plan to work.

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

Postsecondary teachers, judges, and mediators all have careers that involve some similarities to the work that business lawyers do. Postsecondary teachers need a master's or doctoral degree. They may instruct students in subjects such as law or business, and provide the educational foundation for future business attorneys.

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 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 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.

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.

What is business lawyer?

This is an attorney who concentrates their practice on problems that affect companies, such as intellectual property, different types of business transactions, and taxation.

Do lawyers work full time?

They may write up legal documents, negotiate the terms of a settlement, or argue their clients' cases in court. The majority of lawyers work full time from an office, and many need to work longer hours during certain cases.

Is it competitive to go to law school?

Admission is very competitive to law school and may come down to a student's LSAT score and GPA. There are prep courses available to help prepare for the test. People can also take practice exams and potentially increase their score.

How long does it take to get a Juris Doctor degree?

Once you've been accepted to a law program, the third step is to graduate from law school. This usually takes three years if you attend full time. At the end of that, graduates get a Juris Doctor degree. The first year of school consists of classes covering torts, property, civil law, and contracts. During the next two years, elective classes are taken and students may take place in judicial internships. Some schools let students focus their studies on areas such as business law.

What is the first year of law school?

The first year of school consists of classes covering torts, property, civil law, and contracts. During the next two years, elective classes are taken and students may take place in judicial internships. Some schools let students focus their studies on areas such as business law.

How long does it take to become a judicial officer?

This usually takes three years if you attend full time. At the end of that, graduates get a Juris Doctor degree. The first year of school consists of classes covering torts, property, civil law, and contracts. During the next two years, elective classes are taken and students may take place in judicial internships.

What is the best major for a lawyer?

Bachelor’s in Economics . 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.

What is the best degree for law school?

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.

Why is law important?

Laws have material consequences on every person and structure. They influence outcomes across the life course, making the field extremely important to the stability and progress of society. The work done by law professionals is competitive and pays well. Because of these things, students wishing to pursue a career in law are faced ...

Is law competitive?

The work done by law professionals is competitive and pays well. Because of these things, students wishing to pursue a career in law are faced with many choices of subjects to pursue, beginning at the undergraduate level. The answer, like the field, is wide open.

What is a business administration degree?

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 are the courses required to take the LSAT?

Courses such as business law, contract negotiations, and public speaking are just a few that have proven to be helpful.

Is economics a good major?

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.

What do law schools look for in a lawyer?

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.

Why is economics important in law school?

In short, a study of economics is a study in the financial impact of the law. Because of this, economic s is a great area of specialization for many potential law students because it remains a great area of focus after law school as well .

Is criminal justice a good fit for law school?

Criminal justice is a natural fit for law school since coursework focuses on criminal justice topics. These programs often include courses on court proceedings, the correction systems, and many other aspects of the legal system. Criminal justice degrees emphasize strong research, analysis, and writing skills which are a necessity in law school. Yet despite this being a natural fit for law, many law schools prefer specializations in other areas of study. In fact, some schools scrutinize academic records far harder in the criminal justice major than any other major.

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.

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.

Is philosophy a difficult major?

Philosophy is a difficult major.

Why is sociology a good major?

Sociology is a great major for potential law students because it studies the big picture of society. It looks at the social issues we face in our society like poverty, economic justice, racial discrimination, and LGBT rights. Sociology looks at the way the law can help, and how to develop solutions to fight inequality. In this light, sociology is a great area of focus for students that hope to one day end up using the law to affect public policy.

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:

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.

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.

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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.
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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.
See more on discover.com

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…
See more on discover.com

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 ...
See more on discover.com

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…
See more on discover.com

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.