what majors are available for becoming a trial lawyer

by Stephanie Murphy 10 min read

When we researched the most common majors for a trial attorney, we found that they most commonly earn doctoral degree degrees or master's degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on trial attorney resumes include bachelor's degree degrees or high school diploma degrees.

Many aspiring lawyers choose to major in philosophy, English, or criminal justice. Regardless of your major, you may want to consider taking some undergraduate legal courses.Apr 13, 2021

Full Answer

What education do you need to become a trial lawyer?

Trial lawyers, like any attorneys, will need an education that includes an appropriate bachelors degree, taking an LSAT test to enter law school, completing law school, and passing a bar exam. Each state may have varying requirements for their state bar. It’s a good idea to consider each state’s requirements when selecting a school.

What courses should I take to become a criminal justice lawyer?

Potential law students can also form helpful relationships with current lawyers that can provide insight into what it’s like to work in the criminal justice system. Helpful courses include criminology, criminal psychology, law & the criminal justice system, and social science research.

What is the best major for Law School?

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.

Should I major in English to become a lawyer?

Strong reading and writing skills are required by all lawyers, so the English major is a no-brainer when it comes to selecting a major for law school. A significant part of being a lawyer is understanding past precedent on different legal cases in the past.

What majors do lawyers most?

political scienceThe 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?

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 is the best major for a criminal lawyer?

Essential Information Among other choices, criminal justice is a popular major for undergraduate students who wish to become criminal lawyers. In addition, some schools specifically offer undergraduate pre-law programs that are a stepping stone to law school.

Is criminal justice a good major for law school?

A bachelor's degree in criminal justice is a great foundation for a Juris Doctor degree. If justice and equality are important issues to you, a criminal justice degree is extremely helpful if you are interested in public service, such as in criminal law or immigration law.

How difficult is law school?

You need to put in the necessary work throughout the program if you want to succeed. In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

Is criminology a good major?

Many people might consider criminology to be a good career choice because of the variety of career paths available to criminology professionals. There are positions for individuals at varying levels of education, and a criminology degree can enhance your chances of advancement in your chosen field.

Is criminology a criminal justice?

Criminal justice refers to the study and application of criminology. In other words, while criminologists are responsible for studying the thought processes of criminals and offering solutions to address issues in crime, criminal justice enforces these solutions and is directly involved in the crimes themselves.

Trial Lawyer Careers

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a trial lawyer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $33.08 an hour? That's $68,799 a year!

Trial Lawyer Career Paths

As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a trial lawyer can determine their career goals through the career progression.

Average Salary for a Trial Lawyer

Trial Lawyers in America make an average salary of $68,799 per year or $33 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $111,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $42,000 per year.

Online Courses For Trial Lawyer That You May Like

Learn the basics of real estate law, including investing, title searching, and mortgages...

Top Skills For a Trial Lawyer

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on.

How Do Trial Lawyer Rate Their Jobs?

Rate how you like work as Trial Lawyer. It's anonymous and will only take a minute.

What Is A Trial Lawyer?

Trial lawyers are legal professionals who represent injured victims or wronged businesses or organizations. They argue cases in front of jurors and judges in courtrooms.

What Is A Niche Trial Lawyer?

A niche trial lawyer specializes in a specific area of the law. There are niche trial lawyers for certain types of personal injury cases, such as slip and fall, product liability, wrongful death, dog bites, auto accidents, truck accidents, and many others.

Why Become A Trial Lawyer?

Many people think that becoming a trial lawyer is risky, but it is really fun and profitable at the same time. You need to learn each step and follow them precisely. You may qualify for an unpaid internship or externship, which would allow you to see how a real-life courtroom operates.

What Should You Focus On In Your Studies To Become A Trial Lawyer?

Being a good lawyer takes a lot of hard work and study, but there are certain things you should focus on in your studies to become a trial lawyer. First, you want to focus on arguing your case before the judge. It means learning how to be persuasive, use effective language, and present your case in a way that doesn’t offend the judge.

How to Become a Trial Lawyer

There are several qualifications one must meet to become a trial lawyer. An important part of the qualification is the education required by the state in which one wants to practice.

Important Skills to Become a Successful Trial Lawyer

A successful trial lawyer needs to be able to manage his time well. It’s critical to preserve track of all the proof and in which it’s going to go. Another important skill to become a successful lawyer is to be able to speak well. While you may not be the one presenting the case, your client will have confidence if you have the right skills.

Qualities of a Successful Trial Lawyer

The most critical qualities of a successful trial legal professional are being an amazing listener, asking the right questions, and being an amazing trouble solver.

What are the skills required to become a trial lawyer?

Skills. Good Debating Skills. Sound Communication Skills. Problem Solving. Critical Thinking. Analytical Skills. Persuasion Skills.

How do I become a trial lawyer?

In order to be a Trial Lawyer, an aspirant must have at least completed a bachelor’s in law. After getting a license from the government they can work as a full-time Trial Lawyer.

What are the responsibilities of a trial lawyer?

The general responsibilities of a Trial Lawyer are specified below. To represent a client in a trial and to argue the case for them. To study judicial decisions and to research law relevant to the case they have taken over. To meet and update the client regularly and to keep them informed about the developments.

What is a trial lawyer?

A Trial Lawyer is the most popular brach of lawyers that not only presents the client in front of the court and jury but also defends them in order to prove them non-guilty. The duty of a Trial Lawyer is to counter and argue the case at hand with the legal findings and their ability. Before representing a client, ...

Is a trial lawyer rewarding?

The job offers utmost satisfaction and is emotionally rewarding. Work of a Trial Lawyer never gets monotonous and the learning never stops. A Trial Lawyer enjoys plenty of privileges and perks which include financial advantages, office facilities etc.

Can a trial lawyer work independently?

After gathering a few years of working experience, a Trial Lawyer can work independently as well. Given below are a few of the job profiles that are available for a Trial Lawyer. If you are wondering what occupation fits you the best, you can take the Career Profiling Test of CollegeDekho.

What are the best states to become a trial attorney?

The best states for people in this position are Connecticut, California, New York, and Virginia. Trial attorneys make the most in Connecticut with an average salary of $133,701. Whereas in California and New York, they would average $132,697 and $132,400, respectively. While trial attorneys would only make an average of $127,104 in Virginia , you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

How much do trial attorneys make?

Trial Attorneys in America make an average salary of $162,651 per year or $78 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $222,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $118,000 per year.

Business

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. Word of warning, business majors should be careful not to focus solely on the fundamentals.

Economics

An economics major spends a lot of time summarizing large amounts of quantitative data. This is great training for law school as an econ major will be well-prepared to sort information and evidence in order to build a case backed by evidence.

English

Lawyers must be well-versed with the English language as they spend a lot of their time researching, writing, and speaking in court. English majors will learn how to analyze and synthesize large bodies of text, developing a command of written and verbal language (sometimes more than one).

Philosophy

Is there a more “prelaw school” major than philosophy? It’s no surprise that students majoring in philosophy dive deep into logic, ethics, and morality, which are all big, existential questions relevant to the study and practice of law.

Political Science

Political science majors should be prepared to study political systems, public policy, and the relationship between types of government and the law. This major is probably the closest to a law school curriculum in undergrad that a student will find.

Psychology

Psychology is the study of human behaviors and this major gives students insight into the human psyche. For instance, students might apply their psych studies to criminal cases, questioning how human error could possibly lead to wrongful convictions or how innocent people sometimes make incorrect judgments.

Bottom Line

For students considering a career in law, some majors are a reliable source of the skills and knowledge central to the profession. However, no major will guarantee a law school acceptance letter — and no major will disqualify a student, either.

Why do lawyers need an English major?

The English major is a very popular major for law school because of its immediately obvious benefits: advanced reading comprehension and persuasive writing skills. Students of the English major study dense and complex literature and are then required to process the information, make connections and create organized analytical arguments and defend positions. In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students. Strong reading and writing skills are required by all lawyers, so the English major is a no-brainer when it comes to selecting a major for law school.

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.

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.

Is Simmons University accepting online applications?

Simmons University has been empowering women for 100+ years and is now accepting online undergraduate program applications from adult learners and transfer students. Courses include live, online class sessions and self-paced coursework and up to 96 transfer credits accepted.

Is philosophy a difficult major?

Philosophy is a difficult major.

Does the law school test for legal understanding?

Since the test doesn’t actually test for legal understanding, but rather reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, then your choice of an undergraduate degree is up to you to decide. That said, law schools tend to prefer students that have a wide range of course work.

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 a criminal justice degree?

Because the criminal justice and legal systems are so intertwined, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice serves as an excellent undergraduate major in preparation for law school. Those considering work as a prosecuting or defense attorney may find the degree especially helpful, as the coursework and internships will give students a strong familiarity with the criminal justice system. Potential law students can also form helpful relationships with current lawyers that can provide insight into what it’s like to work in the criminal justice system. Helpful courses include criminology, criminal psychology, law & the criminal justice system, and social science research.

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.

How many pre-law students choose political science?

Approximately 12,000-13,000 pre-law students choose political science as an undergraduate major, making it the most popular major by a wide margin. One in five applicants has a bachelor’s degree in political science.

How do psychology and law intersect?

Psychology and law intersect well, as both deal with human thought and behavior. Psychology experts are relied upon heavily as witnesses and experts in many different legal cases and contexts. Having an understanding of psychological theory and its application can be helpful when it comes to preparing for law school.

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 ...