Take a look at these popular majors for future law students.
- History. 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. ...
- English. ...
- Philosophy. ...
- Political Science. ...
- Economics. ...
- Business. ...
- General Tips.
Feb 12, 2021
What to know before becoming a lawyer?
Oct 05, 2021 · Some of the most important college subjects for future lawyers are: 1. Statistics and data science. Studying data and statistics in college can be a continuation of your math education and provide you with key skills in analyzing and managing to draw conclusions regarding large amounts of data.
What subjects do you need to become a lawyer?
Jan 03, 2022 · Young adults who want to become lawyers should consider majoring in political science in college. With a political science degree, you’ll get a solid foundation in how the government is structured, how laws work, and who has power. These are all critical if you want to work in the law.
What are some talents you need to become a lawyer?
If you hold a bachelors degree, the next step to become a lawyer is the LSAT Exam. Find information on exams. Lawyer Education. A bachelors degree will be your first step. There are pre-law degrees along with online legal studies programs. Or view ABA accredited universities. The State Bar Exam.
What schooling is required for becoming a lawyer?
Jul 01, 2018 · There is no prescribed set of courses required for admission to law school, so you are free to study an undergraduate degree of your choice. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there...
What to start studying if you want to be a lawyer?
Before law school, students must complete a Bachelor's degree in any subject (law isn't an undergraduate degree), which takes four years. Then, students complete their Juris Doctor (JD) degree over the next three years. In total, law students in the United States are in school for at least seven years.Jul 13, 2021
What do most lawyers study in college?
First-year law students usually study civil procedure, property, constitutional, tort and contract law. They also take legal research and writing courses. Upper-level course requirements ease a bit. Second- and third-year students call more of their own shots by choosing elective classes.
What major is lawyer?
Common undergraduate majors for prelaw students include English, political science, economics, business, philosophy, and journalism. There's no correct major to pursue to get into law school. But according to legal educators, prospective J.D. students who take classes they enjoy report better GPA scores.Feb 17, 2022
What skills do you need to be a lawyer?
As you enter your career, there are several skills you'll want to develop as a lawyer, including:Analytical and research skills. ... Attention to detail. ... Organizational skills. ... Time management. ... Persuasive communication. ... Written communication skills. ... Interpersonal skills. ... Technical skills.More items...•Feb 22, 2021
What are the skills required to become a lawyer?
Close reading and reasoning. Lawyers often need to quickly familiarize themselves with relatively large passages of previously unknown text, so classes that involve reading literature very important for developing these skills.
What do lawyers need to know?
Lawyers generally need to have extensive knowledge of any subject that can describe and influence society, such as economics, history, politics, government affairs and other similar ones. Taking a social studies class can help you understand concepts like how laws and regulations are made, how legal procedures and precedents work and other similar concepts that are vital for successfully practicing law.
What are the duties of a lawyer?
Their exact duties and responsibilities are: 1 Providing expert advice to clients regarding potential legal issues that they may expose themselves to or ongoing litigations 2 Analyzing all documents involved in a legal case against their clients, such as witness accounts, police reports, accident reports and other official documents 3 Using their knowledge of the law to find passages and precedents that may then be used in the defense of their clients 4 Working with their clients to develop the most appropriate strategy for each situation, based on the particularities of each legal case 5 Preparing various civil legal documents, such as wills, deeds and contracts 6 Appearing in court before a judge and using legal rhetoric to defend their clients' interests
What is a lawyer?
Lawyers, also called attorneys, are tasked with advising their clients and representing them in civil and criminal cases. Their responsibilities span from simply offering legal advice to preparing legal documents on behalf of the client and ultimately representing the client in front of a court of law.
Why is it important to study English in high school?
Excelling in high school English language and literature classes can help aspiring lawyers develop their spoken and written communication skills as well as their comprehension abilities. As many law schools require applicants to submit an essay before admission, working on your English skills is crucial for improving the odds ...
How long does it take to get a Juris Doctor degree?
You can earn a Juris Doctor degree by graduating from a law school that's accredited by the American Bar Association, which takes three years. During law school, you can choose to focus on one particular area of the law, such as criminal, environmental, tax, property, real estate or family. Pass the bar exam.
Why is math important in law?
Therefore, mathematics is an important aspect of the job, as the skills you acquire when learning how to solve math problems are usually transferrable to several aspects of the law.
What are the skills needed to become a lawyer?
Some of the skills needed include: Analytical and interpersonal skills.
Do lawyers need continuing education?
At least 46 states require lawyers to participate in continuing education courses to maintain their professional license to practice, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some states require lawyers to pass ethics exams as well. If you relocate, you may be required to complete further education. If you move from one state to another, you need to take the bar exam in your new state. Some states do allow reciprocity, provided you meet their requirements in experience and moral character.
How long does it take to become an attorney?
Law students are tied up full-time in law school for three years after undergraduate studies. Some lawyers go on to earn advanced law degrees, which gobble up another one to five years in study time.
What is the average grade point average for law school?
For example, incoming law students at Michigan State University College of Law have median grade point averages of 3.5.
What is a bar review course?
Bar review courses are the ultimate cram sessions. They are comprehensive reviews of the core classes required in law school. They give students a last-ditch refresher on topics tested on state bar exams, such as contract, property, criminal, tort and civil procedure laws.
What majors are required for law school?
However, the ABA suggests certain undergraduate majors over others, such as English, history, political science, philosophy, business, or economics.
What is the first step to becoming a lawyer?
Lawyer Education. A bachelors degree will be your first step. There are pre-law degrees along with online legal studies programs. Or view ABA accredited universities. The State Bar Exam. The bar exam is the next step to become a lawyer. The state bar exam will determine whether a person is qualified to practice law in a geographic jurisdiction.
How much do lawyers make in a year?
As of May 2019, lawyers in the United States averaged $122,960 per year. However, this comfortable salary does not come easily. Becoming a lawyer in any jurisdiction requires years of undergraduate and graduate education, passing challenging examinations, and maintaining licensure through continuing education.
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.
What are the courses required to become a lawyer?
There is no prescribed set of courses required for admission to law school, so you are free to study an undergraduate degree of your choice. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are certain courses in high school and college that are helpful to a career in law. These include English, political science and economics.
What are the career paths for a lawyer?
Many career paths are open to an aspiring lawyer. Although some students follow a Pre-Law curriculum in college, law schools approve of a wide range of majors. Focus on subjects and experiences that will sharpen your skills in reading, technical writing, research, data analysis, logic and persuasion. Before embarking on a legal career, potential ...
What is the LSAT?
The LSAT is a standardized test that measures your reading comprehension, analytical reasoning skills and logical reasoning skills. You must register to take the LSAT, which is offered four times per year. According to the Law School Admissions Council, most law schools require you to complete the LSAT by December at the latest. LSAT scores are just one factor law schools consider when making admission decisions, but your scores should be comparable to the average scores of students enrolled at the law school you wish to attend.
Can I practice law after law school?
Bar Examination. Even after completing law school, you cannot practice as a lawyer until you pass the state bar exam. The examination process varies by state, but according to the Law School Admissions Council most exams include the Multi-state Bar Examination.
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 la…
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.
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…
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…
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…
General Tips
- 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...
- 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.
- 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...
- 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.
- Whichever academic route you take, maintaining a strong GPA is essential if you aim to attend a selective law school program.
Pre-Law Studies
- Before you go to law school, you'll need a bachelor's degree. Law school applicants aren't required to have any particular major for undergraduate education. In fact, the American Bar Association (ABA) encourages students to study any subject they find fascinating and challenging. The ABA also provides advice on the types of classes that will help you once you get to law school. Some …
Getting Into Law School
- After you get your bachelor's degree, you'll need to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) before you can be admitted to a school approved by the ABA. This test is a half-day exam that has five sections of multiple-choice questions. The questions measure your abilities in logic, reading and analytics. Once the multiple choice questions are completed, you'll complete a writing samp…
Law School
- Once you get to law school, you'll generally spend three years working towards your J.D. Regardless of your law concentration, you'll spend your first year working on foundational courses, such as those on constitutional and contract law, legal writing and civil court procedure. After that you'll focus on your specialization, which may include one of the following: 1. Civil rights 2. Admi…
Experience and Skill Development
- In addition to a classroom education, you may want to get experience through part-time employment at a legal office. You can also take advantage of opportunities to do legal writing, and participate in trial situations offered by the law school. Educational and practical experience may help you to develop skills that are critical for lawyers. Some of the skills needed include: 1. …
Continuing Education
- At least 46 states require lawyers to participate in continuing education courses to maintain their professional license to practice, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some states require lawyers to pass ethics exams as well. If you relocate, you may be required to complete further education. If you move from one state to another, you need to take the bar exam in your …
Undergraduate Studies
Law schools usually aren't picky about what you study as an undergraduate in college. You can have a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. And, you can have majors and minors in English, math, chemistry, engineering, art or social studies. A law school applicant must have decent grades to get the nod for admis…
Law School Courses
- Law degrees are comprised of a potpourri of legal studies. First-year law students usually study civil procedure, property, constitutional, tort and contract law. They also take legal research and writing courses. Upper-level course requirements ease a bit. Second- and third-year students call more of their own shots by choosing elective classes. They can dive into studies such as interna…
Master's Degrees
- Some lawyers keep hitting the books after law school to obtain specialized Master of Law, or LLM, degrees. LLMs target specific areas, such as taxation, business, real estate and finance law. Some lawyers pursue Doctor of Juridical Science degrees, called SJDs, after they wrap up their LLMs. SJDs are only offered by a handful of law colleges. SJDs require in-depth dissertations o…
Bar Review Courses
- Law colleges encourage law students to take bar review courses at the end of their three-year stints. Bar review courses are the ultimate cram sessions. They are comprehensive reviews of the core classes required in law school. They give students a last-ditch refresher on topics tested on state bar exams, such as contract, property, criminal, tort and civil procedure laws.
How We Made This List
- We put together this list based on 2 important main types of data: the number of students admitted to law school with a certain major, and the average LSAT score of the students with that major.
Sociology
- Students admitted to law school from this major last year:1,327 Average LSAT score of admitted students (out of 180):150.7 Sociology majors have to be comfortable scrutinizing data and writing long papers. Both the critical thinking and writing skills that this major cultivates can be leveraged in law school. Consider this major if the social dynamics of groups interest you, and you enjoy b…
Arts & Humanities
- Admitted Students:1,496 Average LSAT Score:154.2 This group of majors tends to be fairly writing-heavy and attracts students with the focus to spend hours reading. It’s a great pick if you love art and literature but also want to prepare yourself for a legal career.
Philosophy
- Admitted Students:1,858 Average LSAT Score:157.5 Traditionally, philosophy is considered the ultimate pre-law major. In this field, you wrestle deeply with logic and reasoning as you consider questions about knowledge, existence, and other fundamental concepts. The same skills directly improve a lawyer’s ability to do their job well.
Criminal Justice
- Admitted Students:2,220 Average LSAT Score:145.9 If you love to be hands-on with the justice system, this may be the major for you. No field of study gives you more exposure to law prior to law school. That said, notice how much lower the average LSAT score is relative to other majors. It is not considered as academically rigorous as theoretical disciplines. If you want to set yourse…
Economics
- Admitted Students:2,373 Average LSAT Score:158.9 Economics offers the perfect blend of quantitative and qualitative experience. Additionally, this field prepares you to be an effective lawmaker and advocate for sound monetary policy. Understanding capital is vital for understanding large portions of tax law and federal regulation.
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.
History
- Admitted Students:2,657 Average LSAT Score:156.2 Understanding the past is critical for interpreting law for two reasons. First, it establishes precedent, and knowing how legal cases have been resolved in the past is central to our understanding of how to decide current cases. Second, a grounding in the past helps you zoom out and understand the broader social context for a piec…
Miscellaneous
- Admitted Students:2,904 Average LSAT:151.2 This category is a catch-all for niche majors not commonly represented among law school applicants. The fact that this category has the third highest number of students accepted shows that you can successfully apply to law school from any major.
Psychology
- Admitted Students:2,960 Average LSAT Score:152.6 Psychology is the third social science to make an appearance on this list, and that is no surprise. This field blends history, reading, writing, and quantitative analysis together, making graduates in this field well-equipped to approach law from almost any angle. Consider becoming a Psychology major if you are fascinated by how peo…
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